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Charges Ajaero Will Face Following Arrest By DSS, NIA

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There are strong indications that the embattled President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, will face multiple charges, including extortion, alleged connections with wanted individuals, and a worrying attitude towards law enforcement agencies.

It will be recalled that operatives of the Department of State Services arrested the NLC president on Monday morning in Abuja.

He was arrested as he made to board a flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to the United Kingdom.

According to PRNigeria, a credible intelligence sources have revealed that the reasons behind the arrest of Ajaero by the secret services.

The credible sources, who requested anonymity, disclosed that Ajaero’s arrest was unrelated to NLC matters or labour activities.

“It was for personal reasons involving fraudulent activities perpetrated by the NLC president,” one source stated.

One major allegation involves Ajaero reportedly extorting funds from various businessmen and organisations.

Among the complaints is a formal petition lodged by Air Peace, which has been forwarded to the appropriate security services.

These serious claims suggest a troubling pattern of misconduct potentially extending beyond Ajaero’s role as a labour leader.

According to PRNigeria,  investigations by another security arm, the National Intelligence Agency, focus on Ajaero’s associations with a foreign national currently on the run in Nigeria.

This individual is accused of involvement in clandestine activities that threaten national security, raising significant concerns about Ajaero’s potential complicity in these illicit operations.

“The NIA wants to determine the nature of Ajaero’s relationship and connection with the said foreigner,” a source explained.

The high-ranking official commented on Ajaero’s conduct, describing it as arrogance and a blatant disregard for security protocols.

The source said: “Ajaero, using his position as NLC president, has consistently shown arrogance and disdain towards Nigerian security forces, acting as if he is untouchable and above reproach.

“He has ignored multiple invitations from the police, choosing instead to engage on his own terms, which is viewed as both disrespectful and defiant.”

Despite Ajaero’s efforts to frame the allegations as politically motivated and rally support from the NLC, security officials maintain that the issues are strictly personal.

“These are not matters related to labour activism or the NLC and are not related to Nigerian workers or their welfare.

“He enjoys boasting that labour will go on a nationwide strike as if Nigerian workers were his servants.

“Haba!

“These are personal allegations, and security agencies diligently pursue the investigation.

“His arrest has nothing to do with NLC or labour issues.

“It is over personal matters that our security agencies want to unravel.”

BIG STORY

Lagos State Government To Concession Red And Blue Line Rails For Sustainability, Loan Repayment

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The Lagos State Government has announced plans to concession the operations of the Red and Blue Line rail systems to the private sector in order to ensure their sustainability and repay loans taken for the rail projects.

This announcement was made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, during a recent TVC News interview, where he discussed the measures being implemented to ensure the continued viability of the state’s rail systems.

Osiyemi explained that the concessioning process would involve transferring the operations of the rail systems to private sector players for a defined period. This approach is intended to ensure the continued operation and effective management of the rail projects.

“The ultimate game is for all our rail systems we’ve done—that is, the Red Line and Blue Line—there is going to be some concessionairing with the private sector for a period of time to ensure sustainability and continuity,” he stated.

He added, “The concessioning would help pay back the loans taken for the rail projects.”

The commissioner emphasized that the concessioning strategy aims to ensure efficient operations and long-term financial sustainability, in line with the state’s vision for a world-class transportation network.

  • More Insight

Osiyemi further highlighted the substantial financial and technical challenges involved in operating rail systems, describing them as capital-intensive projects that require significant resources and specialized expertise.

To tackle these challenges and build local capacity, he noted that the Lagos State Government has enlisted foreign partners to temporarily manage the operations of the trains.

These partners are expected to not only ensure smooth operations during their tenure but also transfer critical skills to Nigerian personnel. The plan includes a structured training program lasting one to two years, after which the management of the rail systems will be fully handed over to local operators.

“What we have done is we have consulted foreign partners who, of course, would run these trains for a particular period of time and train our people—that is, transfer of skills.”

“They will train our people for one to two years, then hand over for our own management,” Osiyemi explained.

  • Things You Should Know

The Lagos State Government, under its Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan, has set out an ambitious vision to develop a network of rail systems across the state.

Currently, only the first phases of the Red Line and Blue Line rail systems have been completed, with passenger services already in operation.

The Blue Line is a 27km electric rail line designed for sustainable operations. Its first phase, covering 13km from Lagos Marina to Mile 2, was completed in 2023 and began commercial operations in September, carrying over 2 million passengers to date.

The Red Line, spanning 37km from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo in Lagos, operates on diesel. Its first phase, a 27km stretch, includes eight strategically located stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.

The construction of the second phases of both the Red Line and Blue Line rail systems is being managed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which also oversees the operation of the trains.

Beyond the Red and Blue Lines, the state has plans for additional rail systems, including the 68km Green Line (Lekki Free Trade Zone to Marina), the 85.7km Purple Line (Redemption Camp to Ojo), the 48km Orange Line (Ikeja CBD to Agbowa), and the Yellow Line, all aimed at enhancing the state’s transportation network.

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BIG STORY

Lagos Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab Condoles With Families Of Epe Accident Victims

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Condolence Message from the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred in our community, Epe, claiming the lives of two promising young adults, a dedicated tricycle driver, and leaving several other people injured. This heartbreaking accident has left our hearts heavy, as we mourn the loss of these young souls who were full of hope and dreams, and an industrious individual who worked tirelessly for his livelihood.

As a member of this community, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends affected by this terrible loss. I can only imagine the pain you must feel, and I want you to know that you are not alone in this moment of grief.

Let us honor the memories of these individuals by advocating for safety and awareness on our roads. As we move forward, may we find comfort in community and strength in one another. May their souls rest in peace, and may their families find solace and healing in the days to come.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: Monday Okpebholo Sworn In As Edo State Governor

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Monday Okpebholo, a serving senator, has been sworn in as the governor of Edo State.

Okpebholo took his oath of office at about 1pm on Tuesday during the inauguration ceremony in Benin, the state capital.

As the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo won the September 21 off-cycle governorship election in the state.

He polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second with 247,274 votes.

Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), came third with 22,763 votes.

Dennis Idahosa was also sworn in as the deputy governor of Edo.

Dignitaries, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, chair of the governors’ forum; Philip Shaibu, reinstated deputy governor of Edo; and other governors from the party, were present as Okpebholo took the oath of office.

The new governor later rode in an open-top van around the stadium, acknowledging cheers from supporters.

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