14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16 , 2015
FG approves commencement of Port Harcourt-Aba mass transit rail service By Jonah Nwokpoku
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AGOS—THE F e d e r a l Government has approved the commencement of Port Harcourt to Aba mass transit train service. The minister of transport, Chibuike Amaechi gave the approval, Monday during his visit to the Nigerian Railway Corporation headquarters in Lagos. Amaechi will on Wednesday, December, 16 2015 officially flag-off the service in Port Harcourt and is expected to run four trips daily, from Monday to Saturday.
speaking during the visit, the minister said the federal government is interested in the development of the railway and that its priority in the sector would be construction of standard gauge rail lines. He said: “The federal government is heavily interested in the railways. We will focus on the standard gauge. It is critical that Nigeria is seen as one of the countries that use standard gauge. I think we have a problem, many people do not believe that the railway is functioning. Up until I started this tour, I did not have an idea that
there are rail services going to Kano and all other places. I did not know that there were train services outside Lagos. ''So there is need for people to be aware that the narrow gauge is still functioning. At the moment, it takes between one to three days to travel from Lagos to Kano and that is not what the government wants. That is why the federal government has to emphasise the need to construct the standard gauge which is faster.” On his part, the Managing Director, NRC, Engr.Adeseyi Sijuade said: “Railways in Nigeria has been in comatose for decades but is now back on
track and on its way to attaining greater heights. Following progress made on the ongoing rehabilitation projects, Nigerian Railway Corporation now operates mass transit trains,intercity passenger trains, cargo trains, excursion trains and
specialised chartered trains all over the country. ''We are equally optimistic of commencing the movement of petroleum products from Lagos up North soonest to further strengthen railway relevance to the economic growth of Nigeria.”
The minister toured some of the railway facilities including: The newly-acquired $10.3 billion operational control centre; Carriage and wagon workshop; Loco diesel workshop; Loco running shed and the Iddo terminus.
CRUDE THEFT: Kachikwu’s war yields result, 20 vandals arrested
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HE war against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalization by the Minister of State for Petroleum and the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has led to the arrest of 20 suspects. The suspects were
arrested by a combined team of Nigerian Navy, the Army and other Security agencies collaborating with the NNPC/PPMC to monitor and patrol the pipelines. According to the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, the suspects were
China-Nigeria boost cultural ties with film festival By Japhet Alakam
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AGOS—THE C h i n e s e government has promised to partner with Nigeria government in the area of film production and promotion. This was disclosed by Chinese Consul General, Mr Liu Kan, yesterday in Lagos during an interaction with media men about the forthcoming Chinese film festival scheduled to take place in Lagos on Friday and Saturday at Hall 2, Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Island. The film festival consists of opening reception and film show. It will showcase the wonderful Chinese films that will enable the audience get a better knowledge of their Chinese history and culture, development as well as Chinese local customs and practices. Mr Liu Kan,who stated that China and Nigeria are countries with long history and splendid cultures said “China-Nigeria cooperation in all fields is developing C M Y K
steadily, and cultural industry, film industry will be a new area of cooperation we can develop.” The film festival according to the Consul Genral is in line with an earlier declaration by the Chinese President Mr Xi Jinping at the 6th Forum on ChinaAfrica cooperation held in Johannesburg, that China will broaden and deepen the all-round cooperation between China and Africa, and that China-Africa cooperation should not only be driven by economic and trade relations, but also by cultural exchanges. Mr Liu Kan further stated that the film festival which is the first time China will be holding such cultural exchange in Lagos will enable the two countries to understand their different cultures. On the possibility of cooperation between Chinese and African film industries, Mr Liu Kan stated that the cooperation between Chinese and African film industries has broad prospects.
intercepted by patrol team between the Atlas Cove and Mosimi depot. The PPMC said the 20man syndicate was specifically smashed at the Ilado/Ilase Pipelline axis. The PPMC said: “In line with the directives of Mr. President to ensure zero tolerance against crude oil theft and pipeline vandals, the measures put in place by Kachikwu have started achieving positive results. “Between the Atlas Cove and Mosimi depot, a team of Nigerian Navy, the Army and other Security agencies collaborating with the NNPC/PPMC apprehended a 20-man syndicate group which included a woman. “These are notorious members of gang engaging in pipeline vandalization and product theft along the Ilado/Ilase pipeline axis. “Also confiscated from the vandals are 2 Hilux trucks, with thousands of jerry cans filled with petroleum products, equipment and several generators. “The suspected vandals have been taken into custody at the Nigerian Naval Base, Western Command, Apapa and are awaiting further interrogation. On her part, the Managing Director of PPMC, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, said the agency in the last two weeks had recorded a lot of success along the Atlas Cove and Mosimi axis of the pipeline with renewed collaboration with security agencies.
OPENING: From right; All Progressives Congress, APC Lagos State Chairman, Otunba Henry Ajomale; Mr. Emmanuel Avielele, Group head, Retail Banking, Union bank; and Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Abdullateef at a Union Bank Opening in Ikeja.