Malam Yakub Mahmood, the Deputy Director, Public Relations, NRC, said this in a statement signed by the corporation’s Director of Operations, Mr Akin Osinowo in Lagos on Thursday.

Osinowo said that the passenger service was part of the federal government palliative measures to cushion the effect of the petroleum subsidy removal on Nigerians.

“The stopping station for the Apapa Express train include-Mobolaji Johnson, Agege, Agbado and  Kajola,” he said.

He said that train service would help to reduce the hardship being experienced by commuters especially those plying the Apapa to Kajola route.

Osinowo appealed to the passengers to ensure that they obtained tickets at the designated stations before boarding the train.

Source: NAN

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According to a statement released by the management of the newspapers, Osigbesan hails from Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

He was born in Gombe, old Bauchi State, where he attended Kamara Primary School, Gombe and later went to Saint Matthew’s Anglican Primary School, Ojowo, Ijebu Igbo Ogun State.

Thereafter, he proceeded to Molusi College, in the same town.

Osigbesan studied Mass Communication at the then Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola University of Technology, Abeokuta, Ogun State).

He later proceeded to the University of Lagos, UNILAG,  where he studied Russian in the Department of Modern European Languages.

After his national service year in Jos, Plateau, Osigbesan returned to UNILAG to bag a Master’s degree in Literature.

A serial entrepreneur, avid reader, writer, polemicist and researcher, Osigbesan earned his Ph.D. in Literature at the Department of English and Literary Studies, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria Kaduna State.

Osigbesan started his journalism career at The Guardian newspapers, Lagos as a Sub-Editor.

He has also worked at the Peoples Daily newspaper and Leadership newspaper where he was Deputy Editor, Leadership Weekend and a member of the Leadership Editorial Board.

He left Leadership to start The Dream Daily Group of Newspapers.

Alongside his journalism career, Osigbesan founded M. Cicero & Co Limited –  a think-tank, public communications, image construction, reputation management and media consultancy firm – based on a town and gown model with academics spread across universities in Nigeria and abroad.

Osigbesan is happily married with children.

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Some passengers who boarded the train, however, told newsmen that they were happy the train service had finally resumed.

A passenger, Hajia Aisha Gubir, said, “I used to be regular on this Abuja-Kaduna rail transport.

“I was extremely excited when I learnt they were going to start the programme today so much so that I was the first to arrive at the station.

“And ordinarily, I would expect the transport team to grant me a business class rather than the economy ticket I bought for being brave and the first to board the train today.

“I am so happy about it because hitherto the roads have been so bad but we still ply it with faith.”

On low turnout of passengers, Gubir said it could be due to the fact that most people were scared or not aware of the resumption of service.

“Initially you will expect people to be scared and maybe people are not aware. In due course, I think people will begin to use it,” she said.

On the use of mobile app, she said with her NIN, there was no problem buying her ticket online.

On the increased fair, Gubir said it was expected and she did not have a problem with it.

Another passenger, Mr Yunana John, who also said he was comfortable with the increased fair however lamented about some bottlenecks in buying ticket online.

John said: “I think the ticketing is OK although there are some small issues regarding the NIN.

“I registered the app with my Glo line but my NIN is with my MTN. Now, I cannot even update because of the difference, so I had to come buy it here and I’m sure some other passengers have similar issues.

“I am comfortable with the fare and I can understand that things have gone up, so it is expected. I think I do not have any problem, I’m satisfied with it.”

Another passenger, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Actually purchasing the ticket was a great experience; I did not have any problem.

“I was on my way to Kaduna when I learnt the train is back and so I decided to come and buy the ticket. I am not afraid of using the train at all,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director Operations of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Mr Akin Osinowo, reiterated the commitment of the federal government to ensure safety of lives and properties.

On the security, Osinowo said: “A lot has been done in terms of security which cannot be disclosed except to say that right now the service has eyes and ears throughout the entire corridor.

“Our stations are well protected, the rail lines are well protected, we have communication with our trains every single minute it is moving and so, we have quite a good level of confidence.”

On increased fare, he said it was due to increased cost of running the service.

Osinowo said the low influx of passengers was expected as the service just resumed after several months.

He said that the corporation would also increase its service in due time after ensuring all that was put in place was functioning as expected.

“We are just opening after a long time, putting in a lot of security and operating system, technology and all that.

“We need to be comfortable running the system and ensure the system in place is working well to protect lives and properties of passengers, so it’s a gradual thing.

“It will take some time to ramp up but by Christmas when passenger influx is expected to increase, we hope to increase our services,” Osinowo said.

Before the attack, the fare from Idu to Rigasa was pegged at N7,000 for the 24-seater coaches, N5,000 for 56 and 68-seater coaches, and between N2,600 and N3,000 for 88-seater coaches depending on the time of the trip, while minors paid N1,500.

However, the fare has now been increased, as a trip from Idu to Rigasa is now N9,000 for 24-seater coaches, N6,500 for 56 and 68-seater coaches and N3,600 for 88-seater coaches, while minors are expected to pay N3,000.

Source: NAN

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The Secretary of the PDP Electoral Committee, Mr Abiante Awaj-Imombak, made the announcement on Saturday in Lagos, while announcing the results of the party’s primaries.

Accreditation and voting by delegates from wards in the five local government areas of Somolu, Kosofe, Ibeju- Lekki, Ikorodu and Epe started at about 1.30 p.m.

