The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, among other prominent figures in the state on Wednesday test-ran the rail system from the National Theatre Station, Iganmu to Marina.

The development followed the completion of the first phase of Lagos Blue Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) scheme, which covered Marina-Mile 2

Sanwo-Olu, who spoke at an event to mark the completion of rail infrastructure, said that the project,was a promise kept.

The official opening will be in January 2023 by President Muhammadu Buhari when the second phase covering Mile 2 to Okokomaiko will commence,he said

He said: “This milestone in the development of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit is the culmination of several impactful reforms in the transport ecosystem of Lagos State, starting in 1999, the dawn of the fourth Republic, when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu assumed office as the governor

“Our vision for an integrated transport system is enunciated in the Traffic Management and Transportation pillar of our T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda. Our transportation strategy is a multimodal one, bringing together the various elements of road, rail, and water, and ensuring they are seamlessly integrated.

‘’Coincidentally, Marina is central to our integrated multimodal transport system, being a melting pot for all the transportation modes. I am happy to announce that we will be developing Marina into an integrated transport interchange, with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD) .I am also happy to inform you that the three train sets for the commercial passenger operations for the Blue Line are already on ground.

“I want to also place on record the role played by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The CBN’s Differentiated Cash Reserves Requirement (DCRR) made it possible for Fidelity, Sterling and Access banks to pool resources together to provide credit financing for the completion of this first phase of the Blue Line. I am grateful to the leadership of the three banks for believing in us.

“To all of you the good people of Lagos, thank you for your patience, for bearing with us in the face of all the inconveniences thrown up by the implementation of the Light Rail network.

“This project is for you, please ensure you safeguard it. You should also bear in mind that this rail system is powered by electricity and must therefore not be trespassed in any way. Crossing the tracks is no longer an option, and the issue of vandalism in any form should not even arise at all. Pedestrian bridges have been provided to enable you to cross from one side to the other.

“To the glory of God, it is now my pleasure to formally announce the completion of the infrastructure for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line. We will now begin test-running of the line in preparation for its commissioning for commercial passenger operations in the first quarter of 2023”, Sanwo-Olu said.

The Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Abimbola Akinajo, described the project as a manifestation of the ‘audacious mind and courage of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and members of the State Executive Council’.

According to her, the Blue Line is one of the six rail lines articulated in the Lagos State Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), a brainchild of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate and former Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

She added: “Construction of the Blue line has been one of the most challenging projects the state has ever embarked upon, given the many issues we have had to overcome. To get to this point, we have had disturbances and delays in the relocation of submarine cables, submarine natural gas pipelines, and removal of underwater shipwrecks.

“The submarine geological conditions are complex, thus making construction in the lagoon extremely difficult. On a number of times, barges have collided with the trestle supporting our construction activities while the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic, and the long transportation cycle of imported equipment and materials also contributed to delays in the prompt completion of the rail project.

“But today, the story has changed. Today, Mr. Governor and other distinguished guests will take the first ride on this train using our unified electronic payment system, Cowry Card, which is currently the means of payment on our regulated buses and ferry services”.

The federal government will soon begin the enforcement of the criminal provisions of the Copyright Act against any Deejay who is found to be in hindrance.

The Director General of theNigerian Copyright Commission (NCC),Dr John Asein disclosed this this at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN) and Deejays Association of Nigeria (DJAN) in Abuja.

He explained that the move was in line with the Commission’s renewed drive to ensure respect for copyright and address all forms of copyright abuses.

Augustine Amadu, Director regulatory department at NCC,represented the DG.

He said the commission will be engaging with DJAN to develop a regulatory framework and ensure that operators are properly accredited and identified when they carry out public performances.

He added:“This is to bring sanity to their operations, promote professionalism and ensure total compliance with copyright rules,” he said.

He said Disc Jockeys are critical stakeholders in the copyright value chain.

“This is because apart from their pivotal role in the dissemination and public performance of music, they are also content creators. In the process of performing recorded music, they often create remixes that also qualify as protectable copyright works. It is therefore in their interest that the collective management system works well to reward the right owners,” Dr Asein said

He added that the signing of the MoU could not have come at a better time than now as Nigeria’s creative industry is witnessing an unprecedented boom.

“As much as we celebrate these successes, we also acknowledge the huge losses of revenue attributable to poor rights management in an increasingly borderless and technology-driven digital environment. More avenues for accessing creative content are springing up on different platforms, disrupting traditional sales and licensing arrangements,” Asein said promising that NCC will always be there to protect the rights of creative people.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of MCSN, Mr Mayowa Ayinlaran, thanked the management of NCC for modifying the MoU.

He said he was happy musicians have come to recognise the role of deejays in the entertainment industry. He promised that MCSN will keep its own part of the agreement.

The House of Representatives, Wednesday passed into second reading a bill to review upward the penalty for those who engage in Female Genital Mutilation, FGM in Nigeria.

Lawmakers,who spoke during the debate on the bill at plenary, the need for upward review of the penalty from 4 to 5years,whiile the fine should be raised from N200,000 to N1million

The sponsor Hon. Ganiyu Johnson explained that the upward review of the penalty as regards the bill will help contain the humiliating practice in the country.

The Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Mohammed Monguno in his reactions,said it is not enough to increase the years or amount on penalty for perpetrators of such crime but stress the important of public sensitization.

He further advocated the need for massive sensitisation of the general public with a view to avoiding such negative practices.

During the debate, an amendment by the deputy minority leader of the House, Hon. Tobi Okechukwu that the amount be increased to N2million was rejected on the ground that it must follow due process of the House.

The Speaker of the House, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila ruled in favour of the bill without any amendment,while referring the bill to the House committee on Women Affairs and Human Rights for further legislative actions.