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Students’ union: NANS gives OAU condition to suspend planned protes

Published

5 years ago

April 15, 2021

Obafemi Awolowo e National Association of Nigerian Students has given the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife a condition to suspend its planned mass protest against the suspension of the Students’ Union in the institution.

They gave the conditions after meeting with the management of the institution, according to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of NANS in South-West, Kazeem Israel, on Thursday.

The students’ body had given a seven-day ultimatum to the management of OAU and other institutions in the South-West to reinstate their students’ union.

Reacting, the OAU management announced plans to reinstate its students’ union after its Senate meeting.

Our correspondent gathered that during the meeting with the OAU management, officials of NANS threatened that it would order mass mobilisation of students to the university campus if no positive outcome is gotten from the Senate meeting.

It was also learnt that many aggrieved student leaders across the South-West have put pressures on the leadership of NANS to lead a mass protest in OAU over students’ union suspension.

“If we hold a mass protest in OAU, other institutions will learn. Most of them emulate OAU when it comes to unionism. We can have a peaceful warning protest of 500 students mobilised across the region,” a former Students’ Union president told our correspondent.

However, Israel in the statement said NANS delayed its decision to hold the mass protest hoping that OAU management would fulfil its promise.

Part of the statement read, “It is public knowledge that the leadership of NANS Zone D, in fulfilling the mandate placed on them by the mass of Nigerian students in the Zone, had, on the 6th of this month called on the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and the management of LASPOTECH, YABATECH and UNILAG to reinstate the institutions’ suspended Students’ Unions within seven working days.

“The seven-day ultimatum elapses today (Thursday) and we are expected to signal all organs of the association that are already on red alert to mobilise heavily to Obafemi Awolowo University to demand the unconditional reinstatement of the Students’ Union till our demand is met.

“It is instructive to note that the management of Obafemi Awolowo University through the Division of Students’ Affairs replied the leadership of the Zone and the entire Nigerian students in the institution via a circular that processes to ensure the reinstatement of the Students’ Union had begun even before the ultimatum was issued.

“However, the Division of Students’ Affairs of the institution called for a ‘truce’ meeting with the leadership of the association in the Zone to discuss issues as regards suspension and reinstatement of the Students’ Union.

“The leadership of the Zone, during the meeting, maintained that the Vice-Chancellor of the University should communicate the general public via a written statement that the Students’ Union of the institution has been reinstated at the latest, Friday, after the conclusion of the University’s Senate meeting where resumption of students is meant to be discussed. “Both the DSA and the CSO assured the leadership of the Zone that the VC shall communicate adequately.”

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BREAKING: PDP Convention Crisis Deepens as Appeal Court Backs Order Against INEC Recognition

Published

3 days ago

March 9, 2026

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…dismisses appeal, awards N2m cost against party

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the October 31 judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the national convention planned for Ibadan, Oyo State on November 15 and 16 by the PDP.

In a unanimous judgment on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court resolved the four issues for determination against the PDP.

It held that the appeal by the PDP was without merit and that the Federal High Court was right to have entered the October 31 judgment and granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

The Court of Appeal faulted the PDP’s claim that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to have heard the case on the grounds that issues involved were solely internal affairs of the party.

The court also held that the plaintiffs had the locus standi to have institutes the suit to protect their democratic rights and that the PDP was not denied fair hearing as it claimed in its appeal.

The court awarded N2million cost against the PDP for filing a frivolous appeal.

The court is yet to render its decisions in the remaining eight appeals, which include judgment and rulings

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Opeifa Defends Rail Reforms, Unveils Nationwide Expansion Roadmap

Published

1 week ago

March 4, 2026

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Opeifa maintained that derailments are not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that such incidents occur across advanced rail systems globally.

“Derailments are regular occurrences in the rail sector worldwide. In February alone, there were incidents in countries like Britain and others. Around the same time we experienced one, there were multiple derailments across the world,” he said.

He disclosed that in 2025, Nigeria recorded three major derailments:
• August 26 at Asham in Kaduna State
• November 1 at Abraka on the Warri–Itakpe line
• November 8 at Agbor on the same corridor

He said the NRC responded swiftly, restoring services within 24 hours in one case, while others were resolved within 21 and 28 days respectively.

Opeifa stressed that derailments can result from factors such as weather conditions, signal glitches, human error, speeding, or aging infrastructure, but noted that in Nigeria’s recent cases, there were no fatalities.

“These incidents are preventable and efforts are ongoing to minimize them. However, they should not be seen as major setbacks to the overall progress of the railway system,” he said.

On Allegations of Mismanagement

Addressing allegations of financial mismanagement within the corporation, Opeifa declined detailed comments, citing ongoing legal processes.

