Author: The Nation

Ondo State Government has said that its adherence to due process in public procurement practices was responsible for speedy completion of projects across the State.

It said there was no currently no failed or abandoned projects across the State.

Director General, Ondo State Bureau of Public Procurement (OSBPP), Mr Tolu Fadahunsi, who spoke at the end of a two-day training workshop for officers in charge of procurements in the state, said the present administration has made openness, transparency, value for money and accountability in the procurement process a watchword.

Fadahunsi said procurement practices under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu have taken a new dimension, stressing that

He stated that the State Bureau of Public Procurement would expect all stakeholders in the procurement value chain in Ondo State to work with a new mindset that upholds due diligence as captured in the procurement process for both tangible and intangible projects.

Read Also: Ondo monarch hospitalised after release from kidnappers

“What we are trying to do is to build capacity of our people in the area of Public Procurements. We want to institutionalize due process in all our procurement processes and become a reference point for best practices. This is because the advantages of due process in public finance are immeasurable.

“So, we believe that all staff in government today should understand the philosophy and how to implement due process in public procurements. In any clime where due process is implemented, the people, the citizens and even the government will be better for it. So, this programme is very germane to good governance in Ondo state,” he said.

The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom, Pastor Umo Eno has promised to work closely with indigenes in the Diaspora to enhance the development and industrialisation of the State.

Eno, who said this when he interfaced via zoom with his supporters in the Diaspora under the aegis of Team Umo Eno Diaspora(TUED), wooed indigenes of the State in the diaspora to return home and help build Akwa Ibom.

The Team Umo Eno Diaspora (TUED) is an umbrella organisation designed to focus all global efforts towards the election in 2023 of Pastor Eno and his running mate, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi.

Up to 85 attendees dialed into the two-hour meeting from the United States, Nigeria, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, Spain, Scotland and Saudi Arabia.

Eno presented his vision captured under his ARISE agenda, which, according to him, will grow the State’s economy along the paths of agriculture, industrialization, infrastructure, entrepreneurship among others.

He promised to build on the foundation laid by previous administrations, especially in the areas of industrialization and job creation and bring the dividends of democracy to indigenes.

At the meeting, Eno said that having carried out a needs assessment of the 31 local government areas in the state his projects would be implemented within the first 100 days of assuming office.

Read Also: Commission takes campaign against cultism to Akwa Ibom

“In particular, I want the Diaspora to be a part of the new Akwa Ibom State project. Consequently, I urge as many Diasporans as possible to come home not only to campaign for me but to eventually invest in, and relocate to, Akwa Ibom State.

“You are influencers, and you can use our position to encourage everyone to vote for the party.”

On the call, he also answered a wide range of questions bordering on issues affecting Akwa Ibomites, both at home and abroad – among others, the invasion of herdsmen in our state, the recent controversy surrounding the 13% derivation refund to Akwa Ibom State, Ibom Seaport, cost of governance, Diaspora involvement and support, power generation as well as developing our agricultural and tourism sectors. He promised to make time to address Akwa Ibomites in the Diaspora on a regular basis.

Ms. Linda Akon Umoh, the TUED Global Coordinator, appreciated everyone for attending, spoke on future projects then announced a meeting in the nearest future where the structure for TUED and other matters would be properly addressed.

Singer D’Banj has deactivated his Instagram handle @iambangalee moments after speaking out about his arrest by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

He claimed the ICPC called him in for questioning and he had been found innocent of all charges leveled against him.

Before deactivating, he said: “Global thank you to the world. I was invited to an ongoing investigation with the ICPC. I have assisted the commission with all I know and I am confident in their capacity to unravel the truth.

Read Also: Fraud Allegations: D’banj freed after three days in custody

“I have no business with fraud, all I do is chop life. I was released on self recognition because nothing was seen or found on me. God bless you all my people.”

Operatives of the Enugu Police Command in the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department CID Enugu, working with their counterpart in Imo State Command, have arrested one Osuagwu Chidubem (male) at Nekede Owerri, Imo State while attempting to sell a Toyota Corolla car he stole from his older female lover, one Amarachi Chukwu aged 32, after murdering her.

The suspect, according to the Enugu Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ndukwe, committed the crime on 01/11/2022 at the deceased residence at Meniru, Awkunanaw, Enugu.

Read Also: Troops kill nine suspects, free hostages in Kaduna

”Investigation revealed that the suspect and his cohort at large, had in the morning hours of the mentioned date conspired and went to the house of the victim, attempted to make away with her Toyota Corolla key, which she resisted. And upon her resistance, they tied her hands, legs and mouth with clothes; locked her inside of the house and made away with the car”, police said.

The statement added: “Her decomposing remains was, however, found in the said apartment on 04/11/2022, after the door was forced opened by Police Operatives serving in Ikirike Police Division of the Command, following the receipt of a report that an offensive odour was oozing out of the apartment.

“The Operatives evacuated the remains to the hospital, where doctors confirmed her dead and the corpse deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

“The suspect was consequently arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigation and has been remanded in Custodial Centre custody till further hearing of case”.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has disbursed N15 billion for the reconstruction of the Lagos Badagry Expressway under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Tax Credit (RITC) Scheme.

The N15 billion represents a 100 per cent payment of the funding of the Lagos-Badagry road rehabilitation under the tax credit funding of the NNPC Ltd.

The NNPC Group Chief Executive, Mr Mele Kyari, made this known on Thursday when he led NNPC’s management team with some top government officials to inspect the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway (Agbara Junction-Nigeria/Benin Border).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the road under rehabilitation is being funded by the NNPC Ltd. under the Federal Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

The execution of the scheme is being carried out in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as the supervisor and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for NNPC’s tax obligations deductions.

