2nd Niger bridge interchange: FG swiftly deploys contractors to remediate erosion threat - ITREALMS

Following alarm raised over gully erosion rapidly undermining the expressway at the Obosi/Asaba interchange of the Second Niger Bridge, emergency remedial work has officially commenced, reports ITREALMS.

Site photographs obtained on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, confirm that heavy construction equipment and engineering personnel have been deployed to the affected sector to stabilize the failing embankment and prevent further undercutting of the highway structure.

Tech-Enabled Sanctuaries: Can AI and apps bridge the care gap? Asks Remmy Nweke - WeekendDigits@ITREALMS

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In this WeekendDigits@ITREALMS special for Men’s Mental Health Month, REMMY NWEKE explores "Tech-Enabled Sanctuaries." Evaluate the rise of AI counseling and anonymous apps for African men, balancing immediate clinical accessibility against crucial data privacy and digital sovereignty.

 As we advance into Week 3 of our Silent Syncs series, 
WeekendDigits@ITREALMS pivots the conversation from the digital triggers of anxiety to tech-driven solutions. We examine the emerging landscape of Tech-Enabled Sanctuaries—evaluating whether digital therapeutics, anonymous wellness applications, and artificial intelligence can truly bridge the immense mental healthcare gap for African men.

Konga unveils Easter homecoming campaign to bridge digital gaps for less - ITREALMS

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Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce platform, has announced the launch of its highly anticipated Easter homecoming campaign, reports ITREALMS.

This strategic seasonal initiative, which commenced on April 1st, 2026, isn't merely a commercial event; it is a profound leadership event designed to ensure that the unescapable digital fate of millions of Nigerians is secured through affordability and access.

NCC top brass interrogates Lagos telecom infrastructure to bridge digital gaps - ITREALMS Online

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The landscape of Nigeria’s digital connectivity is undergoing a strategic, high-stakes interrogation. In a decisive move to align regulatory oversight with physical reality, the top leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) concluded a high-profile facility tour of major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and infrastructure providers in Lagos, reports ITREALMS.

The delegation, led by the NCC board chairman, Chief Idris Olorunnimbe, and the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Dr. Aminu Maida, visited the nerve centers of MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and Open Data Access (DataCentre), facilitated by Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) led by Engr. Gbenga Adebayo.

Ex-Speaker, Aminu Masari, lists four conditions to bridge gap between campaign promises, realities - ITREALMS

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The former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari has lamented the yawning gap between campaign promises by politicians and realities of governance on the ground.

Delivering the Keynote Address at the 9th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos, Masari, who spoke on the theme: Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects, listed four conditions to bridge such gaps in the interest of democracy.

Nigeria: All On chairman urges bold investments to bridge energy gap - ITREALMS

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Nigeria needs bold investments to address the energy deficit that affects millions of households and industries, Chairman of off-grid impact investment company All On, and Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), Ronald Adams has declared, reports ITREALMS.

Addressing business leaders at the 2025 International Business Conference & Expo of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Adams, who assumed the role of All On Board Chairman last month, quoted statistics showing that over 80 million Nigerians lacked access to reliable electricity.

Tinubu approves N16.7bn for Mokwa bridge reconstruction - ITREALMS

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of N16.7 billion for the immediate reconstruction of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, which was destroyed by flooding in May.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this in Abakaliki after a meeting with Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi.

Kalama link bridge: Group applauds Fubara's approval - ITREALMS

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The Kalama Development Initiative, a socio-political pressure group, has praised Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for approving the construction of a bridge that will connect Kalama to the rest of the state. 

The group, founded in 2018 to address the socio-political concerns of youths in Kalama, hailed the Governor's commitment to enhancing connectivity and improving the lives of the state's residents.

Two dead in bridge collapse @Netherlands - ITREALMS

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The Dutch regional authorities has described on Wednesday the collapse of a bridge in the eastern city of Lochem occurred as "industrial accident" reports ITREALMS.

Also, Dutch Prime Minister (PM) Mark Rutte, has expressed his condolences to the victims of the "tragic" event.

We’ll deliver Olodo bridge on schedule says Contractor - ITREALMS

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The contractor handling the Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo road, Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, has assured the people of Oyo State, especially users of the road, that all hands are on deck to finish the reconstruction of Olodo bridge on schedule.

The company’s Executive Director, Engr Abel Adeleke, stated this at the weekend while answering questions on the extent of work done on the bridge.

