The Nation Newspaper

Tag: completion

  • Minister assures on completion of NYSC orientation camp

    ‘Without any doubt I believe that almost every person in this hall is a beneficiary of the NYSC scheme. The NYSC is one of the laudable projects established by past leadership of this country that has endured and continued to serve its purpose, for that I think we should be eternally grateful’

    In order to ameliorate the challenges being experienced at the FCT National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Kubwa due to overstretched facilities, the Federal Capital Territory Administration is doing all that is necessary to make the permanent orientation camp habitable in no distant time.

    The FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Bello disclosed this when the Director-General of the Corps paid him a courtesy call

    The Minister described the NYSC as a veritable instrument of nation-building that has benefitted the nation immensely by engendering unity and the spirit of selfless service among Nigerians.

    His words: “Without any doubt I believe that almost every person in this hall is a beneficiary of the NYSC scheme. The NYSC is one of the laudable projects established by past leadership of this country that has endured and continued to serve its purpose, for that I think we should be eternally grateful”.

    On the complaints about the congestion and the overstretched facilities at the Kubwa NYSC camp, the Minister said the FCT Administration has tried as much as possible to upgrade the facilities and make the camp habitable but lamented that the reality is that the facilities there are grossly over stretched and the ultimate solution is to move to the Permanent orientation Camp.

    According to a statement issued by the FCT, Chief Press Secretary, Cosmos Uzodinma, the minister said: ”There is no doubt that the Kubwa camp of the FCT NYSC obviously is now overstretched by a combination of factors: the urbanisation of Abuja itself is a factor because at the time when the camp was established it was considered to be out of town, very far and remote. But you can see now that the town has literally engulfed it. But more importantly the number of the NYSC Corps members has also increased beyond our imaginations”. The reality is that the facilities are grossly over stretched and there is nothing you can do. So ultimately the solution is for us to move to the Permanent orientation Camp”.

    Bello recalled that when he visited the FCT NYSC office about six weeks ago, he observed that the office space was not sufficient for the staff and therefore not conducive for the very important work they are doing.

    “From what I saw, I totally agree with you that the office is inadequate. So I think the best solution is to identify an office where you would be on your own and we would work and see if we can achieve that in 2017 or if not in the early part of next year”, the Minister said.

    The NYSC Director-General Brig. Gen. Suleiman Zakari Kazaure commended the FCT Administration for its commitment to providing a conducive environment for the NYSC.

    Kazaure thanked the Minister for the completion of the water reticulation project in the Kubwa camp as well as regular approval of fund for the feeding and welfare of corps members during camping among others.

    He appealed to the Minister for the allocation of a plot land to the agency for housing purposes to the staff as well as an official vehicle for its activities in the FCT.

     

  • $300m Sokoto Cement plant for completion in 2017

    $300m Sokoto Cement plant for completion in 2017

    Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc (CCNN), also known as Sokoto Cement, a subsidiary of BUA Group, earlier in the week  announced that its new 1.5million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) cement plant will be completed before the third quarter of 2017.

    Founder/Executive Chairman of BUA Group and CCNN Chairman, Abdulsamad Rabiu, disclosed this during a working tour of the plant by the Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The $300 million project, which began a few years ago, according to Rabiu, was the first expansion of the plant since 1986. BUA group took over the majority shareholding of the company in 2010.

    He also informed the minister that the Group has discovered coal in commercial quantities, which it intends to use as fuel for a 40MW power plant being constructed as part of the project.

    The new cement factory will use both coal and Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) and source its power needs from the plant with the excess power generated to feed the national grid.

    According to Rabiu, the $300m investment in the new plant is the single largest private sector led investment in the Northwest of the country.

    He also highlighted the plant’s export potential, which include its 100 kilometres closeness to the  Niger Republic border and 200 kilometre-distance to Benin Republic border. Rabiu said the plant will help Nigeria earn much needed foreign exchange and diversify the economy.

    Responding, Dr. Fayemi commended BUA Group and Sokoto Cement for their contributions to various areas of national development. He said CCNN was the second-largest employer of labour in Sokoto State, second to the state government.

    He  commended the company for successfully exploring coal in the state and reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve to support sustainable investments in the solid minerals sector, which will in turn have immense positive impact on Nigerians.

    The CCNN was incorporated in 1962 and began production in 1967, with a capacity of 100,000 tons per annum. In 1985, a new production line of 500, 000 tons was added and inuagurated. Thereafter, in 1986, the first line was shut down due to its uneconomic mode of operation, thus leaving the plant with a rated output of 500,000 tons per annum.

    The company, however, underwent various stages of privatisation and changes of ownership until BUA Group took over majority shareholding in 2010, thus bringing it under the larger BUA umbrella.

  • Excitement as Southwest roads nears completion

    Excitement as Southwest roads nears completion

    Various ongoing road construction projects in Nigeria’s Southwest zone are nearing completion. At a recent tour of the project sites by House of Representatives Committee on Works, lawmakers urged contractors handling the projects to expedite action so that work would be completed on them for a hitch-free ride during the festive season. NNEKA NWANERI reports that prospects of enhanced commercial and social activities have put commuters in expectant mood

    Better days are coming for road users, particularly those in the Southwest geo-political zone. This is on the strength of the increased pace of work on the construction of various ongoing road projects in the area. Already, contractors handling the various projects have indicated readiness to speed up the projects’ completion in or before 2018. This has raised hopes of increased tempo of economic and social activities in the zone.

