By Monire-Oluwa Lucas

Efforts aimed at further enhancing road safety in Ogun State received a boost following fresh collaborative engagement between the Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant and the State Sector Command for safer road use and general safety advocacy.

Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant reaffirmed its commitment to promoting safer roads and strengthening stakeholder collaboration as it received the newly deployed Ogun State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, and members of his management team on a courtesy visit to the plant.

Speaking during the engagement, Ogunjobi commended Dangote Cement for its consistent support to the FRSC and its contribution to road safety initiatives over the years pointing out that the company has established itself as one of the Corps’ most reliable corporate partners through its commitment to safety and responsible transportation practices.

He said: “Dangote Cement has remained a dependable partner of the Federal Road Safety Corps over the years, and we deeply appreciate the support we have continued to receive from the company. As an organisation with extensive logistics and transportation operations, Dangote Cement understands the importance of safety on our roads. This shared commitment provides a strong foundation for even greater collaboration between our two institutions.”

The Sector Commander emphasised that promoting a culture of safety requires continuous engagement with stakeholders, particularly organisations that operate large fleets of vehicles and professional drivers.

“Road safety is not the responsibility of FRSC alone. It requires collective action from government agencies, private sector organisations, transport operators, and road users. We believe there is significant potential for us to work more closely with Dangote Cement in driving safety awareness and improving compliance with road traffic regulations,” he stated.

As part of the proposed areas of cooperation, Ogunjobi advocated the establishment of an FRSC Special Marshal Unit within the Ibese Plant, noting that the initiative would strengthen safety consciousness among employees and drivers.

“We would like to see the establishment of an in-plant FRSC Special Marshal Unit that will serve as a platform for promoting road safety advocacy and best practices among staff and transport operators. Such a unit will support specialized driver training programmes, regular sensitisation sessions, and proactive safety campaigns aimed at reducing road crashes,” he said.

He further assured the company of the Corps’ readiness to provide technical support through continuous engagement, capacity building and safety enlightenment initiatives that will ultimately benefit not just the company but all road users across the state.
Responding, the Plant Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese, Ayyagri Subbaraidu, described the FRSC as a critical stakeholder in the company’s operations and commended the Corps for its dedication to preserving lives on Nigerian roads. He assured that safety remains a central pillar of Dangote Cement’s operational philosophy and long-term growth strategy.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps plays a strategic role in our operations because transportation is a vital component of our business. We therefore recognise and appreciate the tremendous work being done by the Corps in ensuring safer roads and protecting lives,” Subbaraidu said.

He explained that the company’s Vision 2030 places strong emphasis on responsible operations, sustainability, and stakeholder collaboration, making road safety an important priority.

“Dangote Vision 2030 clearly highlights the need for stronger partnerships with key stakeholders such as the FRSC. Safety is not merely a regulatory requirement for us; it is a core value that guides how we operate every day,” he stated.

“Our commitment goes beyond the movement of products. We are committed to ensuring that our drivers, contractors, employees and every road user interacting with our operations do so in the safest possible environment.”

• LASG assures of effective traffic management

By Grace Edet
The Lagos State Government has assured residents and motorists of effective traffic management plans ahead of the planned rehabilitation of the Lekki–Ajah corridor, aimed at reducing disruptions and ensuring smooth movement during the eight-month repair period.
The assurance comes in response to public concerns over likely diversions, as the project is scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 15, 2025 and conclude on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
In a statement issued on yesterday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, the government explained that the rehabilitation would be carried out in phases and guided by a detailed traffic management plan designed to maintain smooth vehicular flow along the corridor.
“The rehabilitation work will be implemented in carefully planned phases to ensure that daily movement is not disrupted. Only specific sections of the corridor will undergo repairs at any given time, and these sections have been deliberately chosen to ensure minimal impact on the main carriageway,” the statement read.
Giwa added that alternative routes, including the Coastal Road and adjoining service lanes, are being strengthened to ease diversions, while a night-shift construction schedule will help reduce congestion during peak periods.
“LASTMA personnel will be deployed in adequate numbers along the entire stretch to ensure continuous movement, prevent gridlock, and respond swiftly to any traffic pressure that may arise during the rehabilitation period,” he said.
The government appealed for patience and cooperation, emphasising that the long-term benefits of the project would far outweigh temporary inconveniences.
“The intention of the rehabilitation project is to improve the Lekki–Ajah corridor, not to add discomfort to residents.
“We urge everyone to bear with the temporary inconvenience as we work to make commuting safer, faster, and more convenient for all,” Giwa added.
The state government had earlier announced that the rehabilitation of the Lekki–Ajah corridor will be carried out over eight months in two phases to limit disruptions to movement and business activities.
According to the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the project will begin with Phase 1: Lekki 1st Toll Gate to Lekki 2nd Toll Gate, covering seven sections of the expressway and Phase 2: Lekki 2nd Toll Gate to Ajah Under-Bridge, focusing on four sections with planned traffic diversions.
Osiyemi noted that the works are part of the state government’s broader efforts to improve road quality and ease traffic flow within the fast-growing Lekki–Ajah axis.
“Some sections of the road will be partially closed during the repair period. Motorists are advised to be patient and follow traffic directions,” he stated.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to world-class infrastructure and continuous public engagement throughout the project’s execution.

The Federal Government has been asked to compel international oil companies (IOCs) to pay $100billion to oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta for the many years of damage done on the region’s ecosystem.

Niger Delta Farmers, Fishermen/Seafood Dealers Association (NDFFSDA) made the demand at the weekend in a statement by its national President, Imoh Okoko and secretary,  Sunny Eleas.

The NDFFSDA said that the operations of the oil companies have caused frequent oil spills, black soot, acid rain, gas flaring among others which adversely impact on the communities leading to loss of livelihoods and even deaths.

The statement added that fisherman, seafood dealers and farmers have also suffered terrible loses and deaths in the course of the fishing in the waters of the region.

The statement reads in parts: “It has become pertinent to bring to your attention the fact that the ongoing oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta region are repeatedly causing severe damage to our fishing nets, hooks, boots, and other essential fishing equipment.

“The continuous destruction of our equipment by the movement of their (IOC’s) heavy sea moving machines/equipment, eg oil vessels, surveillance boots, etc,  is causing immense economic loss to members of our Association, as we depend solely on these tools for our daily sustenance and income.

“The massive loss of lives and livelihood and avoidable accidents at sea are preventable and we strongly advocate that measures be put in place to ensure same so as to promote a sustainable environment for positive development in the sectors.

“These accidents variously occurred in the years 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, and the most recent incident occurred in 2024. These tragic incidents have not only taken away valuable lives but have left families in distress, with no compensation or recognition from either the Companies or the relevant supervisory authorities.

“In light of the above, we respectfully call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to work out the payment is $100 billion to oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region as compensation for years of oil exploration and exploitation.

“This has led to irreversible damages to the livelihood and ecosystem in the region; this compensation would douse raging tensions and hopelessness that people in the region going through and feeling.

“This fund is needed urgently and saliently to specifically address the rapid provision of health facilities, replenishment of floundering rare animals, plants and fish species; which have been devastated for the past 65 years.

“We also support the call that the above demanded compensation be paid into a special account, to be administered by oil-producing states in collaboration with local and international environmental groups with focus on provision of health facilities, women empowerment, education and reviving fishing and agriculture in the region”.