Oyo govt opens alternative road in Olodo, promises to fix collapsed bridge - ITREALMS

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The Oyo State government has opened an alternative route in the Olodo axis, appealing to road users not to hinder the flow of traffic on the new route, following the collapse of the bridge, reports ITREALMS.

The Commissioner for Works, Public Infrastructure and Transport, Professor Daud Kehinde Shangodoyin, who visited the 2.5 kilometre Oki Junction-Olodo Bank Road fixed by the government as an alternative route for road users in the axis, said the collapsed bridge would also be fixed in six months.

CBN, CBE sign deal for ‘Nigeria-Egypt FinTech Bridge’ - ITREALMS

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a Nigeria-Egypt FinTech Bridge, reports ITREALMS.

The signing ceremony, which took place at the Seamless North Africa 2023 conference at the Egypt International Exhibition Center, Cairo, on July 17 – 18, 2023, comes after a series of engagements on issues around payment systems, financial technology, and financial inclusion in Africa.

'London bridge is down' as Queen Elizabeth II joins ancestors - ITREALMS

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In England, the death of the ruler is described as ‘London bridge is down’, just as it has been confirmed that Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom has joined her ancestors, at the age of 96, reports ITREALMS.

Queen is also the leader of the 14 other Commonwealth states and has been on the throne for 70 years.

Echo Lab in Nigeria to bridge medical diagnosis gap - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Echo Lab in partnership with Integrated Diagnostic Holdings (IDH) has launched a state of the art laboratory in Lagos to address advanced and comprehensive laboratory services, reports ITREALMS.

The group said the rationale for this move was to close up the knowledge and technology gap lacking in the medical diagnostic field as well as consolidate the sector through the experience of IDH who happens to be an international player in the industry.

Chairman of the company, Dr Benson Ayodele Cole said in Lagos that the partnership has aided in the eradication of challenges of human error in the diagnosis process through the procurement of latest equipment in the field.

Rather than assumptions as the case was before, he said the newly acquired types of equipment are supported with computer-aided abilities to reduce human interference.

The Echo Lab boss said this expansion of diagnostic services in the country seeks to also tackle the issue of medical tourism as well as harness the medical diagnostic market.

Echo Lab who already have 10 locations Nationwide now renders services in pathology, molecular diagnostic, genetics testing and radiology as part of the expansion.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Buhari blames NASS over cut on second Niger bridge, other strategic infrastructure - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed the National Assembly (NASS) for some strategic cuts in the 2018 appropriation bill for the provision of national and regional infrastructure projects like the Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project, reports ITRealms.

Revealing this Wednesday during the signing of the 2018 appropriation bill, Buhari lamented that an aggregated N11.5 billion was cut off the strategic infrastructure vote, just as the bill for provisions of some ongoing critical infrastructure projects in the FCT, Abuja especially major arterial roads and the mass transit rail project, were cut by a total of N7.5 billion.

Although he expressed thanks to the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as all the distinguished Senators and Honourable Members, for passing the 2018 Appropriation Bill, after seven months.

“When I submitted the 2018 budget proposals to the National Assembly on 7^th November 2017, I had hoped that the usual legislative review process would be quick, so as to move Nigeria towards a predictable January-December financial year.  The importance of this predictability cannot be overemphasized,” he said.

Also, he noted that while the Federal Government’s budget represents less than 10 per cent of aggregate yearly expenditures in the economy, it has a very significant accelerator effect on the financial plans of other tiers of government, and even more importantly, the private sector, which mostly operates on a January-December financial year.  

For Mr. President, NASS is working towards improving the budgeting process and restoring our country to the January-December fiscal cycle, stressing that the National Assembly is working on the enactment of an Organic Budget Law, so as to improve the efficiency of the nation’s budgetary process.

“As I mentioned during the presentation of the 2018 Appropriation Bill, we intend to use the 2018 Budget to consolidate the achievements of previous budgets and deliver on Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020,” President Buhari said.  

He further expressed concern over some of the changes that the National Assembly made to the budget proposals that was presented, insisting that the logic behind the Constitutional direction that budgets should be proposed by the Executive is that, it is the Executive that knows and defines its policies and projects.  

Buhari described as “Unfortunately, that has not been given much regard in what has been sent to me.  The National Assembly made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to N578 billion.

