By Aderemi Bamgbose

The Chairman, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mr Andrew Ogunsakin, says the council has lifted the ban on scavenging and scrap metal dealings in the area.

Ogunsakin disclosed this in an interactive session with newsmen in Okitipupa on Thursday.

He said the decision to lift the ban followed the successful completion of a comprehensive profiling and registration of individuals and operators in the business in the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the council had banned scavenging and scrap metal activities on April 23, following security breaches in the area.

NAN also reports that the council ordered a profiling and registration of scavengers and scrap metal operators as a measure to checkmate criminal activities in the area.

Ogunsakin also said that the ban was lifted after the biodata of all the registered scavengers were captured and securely documented in the council’s database.

He said that the exercise would be continuous for updates and to accommodate new entrants.

He said: “To ensure sanity, accountability, and public safety, the council has issued official identification jackets and numbers, identity cards, and branded stickers to all verified scavengers.

“Only individuals in possession of these identifiers are authorised to operate within the council area,” Ogunsakin said.

He warned that anyone found engaging in scavenging without proper identification would be arrested and prosecuted, accordingly.

He called on the public to remain vigilant, cooperate with the authorities, and refrain from taking laws into their hands.

The council boss urged residents to promptly report any form of suspicious or illicit activities to the appropriate security agencies or the local government for swift action.

He assured the residents that the council remained committed to ensuring a safe, organised, and inclusive economic environment for all lawful businesses and the people in Okitipupa LGA. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sam Oditah

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Lagos State Government and other stakeholders have agreed on an enforcement fee of N10,000 for electronic call-up for trucks on the Lekki-Epe corridor.

The outcome of the meeting held at Dangote Oil Refining Ltd. was communicated in a communique obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

The communique was signed by Mr Seun Osiyemi, Commissioner, Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Government; Mr Williams Akporcha, President, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Worker (NUPENG); Alhaji Yusuf Othman, President, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO); and Alhaji Hammed Fasola, President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

The stakeholders’ meeting on the enforcement of e-call-up for the Lekki-Epe Corridor, convened at the instance of the Lagos State Government, was facilitated by Dangote Industries Ltd.

According to the communique, the enforcement of the e-call-up for the Lekki-Epe Corridor will begin on Aug. 1, 2025.

The following prerequisites were established to ensure a smooth transition before the enforcement date: all trucks are required to begin onboarding before August 1:

“Extensive sensitisation campaigns for union members and truckers must be conducted by the ministry.

“The uploading of Approved Truck Lists should take place; any truck without legitimate business in the Lekki Free Zone should remain outside the area.

“Stakeholders emphasised the importance of ensuring that enforcement measures are understood positively beginning Aug. 1.

“NUPENG, NARTO, IPMAN, and other unions are to actively participate in the implementation process and encourage their respective members to comply with the new regulations to minimise the need for enforcement actions,” the communique said.

The communique noted that e-call-up was deemed essential to prevent a recurrence of the Apapa experience, especially in light of the concerns raised by the Lekki Residents Association regarding the rising number of accidents caused by articulated trucks.

“There are currently seven approved truck parks within the Lekki-Epe Corridor that are equipped with basic infrastructure, including paved floors, CCTV, toilets, and drivers’ lodges.

“The cost associated with these facilities covers provisions for parking bays, technology, logistics, and enforcement, with no revenue accruing to the state government.

“This communiqué serves as a formal record of the outcomes from the meeting, reflecting the collective agreement and commitment of all parties involved to implement and enforce the e-call-up system for the Lekki-Epe corridor and Deep Sea Port,” it said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Lagos State Government says it will introduce rail academy to help build human capacity in the sector.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, disclosed this at a panel session at the second Lagos Traffic Conference on Tuesday in Lagos.

The panel session is in commemoration of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA’s) Silver Jubilee celebrations.

The anniversary has the theme: “Enhancing Traffic Efficiency and Safety on Lagos Roads: Challenges, Opportunities and Innovations.”

According to Hamzat, the rail academy is where Nigerians can be trained to do various things in the sector.

“It will also ensure that the country stops importing things in the sector, it is solely designed to enable human capital thrive,” he said.

Hamzat said Lagos was improving to be the human capital centre of the world.

This, he said, would be achieved through the state’s 30 years development plan.

On the operational efficiency of LASTMA, Hamzat noted that LASTMA has evolved through the years and has embraced the use of technology.

“LASTMA does not need to pursue vehicle anymore when there are offenders, we have a means of arresting them through the use of technology,” he said.

He urged Lagos residents to embrace the work LASTMA does and see them as partners in progress, stressing that if LASTMA was removed from the roads in a week, it would lead to chaos.

Mr Ayo Olowookere, the Chief Executive Officer, Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank, who spoke on private sector participation in LASTMA activities, said private sector would want to see value for their money.

“The private sector wants to see clarity that comes with precise planning and consistency, for opportunities that they can tap into, like the use of drones,” he said.

Olowookere urged the Lagos State Government to look into establishing the Lagos State Traffic Management Trust Fund to ensure manpower moves.

Also, Mr Babajide Otitoju, Senior Journalist at the Television Continental News, said some problems LASTMA was accused of should be directed to government.

“We need to appreciate the quality of work LASTMA is doing, it is not easy at all.

“Lagos is constantly expanding and for LASTMA to work effectively there is a need to build roads that will ease the movement of vehicles and commuters around the state.

“For LASTMA to be in the eyes of people, there should be constant community engagement,” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Edith Bolokor/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Angela Atabo

Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has sought the collaboration of states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in addressing the challenge of non-compliance with standards, leading to engineering failures.

