The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Berger

  • Our Girls; Ghana’s anti-corruption; Berger, RCC red card!

    Our Chibok Girls were kidnapped on April 15, 2014. Inexplicably Our Dapchi girl-child, 15, Leah Sharibu is not released. Why?

    The Ghanaian president informed us that he created the Office of Public Prosecutor to independently investigate past and present government corruption. That the post is occupied by an anti-corruption opposition lawyer is exemplary for Africa. Nigeria dropped the Office of Public Prosecutor here. Existing structures, ICPC and EFCC, struggle under the yoke of authority of the very people needing maximum investigation –politicians and the president. The president of Ghana gave guidelines to pursue the anti-corruption drive across an Africa where a text book, a kilometre of road or a classroom block built by African government contractors costs many times more than in the non-government world with African contracts padded up to 45-100% minimizing the developmental mileage of budgets and terminating African developmental dreams. African leaders are directly responsible for Africa’s underdevelopment leading to  ‘The Great Youth Trek’ from underdeveloped Africa through the Sahara to the ‘The Great Youth Mediterranean Crossing’ breaching developed Fortress Europe by many thousands of mainly young desperate African migrants of whom 10,000 drowned off Lampedusa with others raped, robbed, murdered and sold into slavery by human traffickers. The blood of Africa’s youth is on African politicians’ hands.

    The long-term horrible experience on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway exemplifies a ‘perfect storm’ nationwide faced by government projects which have failed, are failing, long delayed uncompleted like ‘shell buildings’ – abandoned or semi-abandoned projects. Though started to fulfil African developmental dreams, nobody gains by abandoning for 15-20 years, the six-storey see-through ‘shell building’ owned by the people through former NEPA on the Bodija road in Ibadan or the Ilubirin massive 10 block estate of see-through ‘shell high-rises’ in Lagos. Political successors have a duty to eliminate funds being lost as if to punish predecessors. Certainly, please quickly investigate mismanaged funds and hold past contractors to account, recover funds but always renegotiate the completion of contracts.

    Nigeria ‘achieved this disgusting failure’ by the deliberate CINS – Corruption, Incompetence, Negligence and Selfishness of its leadership, military and political and civil service and contractor classes in spite of our great God-given soil and oil wealth, yielding the national treasury nearly $1,000b, in oil and other revenues so far. Where is the infrastructure to keep pace with ‘the population guesstimate? Unimaginably, we struggle with 3,000Mw vs UN recommended 1Mw/1m population or 150,000Mw. Perhaps the $10b China facility will provide electricity from China which adds 30-40,000Mw to its national greed annually? But vested petroleum interests want us to remain dependent on generators, fuel and air pollution.

    It is sickening to see the unnecessary exposure to discomfort, disability and death that millions face daily as their only ‘DOD- Dividends of Democracy’ since 1999 on unmaintained or abandoned highways nationwide. Roads labelled ‘Under Construction’ are worse as construction work means nightmare traffic with a suspension of any moral obligation for maintenance to ease the suffering of citizens during re-construction. In fact ‘Under Construction’ roads automatically get worse. Is this punishment under the ‘You have to suffer to develop’ or ‘No pain no gain’ mantra from government? Empowered, the contractor’s unsupervised employees abandon or destroy existing contracted roads, neglecting the citizen’s rights during contract postponements rivalling adjournments in courts. Today the Lagos-Ibadan Road exemplifies an agonizingly slow upgrade to its former ‘Expressway Glory’ postponed to 2017, 2018 and now to December 2019.

    All such roads require contracts with ‘A Maintenance Clause’ demanding pothole filling during construction with easy access diversions pending completion of the roads. Ministry of Works’supervising engineers must take protection of the citizen from ‘Death by Contractor Negligence’ seriously and monitor contractors’ activities. Contractors in Nigeria, expatriate and local, have been allowed to ‘inflict pain’ as part of malicious contract execution. Lagos Airport road and the Apapa Port roads exemplify mass suffering. The problem is with poorly constructed entrance and exits from diversions. RCC and Julius Berger deserve red cards from supervising engineers!  Just smoothening the rough entrance to diversions at the two main Berger diversions and filling potholes on diversions and existing unrepaired roads will help greatly. Who will speak out for the citizens?