“When a matter is in court, it is sub judice. Allegations of corruption or mismanagement should be handled by the appropriate authorities,” he stated.

He reiterated that his priority is to reposition the NRC in line with global best practices and ensure efficient rail services for Nigerians.

Expansion, Upgrades and National Connectivity

The NRC boss said efforts are underway to restore damaged coaches and upgrade infrastructure using local engineers and technicians.

“We are bringing back the lines and retrofitting coaches. The Warri–Itakpe line is operational. The Abuja–Kaduna line is running, and we are increasing trips from two to three,” he said.

On long-term plans, Opeifa disclosed that the NRC roadmap envisions rail connectivity across major cities nationwide, subject to funding and phased execution.

He dismissed claims of abandoned projects, explaining that rail developments are capital-intensive and implemented in phases based on available resources.

He cited progress on the Lagos–Ibadan corridor—part of the larger Lagos–Kano project—as well as ongoing work on the Kano–Maradi line linking key northern cities.

Lagos–South-East, Port Connections in View

Opeifa also highlighted plans to expand connectivity between southern ports and inland cities. These include proposed links from Warri to Abuja and from Lekki Deep Sea Port to Kajola, Benin, Onitsha, and Aba, enabling both passenger and cargo movement.

Toward Modern Signaling and Faster Trains

On modernization, he said Nigeria is gradually upgrading from older narrow-gauge systems to standard-gauge infrastructure with improved signaling technology.

He noted that metro rail projects in Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos are being developed with higher signaling standards, positioning the country for faster and more efficient train services in the coming years.

“We are not yet at the highest global level, but we are moving steadily upward,” Opeifa said.

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Ticket Reform Boosts Confidence in Lagos–Ibadan Rail Service, Says Opeifa

Published

1 week ago

March 3, 2026

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A quiet transformation is reshaping the daily commute between Nigeria’s commercial hub and the historic city of Ibadan. Passengers on the Lagos–Ibadan standard gauge corridor say services have become more efficient and predictable following a clampdown on ticket racketeering led by Kayode Opeifa

The renewed confidence in the rail line linking Lagos and is influencing residential and employment decisions among middle-income earners who once considered daily intercity commuting unrealistic.

“It is now possible to live in Ibadan and work in Lagos without the daily anxiety of securing a ticket,” said Adewale Bamidele, a financial analyst who travels three times a week. “Before, you needed connections. Now, you book, you board, you arrive.”

A Line Once Hindered by Middlemen

The Lagos–Ibadan railway, inaugurated as a flagship infrastructure project under the administration of former President Buhari was designed to ease pressure on the congested Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and deepen economic integration across the South-West.

However, in its early phases, passengers frequently complained of informal ticket rackets. Allegations included bulk-buying by intermediaries and artificial scarcity that forced travellers to pay inflated prices for seats on high-demand trains.

Industry observers say such practices undermined the railway’s credibility as a mass transit solution. “Transport systems thrive on predictability and fairness,” said a transport economist “Once access is perceived as compromised, commuters revert to road transport despite the risks and delays.”

Enforcement and Digitisation

Since assuming oversight responsibilities within the sector, Opeifa has reportedly intensified internal monitoring and strengthened digital ticketing protocols. Railway officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said stricter verification processes and disciplinary measures against errant staff have curtailed unauthorised ticket sales.

Although the Nigerian Railway Corporation has not released detailed enforcement data, anecdotal evidence from regular commuters points to shorter queues, smoother boarding procedures and fewer last-minute cancellations.

For professionals with flexible work schedules, the improvement has been significant. The average journey time of about two to three hours—depending on the service type—now compares favourably with unpredictable road travel, which can take considerably longer during peak traffic.

Changing Urban Dynamics

Property agents in Ibadan report a modest rise in enquiries from Lagos-based workers seeking more affordable housing. Rents in many parts of Ibadan remain significantly lower than comparable neighbourhoods in Lagos, offering relief to households grappling with inflationary pressures.

“Rail reliability changes everything,” said Funke Adebayo, a real estate consultant in Ibadan. “When people trust the timetable, they are more willing to relocate.”

Economists caution, however, that long-term success will depend on consistent maintenance, adequate security along the corridor and transparent ticketing systems. Any return to informal practices could quickly erode recent gains.

The Lagos–Ibadan corridor is widely regarded as a litmus test for Nigeria’s broader rail ambitions. With additional standard gauge projects planned or underway nationwide, policymakers face mounting pressure to ensure that infrastructure investments translate into reliable public service delivery.

For now, passengers remain cautiously optimistic.

“It feels more organised,” Bamidele said while disembarking at Mobolaji Johnson Station in Lagos. “If this standard is sustained, rail can genuinely compete with road transport.”

Nigeria agree, the real challenge lies not just in laying tracks, but in sustaining public trust.

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