Ben Ogbemudia
A human rights organization, One Love Foundation, has said the lifting of the ban on Twitter by the Federal Government confirmed that it violated the rights of the people. Speaking through the group’s Legal Officer, Mr. Samuel Ihensekhien, Jnr, said in Abuja that though Nigerians including the body are happy with the lifting of the ban, the case their organization instituted against the FG on the Twitter ban is billed to come up on January 20.
Ihensekhien remarked that the closure of Twitter for more than five months in Nigeria is a breach of the principle of access to communication, expression, and internet service. He said: “We received with joy and mixed feelings today being January 12, 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria’s decision to lift and un-ban Twitter in Nigeria. We did assure everyone concerned at the preliminary state of Twitter ban suspension by FG that it will be overturned and in clear affirmation of our belief that the Twitter ban is illegal and unconstitutional.
“Now due to our strong advocacy as a group with other civil society groups, it has been upturned and Twitter social media site services restored to Nigeria. “Consequently, after consultation with the Global President of One Love Foundation, Patrick Eholor on the above, nothing as it concerns our ongoing case in Re: Patrick Eholor and others vs FRN on #Twitter ban ongoing and slated for judgment at the ECOWAS Court on January 20, 2022, has changed.
“However, no doubt this case has one way or the other contributed to the present positive situation. As a group, One Love Caring and Human Rights Foundation believes strongly in the different recognized international charters on freedom of expression, information and further the different local and municipal laws of Nigeria on right to internet access of all Nigerians.”
“Our standstill remains that the shutdown of Twitter incorporated operations before now and for more than five months in Nigeria is a breach of the principle of access to communication, expression, and internet service.”
Lagos to divert traffic on Dopemu Road for three months for rehabilitation.
The Lagos State Government has said it will divert traffic on Dopemu Road in the Agege area of the state starting from 10 p.m., on Friday, January 21, for three months. The closure, according to the state, was to carry out rehabilitation and upgrade on the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Road.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, who disclosed this in a statement to newsmen yesterday in Lagos, explained that the repair works would be executed in three phases, adding that the first phase of the project would focus on the Ipaja road up to the Adealu Street junction, which would last three months.
He stated that alternative routes had been mapped out by the state Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to ensure effective control of vehicular movements along the axis, during the duration of the repairs.
The commissioner advised motorists inbound Dopemu Bridge from the Iyana Ipaja/Alagba axis to go through Ipaja Road, to connect Oyewole Street into Seriki Street, adding that the movement would link them to Kolawole and Adebambo Streets, to access Adealu Road, to their desired destination.
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“In the same vein, motorists heading toward Dopemu Bridge from Ipaja (Oke Koto) are to utilize Markaz Road to connect Awori Street and link Sarumi Alawo Street/Oniwaya and Surulere. With this, they will continue their journey or alternatively, go through Alfa Nla from Old Ipaja Road, to connect Oniwaya/Surulere axis to reach the Dopemu Bridge.
“The alternative routes are in motorable conditions and will not pose any difficulty to motorists. We are also assuring that the LASTMA personnel will be at the diversion routes for efficient traffic management. I must commend Lagosians for their perseverance through the myriad of constructions going on across the state,” Oladeinde said.
He, however, called for support from the residents, while assuring them that their sacrifice would yield the desired outcome for the state’s multi-modal transportation system.