    Millions have been forced, by a lack of supervised construction, to face the multi-potholed ‘under construction’ or ‘yet to be constructed’ treacherous parts of the Lagos-Ibadan Road riddled with jagged potholes which must filled. Travellers may die in or trying to avoid potholes till the contract is full executed. Postponements increase deaths. Each pothole costs a few thousand naira to fill. ‘Death by Pothole’ is loss of a human economic resource-a life, a wife, and a multi-million naira waste. Now, as a direct result of National Assembly, NASS anti-people tactics, we are to await December 2019 for final construction, which may be postponed again. NASS stalled the completion of the road. Every go slow, crash, robbery attack, linkable to bad road traffic jams can be placed at the feet of NASS members who should all be denied re-election in 2019.  The people must sweep most NASS members away.

    We lost several NYSC members to accidents and other causes in 1975/6 when I did NYSC. A coffin is an unacceptable cost for NYSC. Some are even murdered. What honour do they get and what support do their families receive for paying the supreme sacrifice with an irreplaceable family loss of dreams and future?

    • Uncover ‘I LOVE NIGERIA’ KNOWLEDGEABLE CANDIDATES for 2019 -SDG 16.

     

  • Nine die, 54 vehicles burnt in Lagos tanker fire

    Four injured

    At least nine people on Thursday died, four injured and 54 vehicles razed after a petrol tanker fell on the Otedola Bridge in Berger, Lagos.

    The incident which occurred around 5pm, caused serious traffic snarl in and out of the state.

    It was gathered that emergency workers had a tough time accessing the scene as a result of the traffic and crowd.

    It was gathered that the tanker, laden with Premium Motor Spirit, had fallen while ascending the bridge outward Lagos.

    According to witnesses, the tanker spilled its content backwards, prompting most of the occupants of the vehicles behind it to flee to safety.

    However, the nine dead persons were caught up in the inferno, as the positions of their bodies showed they were also trying to run away.

    According to the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA)  Adesina Tiamiyu, two of the injured persons were in critical condition.

    He said: “A tanker exiting Lagos lost control while climbing the Otedola Bridge and spilled its content backwards. This caused a fire outbreak and 54 vehicles were affected.

    “Nine bodies were recovered and four injured people. Two of the injured were in critical condition. They have all been moved to the hospital.

    “We are removing the burnt vehicles from the road in order to ease traffic congestion. We advice people travelling to Ibadan or outside Lagos to use alternative routes.”

    Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police  (ACP) told our Correspondent that they had rough time controlling the crowd, appealing to residents to stop overcrowding disaster scenes.

  • Dangote, Berger begin work on Apapa alternative route

    Dangote and Julius Berger Construction Companies have begun rehabilitating Leventis Road in Apapa that will serve as the alternative route when the Apapa/Ijora Bridge is closed for repairs.

    The Federal Controller Works, Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that it was to facilitate vehicular movements there.

    Kuti said that AG Dangote Construction Company Limited had completed constructing the concrete slab while Julius Berger was carrying out palliatives on parts of the road.

    “AG Dangote Construction Company Limited has already completed the concrete slab on the road but it needs 28 days to cure before vehicles can run on it.

    “However, Julius Berger is currently carrying out palliatives on the pot holes and the bad portions to enhance smooth flow of traffic before we close the Apapa/Ijora Bridge for repairs.

    “The vehicles coming toward the diversion will have to climb the slab before they can enter into Leventis Road, so the work the two contractors are doing is very important,’’ he said.

    Kuti said that the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing would not close the bridge to traffic until it had perfected plans for minimum traffic impacts within the axis.

    He said that there was a meeting attended by all the relevant stakeholders and they came up with a map that would aid effective traffic management and avert gridlock.

    Kuti said the traffic consultant on the Apapa-Wharf Road Project would also be at alert to tackle all traffic related issues while the closure of the bridge lasted.

  • Berger paints workers protest stoppage of gratuity

    Workers of Berger Paints yesterday protested against what they called the stoppage of gratuity, following management’s decision to scrap payment of gratuity to staff.

    They protested at the entrance of the company’s premises at Oba Akran, Ikeja, Lagos, preventing the work from holding.

    The protesters, dressed in their labour uniforms, sang songs and had placards with inscriptions such as, “The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain”; “Berger paints needs a visionary leader”; “Don’t take our lives gratuity, no way”; “Berger paints management wants to rob us of our future”; “Pay our sacked colleagues their gratuity up till year 2017 and not 2015”; “We say no to gratuity stoppage”; “Don’t eat our future, pay our gratuity up to date” and “Board cannot unilaterally stop gratuity of workers”.