This is in response to address the plight faced by petroleum products marketers in transportation which affects nationwide distribution.

Kyari said the fund disbursed was part of the N621.24 billion earmarked for the reconstruction of 21 roads nationwide under the scheme.

He expressed satisfaction over the stage of the road development.

“We are covering 1,804.6mkm across the country and taking another set of over a trillion naira investment on infrastructure in Nigeria, believing that with the tax credit system which Mr President has put in place, very soon there will be massive change.

“NNPC as the enabler will consider from its cash flow and fund whatever FIRS and Ministry of works approve for the company.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Director, Highways, Roads and Rehabilitation of the Ministry, Mr Folorunsho Esan, said the intervention of the NNPC speed up the reconstruction of the expressway.

Esan said that the project was 40 per cent completed.

“In the next 12 months we should be able to deliver this project because the drainages are in place, just for earth works and pavement works, it cannot take us more than 12 months,” he said.

Speaking on the gridlock being caused by the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, he said the contractor would clear all impediments and move out of site by December 15 to make the highway free for Yuletide.

Earlier, Mrs Olukorede Keisha, Federal Ministry of Works Engineer supervising the Lagos-Badagry Expressway project, gave a brief of the project, listing the drains, culverts and other construction works done on various stretches.

Oba Israel Okoya, Oba of Ibereko in Badagry Royal Majesty, who lauded the Federal Government and NNPC for the intervention said before the reconstruction, the road was in terrible situation making traffic unbearable for motorists.

NAN reports that as part of the inspection of the critical road infrastructure in key economic areas, the NNPC’s team had earlier inspected dualisation of Suleja- Minna Road Phase II and ongoing reconstruction of Bida- Lapai-Lambata road in Niger State.

It could be recalled that on Jan. 25, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari, signed the Executive Order No 007 on Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, which is for period of 10 years from its commencement date.

(NAN)

The Rivers State Government and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council for Rivers, Senator Lee Maeba, have expressed divergent views over the attack on his residence in Port Harcourt by gunmen.

While Maeba claimed that one of the attackers called and told him that they had instructions from either the government or some quarters to kill him, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chris Finebone, asked security agencies to probe the possibility of the incident being staged for political reasons.

Maeba condemned the attack on his residence on Professor Abowei Street, GRA, phase 3 in Port Harcourt by explaining that the assailants stormed his residence less than 30 minutes after he drove out of his compound.

Maeba, who represented the Rivers Southeast at the National Assembly, insisted that the hoodlums were after his life.

It was gathered that thugs numbering about 200 around 7am marched into the Senator’s residence, shot thrice into the air and gained access into the compound.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Those of them inside now tied the security man and started breaking the padlock of the fence from inside so that others can come in.

“I was talking to my brother, and they started destroying all the cars in Oga’s (senator’s) compound”.

The windscreens and glasses of four Toyota salon cars and one SUV in the compound were damaged by the hoodlums.

Maeba said that he was in Port Harcourt to see his family and attend some events.

He said: “This morning, there was some uneasy movement along this street. Some neighbours called my attention that they saw a lot of strange faces like a build-up of thugs.

“I don’t have a criminal life; my compound was empty. I am humble, I don’t do thuggery. I don’t participate in thuggery and I don’t hire thugs. So, I said what will thugs be doing on the street? And I dismissed it.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Suspected thugs invade Atiku’s campaigner’s residence in Rivers

“Then, at about 9:00am, I said let me go and see my mother-in-law. But, before then, a young man called me with a number that I don’t know and told me that I have done him a favour before that I should be careful if I am at home.

“That they have instructions from some quarters to attack my house and attack me. But, I dismissed it because I don’t have problems with anybody.

“I just drove out with my security personnel to see my mother-in-law. As I entered my mother-in-law’s house, my phone was ringing and my nephew picked up the phone and said my house is under attack.

“They shot at the gate and forced the gate open. They climbed the second gate and tied up the security man. They entered the compound and were shouting ‘where is he? Where is he? Only one bullet will solve this Atiku problem.”

He further said: “My senior brother was standing somewhere there and they descended on him. The next thing they started doing was to use the boot of their guns to destroy the cars. They got to the front door (main house), hit at the door but they couldn’t succeed. So, they started retreating. You can see the destruction.

“My worry is what is my offence that people will come to my compound ? Atiku does not live here. I only work for Atiku, yes. I am an Atiku’s supporter. What has that got to do with attacking my house in a bid to kill me? This is democracy and I am a democrat.”

Rivers Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, said a full-scale investigation had been ordered to unravel the motive behind the incident.

But the Rivers State Government said it had seen isolated reports suggesting that some persons were purportedly being physically molested for political reasons.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chris Finebone, asked security agencies to exercise the highest level of diligence, discreetness and carefulness in their work to sift the wheat from the chaff in order to arrive at a credible conclusion.

Finebone said: “It is not strange to find politicians staging high-level melodrama to either cover up their tracks or muddle up the waters to achieve a preconceived narrative aimed at hoodwinking the public for political reasons, especially at a time like this.

“Today, a report by former Senator Lee Maeba surfaced on social media that he got a call from a young man. And the caller purportedly, in his own words said, ‘that they have instructions from either government or some quarters to attack my house.

“This makes it obvious that Senator Maeba should help security agencies in unraveling the purported attack on his house and those behind it. It is not enough to blame such an attack on ‘either government or some quarters.’ He should try and remember exactly whom the caller said sent him (the caller).

“The Rivers State Government, working with security agencies, will continue to render all possible assistance for security agencies to ensure safety of life and property in Rivers State at all times”