By Emmanuel Udom

The 81-kilometre Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway seems to be taking shape both for good and bad, as the Minister of Works, Mr Dave Umahi, works tirelessly to fix major roads and expressways in Nigeria.

Checks by Business Post in the last week revealed that from the Lagos end of the expressway, motorists and commenters seem to be having a smooth ride and rough from the Ogun State end, especially after the Toll Gate area, as pointed out by a commercial bus driver plying the Lagos-Abeokuta route, Mr Segun Abayomi.

He lamented on Thursday that from Toll Gate inward Ogun State, most of the terrible and dilapidated points and bus stops have been neglected by the government, though repairs are ongoing, according to our correspondent, who plied the road from Ewekoro in Ogun State to Iceman in Lagos State today.

It was observed that caterpillars and bulldozers, as at the time of filling this report, were busy fixing the roads at major bus stops and points from Toll Gate inward Ogun State, precisely around Joju, Corn-oil area, Omiyale, Pakoto, Vulcanizer, Bungalow, and U-Turn near Mountain of Fire Church in Ifo, Ogun State.

A female trader, returning from Oshiodi, lamented while boarding a commercial bus, of the health hazard caused by the dust raised by the workers in tiling the roads. She said the dust was affecting commuters, motorists and others.

This was confirmed by this newspaper, though efforts are being made to water the ground around Omiyale, near The Apostolic Church Convention ground and parts of Aiyede, to address this issue.

Recall that some weeks ago, Business Post that the government was doing a quick fix on the road to ease the hardship citizens playing the expressway go through daily.

The road connects Lagos to the capital of Ogun State, Abeokuta, and is one of the busiest inter-state and intra-city routes in Nigeria, covering more than 250,000 PCUs daily and constitutes one of the largest road networks in Africa, according to Wikipedia.

In 2017, the Lagos State government announced plans to put a BRT lane on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in two phases, with the first from Oshodi to Abule Egba, and the second from Abule Egba to Toll Gate, the boundary area between Lagos and Ogun States.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

From January 28 to 30, 2025, some creative professionals, policymakers, industry leaders, and thought influencers will be in Osun State to explore how the state can harness its cultural and artistic assets to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These critical stakeholders will gather at the SDG Skill Acquisition Centre in Iragbiji, Osun State for this event, supported by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

A statement by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals, Mr Bamikole Omishore, disclosed that the programme seeks to position Osun State as a leading force in the creative economy.

According to him, particular focus will be placed on three SDGs: Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; and Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Mr Omishore the theme of the event Innovate, Create, and Transform: Unlocking the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development was chosen to highlight the vital role creativity plays in driving economic growth, noting that the conference reflects the administration’s commitment to using creativity as a catalyst for economic development.

He said the gathering would feature a variety of interactive sessions, exhibitions, and cultural displays designed to inspire and empower participants.

Key themes will include unlocking creativity for global opportunities, exploring investment opportunities in Osun’s digital and creative sectors, and shaping narratives for change and influence, alongside a cultural and Adire exhibition, he stated.

“This event, with over 700 registered participants, is in line with Governor Adeleke’s agenda to stimulate economic growth by harnessing creativity and innovation.

“Through collaboration with the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Culture and Tourism, Agency on Creativity, Entertainment and Arts, stakeholders, private sector leaders, and development partners, who have worked relentlessly to bring this groundbreaking conference to life,” Mr Omishore explained.

Also commenting on the forthcoming programme, the Chairman of the Osun State House of Assembly Committees on ICT and SDG, Mr Adewumi Adeyemi, said, “The Osun State SDG Creatives Conference 2025 highlights the essential role of creativity and culture in achieving sustainable development.

“By fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation, this conference will help to build a more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant creative economy. We also hope this event will provide a sustainable framework to push Osun’s creative sector forward.”

On his part, the Special Adviser on Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Azeez Badmus, said, “Through the Osun SDG Creatives Conference, innovators and creators will drive Osun’s digital future, inspiring the youth to uncover their talents, share their unique stories, and shape their futures through the power of technology.”

By Adedapo Adesanya

Transgrid Enerco Limited will take over Nigeria’s second-largest electricity distribution company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko Disco), after completing a 60 per cent equity stake acquisition.

Transgrid is a consortium which includes North South Power Company Limited (NSP), Axxela Limited, and the Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Growth Fund (SIIF).

The share purchase agreement (SPA) for the proposed acquisition was signed on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, and the transaction will be completed in April 2025.

Earlier this month, West Power and Gas Ltd (WPG), the parent company of Eko DisCo, was reportedly close to selling its entire stake after the North-South Power, Axxela, and Stanbic Infrastructure Fund consortium won the bid to acquire it.

The monetary term of the deal was not disclosed but industry experts say it is over $200 million.

The play is a positive for the consortium as NSP and Axxela Limited are in the energy sector and Stanbic IBTC is making increased play to diversify its businesses.

NSP which owns Shiroro Dam will get direct control and insight into EKEDC’s operations enabling it to have a clear scope of the company’s cash flow distribution.

While Eko Disco meets remittance obligations to the market, the inability of other Discos to meet these obligations means that power-generating companies like NSP do not get their full payments.

This acquisition allows NSP to have better control of how the company collects payment.

This could also influence other Discos to employ more efficient payment collection tactics.

This extends the recent trend of electricity-generating companies buying distribution companies after a Transcorp-led Consortium, which owns the Ughelli Power Plant, acquired a 60 per cent majority stake in Abuja Disco in 2023.