    The Nation learnt that the protest began on Monday. The workers vowed to continue until the management reverses the removal of their gratuity. The protesters are demanding the resignation of the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Peter Folikwe and the Human Resource Manager, Yemi Temisanren.

    National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non Metallic Product Employee (NUCFRLANMPE) Secretary Comrade Bode Olaniyan, said the essence of the protest was to prevail on the management of the organisation on the payment of gratuity.

    He explained that the stoppage of gratuity meant that even if they worked for 20 years and resigned, they would get nothing.

    “This is against the labour law and it is against the constitution. No law supports that gratuity should be stopped in any organisation. It means that our board of directors just concluded and found a way to embezzle money from our future, by putting a stop to gratuity,” he said.

  • Berger to complete Apapa-Oshodi Expressway repair next week

    Berger to complete Apapa-Oshodi Expressway repair next week

    The ongoing rehabilitation of Berliet to Ilasa section of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will be completed next week, construction giant Julius Berger said yesterday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode mobilised the firm to site last month following public outcry over the state of the road.

    When NAN correspondents visited the site yesterday, grading, asphalt lay, earth works and reconstruction of drainage channels were going on simultaneously.

    A Julius Berger engineer at the site, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the firm was carrying out emergency repairs on the highway.

    “This is not a contract but an emergency repair being undertaken by the Lagos State Government. We have worked on 1.5 kilometres of road so far and we are also reconstructing this drainage channels that have collapsed. We have been on site for about three weeks and should complete the work in a week’s time from now. We have no challenges because we have been able to deploy adequate manpower and equipment to site,” he said.

    A source in the Federal Ministry of Works told NAN that the ministry was working with the firm on the project.

    “It is the governor that directed Julius Berger to carry out the work and we are supportive. It is our road and Lagos State Government needs our permission for access,” the source said.

  • Berger Paints CEO reiterates commitment to shareholder value

    Berger Paints CEO reiterates commitment to shareholder value

    Managing Director, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Mr Peter Folikwe has reiterated his commitment to creating better value for shareholders of the company by adhering to highest standard of corporate governance.

    He said that the on-going turnaround efforts at Berger Paints was to re-position the company to take its rightful place as one of the most profitable quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

    He pointed out that within the short period of his assumption of office at Berger Paints, the company’s earnings had grown by 50 per cent and 89 per cent respectively. Folikwe was appointed the Managing Director of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc in April 2015.

     

     

  • Don’t use inferior paints, Berger Paints chair warns

    Don’t use inferior paints, Berger Paints chair warns

    CHAIRNMAN, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc Dr Oladimeji has warned Nigerians to avoid inferior paints, because they damage walls, adding that when this happens, they are often more expensive to correct.

    He gave the warning at the opening of the firm’s otlet at Sango Ota in Ogun State.

    He said in the last one year, Berger Paints set up some sales outlets, including one at Mushin, Lagos State.

    Alo said the outlet would enhance proximity to customers and ensure the availability of genuine Berger Paints products in the area.

    According to Alo, the outlet would enhance accessibility, visibility and availability of the company’s products to its customers living in and around the state.

    He said the outlet would also serve as a channel for distributing  Berger’s well-known brands, such as Luxol, Clinstay, Super Star, and Classic, among others, which have continued to enjoy extreme popularity across the country.

    He further said the company had commenced full automation of its production facility, adding that the automation would not only revolutionise production and distribution processes, but will also have positive impact on costs, product quality, turn –around time and profitability.

    He said efforts were on-going to boost the company’s managerial capacity and make the company more nimble and adaptable to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the economy.

    “Of particular importance to us is the implementation of the local content policy in the oil and gas sector and the prospect it holds for us, given the strategic alliances and partnership we have formed with Kumkang Korea Chemicals Limited (KCC), a South Korean company, which is one of the largest manufacturers of marine and protection paints in the world, and technical partner to Hyundai Heavy Industries,” he said.

    Berger Paints supplied over N200 million worth of marine and protection paints to Hyundai heavy industries to the new vessels for Nigeria LNG.

  • Tor Nygard steps down as Berger Paints MD

    The managing director of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tor Nygard, has disengaged from the services of the company following the expiration of his contract on January 31, 2015.

    The board of directors of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc has appointed Mr. Jatin Madan, the chief operating officer, as the acting chief executive officer pending the appointment of a substantive managing director.

    Mr.  Nygard joined the company on November 2, 2009 as the deputy managing director designate and was later appointed executive director. His tenure was associated with a number of reforms, including the expansion of the colour world centres and the factory modernisation project that is currently being implemented.

