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Hope Rises As FG Says Port Harcourt-Aba Train Service To Begins Operation

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The Federal Government, on Saturday, said train services on the Port Harcourt to Aba route would commence operations by the end of March.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Port Harcourt-Aba rail project is part of the larger Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railroad project initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this in Port Harcourt after leading a delegation to test-run the reconstructed of Eastern Narrow Guage Rail line.

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He said workers were currently putting finishing touches on the tracks to ensure that full train operations could begin within the month.

“I am impressed with what I saw today, especially being able to ride the locomotive and wagon on the tracks.

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“Last time we visited, we could not use the train because the contractor said it was not proper to run on the train due to imbalance of the tracks.

“The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, has directed that the Port Harcourt route be connected to rail as well as initiate the linkage of Onne Port,” he said.

Okhiria expressed confidence that the contractor would complete the ‘tampering’ of the railroad within two weeks, preceding the targeted three weeks for the train services to resume.

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“We are pushing the contractor to make the track safe by deploying semi-automatic signalling of the machine points rather than manual operation.

“Despite resource challenges, the contractors are doing their best and our goal is to achieve this within the next two weeks.

READ ALSO: 10 Interesting Facts About RCCG G.O., Pastor Adeboye As He Celebrates 82th Birthday

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“With this, we aim to commence passenger train services hopefully within March and fully resume transporting people from Port Harcourt to Aba by the end of March,” he assured.

The NRC boss said the project design team had started designing a rail track to connect the Port Harcourt-Aba railroad line to the Onne seaport.

He added that the corporation had begun collaborating with the port’s terminal manager and leading engineers to ensure a smooth project delivery.

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The initial design has been done and handed over to us. We look at it, make corrections and seek approval. Once approved, work will commence,” he added.

Regarding transport fares, Okhiria mentioned that due to the current high cost of diesel, commuters might have to pay higher fares than what was obtainable before.

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He said if the NRC could not cover 100 per cent fuel cost, it would aim to generate at least 50 per cent from passengers to sustain operations.

Additionally, we will assess the conditions of the roads with intent to cover at least 50 per cent of the road costs.

“The government is working with relevant security agencies to ensure adequate security of the rain line and the linkage of security devices from the trains to the control room.

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“Communities should protect what the government is putting in place for us. We are striving to ensure that people who come on the train are safe,” he noted.

Okhiria cautioned traders against conducting business on the rail lines, as the trains would no longer slow down for them to remove their goods before passing.

He said that the trains were scheduled to run according to fixed times across all railroads in the country.
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Fire Ravages Residential Building In Oyo

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Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed in a fire incident that ravaged a residential building in Oyo, Oyo State.

The incident occurred at Aladota, Oke-Olola Area in Oyo around 9 am on Wednesday.

The chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident.

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In a statement made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday, Akinwande said that officers of the agency were immediately mobilised to the scene once they were informed.

“The fire incident was as a result of a spark from electricity which ignited combustible materials and set the room ablaze. No casualty was recorded. The agency was able to save properties worth millions of naira,” he said.

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Lagos Assembly Moves To Establish State-owned Railway Corporation

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Lagos State House of Assembly has commenced legislative work on a bill aimed at establishing a comprehensive legal framework for the creation, management, and operation of a state-owned railway corporation.

The proposed law, titled “A Bill for a Law to Establish the Lagos State Railway Corporation and for Connected Matters, 2025,” seeks to provide a structured foundation for an efficient rail transport system in the state.

Speaking during a one-day public hearing on the bill held on Wednesday in Lagos, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said the initiative showcases the government’s commitment to modernizing transportation infrastructure and improving residents’ quality of life.

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Obasa, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, said the establishment of the corporation would enhance mobility, reduce road congestion, and shorten travel time across the state.

This proposed legislation represents yet another bold and visionary step in the Lagos State Government’s continued efforts to improve the welfare and quality of life of its people,” he stated.

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“Railway transportation remains a critical component of modern infrastructure. It ensures safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly movement of people and goods while driving trade, commerce, and economic growth,” he added.

READ ALSO:Lagos Assembly Crisis: How Akande-led Panel Forced Meranda Out, Reinstated Obasa

The Speaker also explained that Section 26 of the bill provides for the appointment of an Inspector of Railways, whose responsibilities would include conducting regular inspections of trains and tracks, offering professional guidance, and ensuring the safety and operational integrity of rail services.

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In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, Hon. Temitope Adedeji, noted that the proposed corporation would play a vital role in easing the movement of people and goods within the state.

Adedeji, who represents Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 1, described the bill as timely and necessary, given Lagos’s rapidly growing population and the increasing demand for a modern, reliable transport system.

With the state standing at a pivotal point in its infrastructural and economic development, there is an urgent need to establish a robust legal and institutional framework to regulate and operate railway services efficiently,” he said.

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Coup Prophecy: It’s False Spirit -Mahdi Shehu Tells Primate Ayodele

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A public affairs commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has criticised Primate Elijah Ayodele over his recent prophecy warning of an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Shehu described the cleric’s statement as attention seeking and misguided by a false spirit.

Primate Ayodele was quoted in an Online report as saying that “some powerful Nigerians are plotting to remove Tinubu through a coup” between November 2025 and January 2026.

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Reacting, Mahdi Shehu said in a normal society the primate should be treated as an accessory to the fact of planning a coup, which he described as a treasonable offence.

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In a Normal society where suspects are not cherry picked, the primate must provide further details in public including names because he seems to know more than many Nigerians,” he said.

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He wrote: “Before the primate is treated in the right manner, if he ever will be, all right-thinking Nigerians must ignore him and treat his so-called spiritual alert with caution and maturity.”

Shehu further cited several Bible verses, warning against false prophets, false spirits, and attention seekers who claim to speak with divine authority.

According to him, “The Bible warned people against false prophets and speculation. Not everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit of God is truthful.”

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READ ALSO:Primate Ayodele Releases Fresh Prophecies On FIRS, FAAN, Others

He also alleged double standards in public reactions, saying if a Muslim cleric had made a similar claim, the media and security agencies would have demanded his arrest.

If a sheikh or malam had made such a claim, the whole country would be in uproar, with news headlines calling for his arrest and even tribunal trial,” he said.

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“Even the naive Nigerians are aware that coup is never an option, even in the face of the most stupid brand of democracy,” he said.

Mahdi concluded by describing Nigeria as a country full of fake alarms and hypocrisy warning citizens not to fall for divisive or baseless prophecies.

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