The COREN President, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, made the call at the 33rd COREN Engineering Assembly on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme for the 2025 Assembly was “Advancing Quality Engineering Services and Businesses in Nigeria-Professional Compliance and Remuneration.”

According to Abubakar, the theme came to bear, focusing on key issues of professionalism, compliance and remuneration while delivering quality engineering services and businesses.

He said that COREN as a regulatory body had the mandate to regulate and control the engineering education, training and practice of engineering in all its aspects and ramifications.

He explained that COREN’s call to action, emphasised the importance of collaboration in ensuring that engineering projects are executed in accordance with established codes and standards.

He said that Technical Committees (STCs) and Expatriate Monitoring Committees (EMCs), were inaugurated in 22 states, with the corresponding inspectorates to ensure monitoring and regulation of engineering practices.

“COREN is assiduously working to cover the 36 states and the FCT before the end of 2026.

“So, I call on captains of industry, state governments and the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to join hands with COREN technical committees in the states, expatriate monitoring committees and other sectorial regulators.

“This is to curb the dangerous trends of non-compliance with codes and standards leading to engineering failures occurring in the various sectors.

“The trends have caused loss of lives, properties, investments and loss of confidence in the engineering profession,” he said.

Abubakar said that achieving the target would advance quality engineering services and businesses in Nigeria.

The COREN Registrar, Prof. Okorie Uche, said the assembly is a platform that brought together a cross-section of Nigeria’s engineering community both locally and internationally for reflection, connection, and forward thinking.

According to Uche, the theme for the year’s assembly is urgent as it speaks directly to the core to quality engineering services that meet both local and global standards.

“It is also about professionalism that reflects ethical conduct, technical excellence, accountability, compliance with regulations with potent public safety, enhance confidence, and ensure order in practice,” he said.

Uche said COREN recognised that ensuring quality and professionalism in engineering practice should not be separated from the business.

He, therefore, said it is the collective duty of engineers to confront these challenges of non-compliance, quackery and forced service delivery.

The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Chief Executive of Geometric Power Group, urged engineers to forge partnership with the government.

He said such partnership would ensure that Nigeria not only keeps pace with global advances, but leads in innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development.

“We live in an era marked by rapid technological evolution: robotics, renewable energy, smart infrastructure, block chain, and the Internet.

“The world is changing rapidly and so must we.

“This calls for Nigerian engineering community to embrace continuous learning, to be agile, and to lead the adoption of emerging technologies in ways that suit our local context.

“We must build Nigerian solutions to Nigerian problems with Nigerian hands and minds.”

Nnaji, therefore, called on engineers to move beyond routine practices and become strategic thinkers to interpret global trends and local demands. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Sunday John

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State says obtaining a land Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in the state now takes one month, owing to reforms aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business.

Sule said this while speaking at a State Action on Business Enabling Reform (SABER) town hall meeting on Friday in Lafia.

The governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, maintained that the reforms initiated by his administration to create friendly environment for business and investments was yielding great results.

According to Sule, C of O is now obtainable within one month, and upon payment of required Right of Occupancy (R of O) fees and submission of application form.

He noted that in his first year in office, he signed more C of Os than were issued in the state since its creation in 1996.

The governor stated that his administration had since inception in 2019, prioritised making the state investment haven, through various initiatives.

According to him, some of the initiatives include the development of the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS) document, culminated in the establishment of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA).

NASIDA is a one-stop-shop agency that helps to guide investors willing to do business in the state.

Other initiatives included the revenue and taxes harmonisation legislation passed by the state assembly, the establishment of the Bureau of Public Procurement as well as the Bureau of Statistics in the state.

“Before SABER, Nasarawa State had already entrenched principles to make business establishment very easy for whoever is coming to invest in our state,” he said.

The governor expressed optimism that the town hall meeting would provide opportunity for adequate feedback from stakeholders to enable the state improve in order to have a perfect business environment.

In her remarks, Princess Zara Mustapha-Audu, Director-General, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), described SABER as a transformative initiative that supports and incentivises reforms at the state level.

According to her, it aligns local efforts with the national goal of making Nigeria a more transparent, profitable, and easier place to do business.

She said that stakeholder engagement was designed to strengthen public sector capacity and capture feedback from private sector players; seen by PEBEC as the true engines of economic growth, job creation, and innovation.

“Reform is not a federal effort alone. States are the engines of local economic development, and their policies, infrastructure, and service delivery directly impact the ease of doing business in every community,” Audu emphasised.

Audu expressed optimism that the partnership with states would foster deeper collaboration, rebuild trust, and generate practical solutions tailored to each state’s unique business challenges.

“Together, let us build a business environment that works for local businesses, entrepreneurs, multinationals, foreign direct investors, and a future full of prosperity for all Nigerians,” she said.

Mr Louis Azige, Programme Manager for SABER in Nasarawa, revealed that the state had already implemented 15 reforms, covering areas like land and tax administration and digital infrastructure deployment.

He added that digital platforms had been launched to improve access to information and transparency in business-related services.

Azige said that the town hall meeting provided a platform for state officials and Reform Champions in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to interact with the business community and civil society organisation on business enabling reforms being implemented in the state.

He said it would offer an opportunity to get feedback on how to improve to enhance the business community.

Participants at the town hall, including Dr Nawani Aboki of Breeze FM Lafia, and Mr Obadiah Solomon-Ovey of Husk Power Systems, praised the state government’s efforts, but called for more publicity to ensure that businesses became aware of the ongoing reforms. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Ukpoju