    In a related development, the company has announced the appointment of Mr. Sanjay Datwani  to its board of directors. Datwani graduated from Boston University, Massachusetts, USA with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration.

    He is the managing director of Clayton Finance Limited, a company which specialises in export of raw materials for Industry to West African region. He also works as a property consultant and developer in the United Kingdom.

    With over 18 years experience in international trade, finance and banking, Datwani brings a wealth of experience to the board.

     

  • Nigeria LNG commends Berger Paints on local content

    The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has lauded the commitment of Berger Paints Plc to local production of quality products and implementation of the Local Content Act.

    In line with the Local Content policy, the NLNG had awarded a contract for the manufacture and supply of coatings to Berger Paints Nigeria Plc for two new NLNG carriers to be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea. The management of Nigeria LNG paid a visit to Berger Paints Nigeria Plc in Ikeja, Lagos to monitor the implementation of the Local Content Act.

    Head, shipping and knowledge transfer, Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited, Mr. Henry Agbodjan said, commended the commitment of Berger Paints to local production of globally competitive paints.

    “I am very pleased with the quantum of investments in terms of equipments Berger Paints has deployed in ensuring the manufacture of paints and coatings locally, and in compliance with global standards such that their products are at par with those produced by KCC in Korea which will be used by Hyundai Heavy Industries in the coating of two new NLNG vessels,” Agbodjan said after a factory tour for the inspection of the products to be shipped to Korea for painting of the ships.

    In his remarks, managing director, Berger Paints Plc, Mr Tor Nygard, said the company has continued to demonstrate its support for the implementation of local content policy.

    “We are glad to be partners with NLNG in delivering the Nigeria Content Act and we will like to let you know that since the discussions on the participation in delivering the local content act in Nigeria started, we have taken steps to demonstrate our commitment to the act by scaling up the standards of our operations and products,” Nygard said.

    He assured that Berger Paints would enhance its production capacity and performance going by the ongoing upgrade to full automation of its production facility in a bid to improve its offering.

    He added that the automation will have major positive impacts on production volume, costs, product quality and turnaround time, reiterating that Berger Paints is committed to delivering global quality to Nigerians at affordable prices.

    Berger Paints is using the net proceeds of its recent rights issue to fully automate its paint manufacturing plant, which will make the company the first to own such plant in Africa. Berger Paints had raised N543 million through a rights issue.

    It recently distributed N202.9 million as cash dividends for the 2013 business year, representing a dividend per share of 70 kobo. Audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that profit after tax increased by 30.9 per cent to N251 million as against N192 million recorded in 2012. Profit before tax rose to N356 million in 2013, showing an increase of 25 per cent compared with N284 million in 2012.Turnover rose to N2.7 billion in 2013 compared with a turnover N2.5 billion recorded in 2012.

    Managing Director, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tor Nygard, said the report was indicative of continuing improvements in the company’s operations, characterised by huge investments in product innovation.

    He noted that in spite of the local infrastructure challenges affecting real sector performance, especially power, the company was able to record growth of 7.75 per cent and 30.9 per cent in revenues and profitability respectively.

     

  • Berger begins facility visit for pupils

    In a bid to avail pupils practical experience of the production of paints and coatings, a leading paint industry Berger Paint Nigeria Plc, has commenced an initiative whereby pupils come into the factory to see firsthand production of paints and coatings. The pupils will also be availed the opportunity to see their equipment, people and processes of making paints and coatings.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, and credited to its Corporate Affairs Department, the initiative is to impart practical knowledge of the manufacturing industry in general and paints iIndustry in particular to help pupils make informed career choices.

    “This is targeted towards the junior category comprising pupils in primary and junior secondary schools. This takes them, particularly those in the science-oriented classes, away from just the class room experience. They now have opportunity for practical experience to deepen their understanding of what they had been taught in class,” the statement said.

    The initiative is also to support Lagos State using its Bring-A-Child-To-Work initiative.

    “Our business success is measured by more than just financial targets, but the positive contribution to lives, communities and the environment through good business practice. Berger Paint’s corporate social responsibility efforts are achieved through respecting the environment in which we operate. To ensure our efforts in community, investment can be as effective as possible. We concentrate on these focus areas: education, health, sponsorships, and Arts & Culture,” it stated.

    Further, it said other programmes it had embarked upon are the annual donation of education materials to primary and secondary schools, sponsorship of paints and art workshops, and career mentorship chat for secondary schools.