Lamenting that many of the projects cut were critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the reduced allocation as some of the new projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly conceptualized, designed, costed and will therefore be difficult to execute.

Furthermore, he pointed out that many of these new projects introduced by the National Assembly have been added to the budgets of most MDAs with no consideration for institutional capacity to execute them or the incremental recurrent expenditure that may be required.  

“As it is, some of these projects relate to matters that are the responsibility of the States and Local Governments, and for which the Federal Government should therefore not be unduly burdened,” he maintained.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Africa launches 5% agenda to bridge $68bn infrastructure finance gap

ITRealms:

The African Union’s economic development programme, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) gathered international investors and CEO-level business leaders at the NASDAQ Stock Market on Monday, September 18, for the launch of its 5 per cent Agenda campaign to bridge the $68 billion infrastructure finance gap, reports ITRealms.

This is coming five years after a January 2012 African Union Summit adopted the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) which sets out 51 cross-border infrastructure programmes and more than 400 actionable projects in four sectors.

According to the World Bank, the continent needs to spend $93 billion annually (44% for energy; 23% for water and sanitation; 20% for transport; 10% for ICTs; and 3% for irrigation) until 2020 to bridge its infrastructure gap, which is currently removing an estimated 2% of GDP growth every year. On the other hand, Africa only managed to close 158 project finance deals with debt totalling $59 billion over the decade 2004-2013, which represents only 5 percent of infrastructure investment needs and 12 percent of the actual financial flows.

The 5% Agenda campaign highlights that only a collaborative public-private approach can efficiently tackle these issues and calls for allocations of institutional investors to African infrastructure to be increased to the declared 5% mark.

Speaking at the launch event in New York, Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, NEPAD Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Infrastructure plays a leading role in supporting growth on the continent. At the same time, it can represent an innovative and attractive asset class for institutional investors with long-term liabilities. By launching the 5% campaign in New York today, we invite investors to take advantage of the wide-ranging opportunities Africa has to offer and to move forward with what can only be a win-win partnership”.

The launch of the campaign gathered high-level international investors and business leaders, including members of the PIDA Continental Business Network (CBN) which is spearheaded by NEPAD and constitutes a CEO-level private sector infrastructure leaders dialogue platform on PIDA.

Tony O. Elumelu, one of Africa’s most prominent entrepreneurs and active participant in the CBN said: “Africa is getting stronger every day with new business opportunities and innovative ideas but what is still crucially missing is project implementation. A coherent and coordinated approach is needed to mobilize institutional investors while limiting their risk exposure. African governments need to work on creating conducive environments to attract these investments which are so vital for the continent's growth and development.”

According to a 2016 McKinsey report, institutional investors and banks have $120 trillion in assets that could partially support infrastructure projects.

Now more than ever, Africa needs to tap into this available. As banks face additional regulatory challenges and as governments have limited fiscal space, it is becoming increasingly urgent to unlock additional flows from long-term institutional investors such as insurers, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds.

For pension and sovereign wealth funds to be able to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa, a variety of issues need to be addressed to strategically and intentionally facilitate long-term allocations. Chief amongst these matters is the need to reform national and regional regulatory frameworks that guide institutional investment in Africa. Likewise, new capital market products need to be developed that can effectively de-risk credit and hence, allow these African asset owners to allocate finance to African infrastructure as an investable asset class to their portfolio.

All these issues are at the heart of the 5% Agenda roadmap, which is the backbone of NEPAD’s campaign and is foreseen to have the following impact:

1.            Unlocking notable and measurable pools of needed capital to implement regional and domestic infrastructure projects on the continent.

2.            Broadening and deepening the currently very shallow African capital markets, whilst at the same time contributing significantly to regional integration and job creation.

3.            Promoting the development of innovative capital market products that are specific to the continent’s challenges and potential in regards to infrastructure development.

4.            Raising the investment interest of other institutional and non-institutional financiers that so far have been hesitant to include African infrastructure projects as an asset to their investment portfolio based on specific, concrete next steps and project suggestions.

Ayo Midele/GEE 

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A wrap on 3rd MainLand Bridge

A suspected wrapped carton was seen this evening on Third Mainland bridge, while heading to Oworoshoki from Adeniji. I hope the security agencies take note of this before Area Boys takes over. It may have fallen off a bus.

I could not get the pix 'cos of new Lagos Traffic Law.

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