Declaring the results, Awaj-Imombak said that 638 delegates were accredited with a total number of 624 votes cast, while 14 votes were voided.

He said Gbadamosi scored 529 votes to emerge the winner in the election, while Saidat Odofin Fafowora, got 59 votes to come second.

“The other two aspirants, Babatunde Olanrewaju and Yetunde Oyefusi, scored 21 votes and seven votes to place third and fourth, respectively,” he said.

Awaj-Imombak said that Mr Ademola Alebiosu had earlier emerged as the party’s flagbearer for Kosofe Constituency II state House of Assembly by-election.

He said the election was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission and other agencies.

The Lagos East senatorial seat became vacant following the death of Sen. Adebayo Osinowo on June 15 this year.

Source: NAN

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Osinowo, popularly known as Peperrito, died on June 15.

The late lawmaker was a member of the Assembly for 16 years, serving four consecutive terms before he was elected into the Senate in 2019.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led the session of tributes to the memory of the late Osinowo, saying the deceased lived a fulfilled life on the home and political front.

The governor recalled that his path and that of the late politician crossed in 2003, noting that Osinowo’s personality meant different things to different people.

Sanwo-Olu said the late lawmaker was endowed with uncommon wit and humour, which, the governor said, Osinowo usually brought to any discussion no matter how seriously the subject matter.

The governor said: “The level of political dexterity of the late Senator Sikiru Adebayo Osinowo and his unique personality are not in contest, given the testimonies and tributes since his death. We saw in video documentary how he was able to galvanise and energise colleagues at legislative sittings.

“Many people may not know that I personally knew him since 2003. Sen. Osinowo meant different things to different people. His level of dedication to good governance and development of Lagos was unique. At the State’s cabinet meeting yesterday (Monday), we appreciated his contributions and held a special session in his honour.

“I know the level of comradeship we shared. This special plenary is really not to mourn him, because he was a distinguished Nigerian who distinguished himself in service. He led a fulfilled life on the home front and had an outstanding engagement on the political trajectory of this country.”

Sanwo-Olu said Osinowo’s death must serve as a lesson to those in the positions of leadership, saying people’s good testimonies after the demise of the late Senator confirmed his selflessness as a leader.

The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, recalled that the process of installing leadership of the fifth Assembly brought him close to the late Osinowo.

He described the late lawmaker as “a formidable stabiliser and hero”, saying Osinowo was an influential politician who was endowed in native intelligence.

Obasa acknowledged the role played by the late Osinowo in his emergence as Speaker of the Assembly at the 8th session, stressing that the deceased was a national politician who was progressive in nature.

Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who joined the session through virtual platform, said Osinowo’s sense of humanity would be forever remembered.

“He was a welder, who brought all contending forces together,” Gbajabiamila said in a tribute.

Members of the Assembly, who paid tribute to the late Senator, said Osinowo made credible legislations while he served in the Assembly.

Tunde Braimoh, who represented Kosofe Constituency II, said the late Osinowo was selfless and pragmatic.

The member representing Surulere 1, Desmond Elliot, said he was a man filled with wisdom, having seated beside him in the chamber for four years.

He said: “Sen. Oshinowo was an embodiment of humanity and a bridge builder, who was a parliamentarian par excellence. He was generous in ideas and resources.”

Sylvester Oguntelu urged the Assembly leadership to immortalise the late Senator for his contribution towards shaping the status of the legislative council.

In his 10-minute sermon, the Mudir of the Institute of Arabic and Islamic Training Center, Morkaz, in Agege, Sheikh Habibulah Adam Al-Ilory, said Allah created life and death as a test for human beings.

Taking a reading from Quran 67: 1-2, Sheikh Al-Ilory said death remained inevitable in human existence, urging people to strive to leave legacies of good deeds and righteousness.

Also speaking on the theme: “Preparation for Death”, Chief Imam of the Assembly Mosque and former member of the House, Abdul-Hakeem Abdulateef, urged leaders to bring themselves down before they are brought down by death.

He said humans must come to term with suddenness of death, saying: “We must not think we know our term limits.”

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Osinowo who represented Lagos East in the National Assembly died on Monday in a Lagos hospital after a brief illness.

In a message by his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Muhammadu Buhari offered his condolences to the family of Osinowo and the Senate.

As a member of the ninth senate and a key member of the All Progressives Congress, President Buhari recounts that Senator Osinowo as Chairman of Senate Committee on Industry and member of other committees, worked diligently to advance his administration’s objective of building a better and prosperous Nigeria.

The president affirmed that the Senator’s commitment to meet the needs of his community as a four-time member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, devotion to national development as well as insightful contributions at the floor of the Senate would be fondly remembered and missed.

Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described Senator Osinowo’s death as a rude shock, “coming at a time when the state and indeed the entire nation had just started benefiting from his wealth of political and administrative experience.”

The governor said Senator Osinowo’s demise had thrown the state into mourning, urging Lagosians, whose interests the late lawmaker represented at the National Assembly to use his death as a reminder that the battle against the ravaging coronavirus pandemic was far from being won.

Lagos State Speaker, Obasa also described Osinowo’s death as a rude shock.

“Not many could believe that the ebullient and ever smiling Pepperito, like a candle in the wind, had been blown out.

“Even with the evidence that death had done its worst, it is still difficult to come to terms that a political pillar and peace maker is gone,” Obasa said.

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