    For instance, work on the rehabilitation/reconstruction and expansion of the 83.40 kilometre Lagos-Ibadan dual carriageway section 11: Shagamu-Ibadan in Ogun and Oyo states, has reached advanced stage. The project is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Limited.

    Already, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Nigeria Limited, the contractor handling the N96.3 billion project, has set its completion date for July 3, 2017.

    According to the company, physical completion of the project awarded on June 13, 2013, has reached 35.39 per cent, apparently encouraged by a N40 billion provision in the 2016 budget for sections 1 and 11 Lagos-Ibadan. Out of the amount, N38 billion has been paid for the road, which forms part of the international trans-Africa highway linking Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states to the rest of the country.

    The section of the road commences from Shagamu interchange in Ogun State, ending at Ojoo (Ibadan) in Oyo State. The dual carriageway consists of 7.3m-wide carriageway, 2.75m-wide outer hard shoulders and 1.80m-wide inner hard shoulders respectively. The firm has fully mobilised its plants and equipment to the site, while permanent work had commenced and progressed up to asphaltic concrete wearing course.

    Reynolds Construction made these details available about a fortnight ago when it received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Works led by Hon. Toby Okechukwu (Enugu PDP). They were on oversight tour of ongoing road construction projects in Ogun State and adjoining states in the Southwest zone.

    The lawmakers, as part of their oversight functions, were on the tour to compare the pace of work on site with the specification given to the contractors on paper and to check the integrity of the work done.

    This, according to Hon. Okechukwu, was for the purpose of ascertaining the roads that should be appropriately funded in the 2017 budget.

    RCC informed the lawmakers that the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who visited the project site on September 2, this year, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work. He, however, implored the construction firm to put more efforts to ensure the project’s completion on time.

    Similarly, the reconstruction and asphalt of the Benin-Ofosu-Ore-Ajebandele-Shagamu Road (phase IV) is expected to be completed in October 2018. Work on the N71.6 billion project awarded in October 2014, began the same month. It is also being handled by RCC. The company informed the lawmakers during the tour that it has fully mobilised to site.

    Already, concrete and pavement work within the carriage way are in progress, while the maintenance of the existing carriageway is being carried out at various locations to ensure free flow of traffic during the Yuletide season. The 98.414 KM X 2 road has N5.2 billion provision in the 2016 Budget. However, only about N1.7 billion has been paid to date.

    The same excitement generated among residents and road users over the prospects of enhanced socio-economic activities, following the completion of the road in 2018 has also enveloped those in towns and villages around the Abeokuta-Owede Road. There, rehabilitation of the Abeokuta-Owede Road Section 1: Otta-Owede in Ogun State, has achieved 100 per cent completion.

    Awarded to Messrs Borini Prono & Co. (Nig.) Ltd, in July 2009, the contractor informed the visiting lawmakers that it has successfully completed all the permanent works on the 20.66KM road, in accordance with the contract agreement.

    However, it was not sweet tale for commuters and motorists in and around the border between Oyo and Ogun states. There, the contractor handling the construction of the Ijebu-Igbo-Olomi Oyo State/Baorder Road in Ogun State, Messrs A.A Duhu & Sons Limited, was said to have demobilised from the site since October, 2014.

    Southwest Report learnt that unlike other projects that enjoyed budgetary allocations, there was no budgetary allocation for the 14.20 KM Ijebu-Igbo-Olomi Oyo State/Border Road project for year 2016.

    The lawmakers were also informed that the contractor complained that the rate was obsolete and needed to be reviewed. The project was 30 per cent complete before work stopped, and efforts to make the contractor return to site were futile.

    The Federal Controller of Works for Ogun State, Mr. Popoola Olukayode, who confirmed the contractor’s demobilisation from the project site, blamed it on funds constraints. He said the roads, which were to be ready next year, will be completed in 2018 pending when money is made available for the project.

    Similarly, a visit to the Benin-Ofosu-Ore-Shagamu dual carriage international trans-African Highway connecting Lagos to the Port of Mombassa in Kenya through Enugu and Doula in Cameroun showed that inadequate funding of the project affected work on the site.

    However, the Lagos/Shagamu-Ibadan dual carriage section II, which accommodates more the 17, 500 cars and 21,000 heavy vehicles that ply the road yearly, with 20 years life span, is 35 per cent completed. The contract, which was awarded mid-2013, has 20 KM completed, leaving 22 KM to be opened before the Yuletide season.

    That of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, being handled by Julius Berger Plc has 32 of the 43 KM road done. The project, which was earlier awarded to Bi-Courtney, is responsible for the slow pace of construction, explains Julius Berger’s Project Manager, Wolfgang Pamzer.

    Though it is financially fit to continue work; having been paid 32 per cent of the total contract sum, it is taking cognisance of areas with high water tables to address flooding.

    Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State said the lifespan of the road is 30 years, and a periodic maintenance, sanction of weighbridges and warehouses for overloaded vehicles should be put in place as maintenance strategies, which tend to be cheaper compared to a reconstruction.

    A member of the House Committee, Hon. Muhammad Sani Abdu, warned contractors to stay within the contract terms so that government does not incur extra charges. He, however, urged them to redouble efforts to deliver the roads as soon as possible.

    Other members of the House asked questions and made suggestions. Some of them urged the contractors to implore the help of Road Safety officials during the festive season.

    RCC were commended for being conscious of road users on the Lagos-Ibadan Highway by placing traffic barriers. They noted that it was necessary that while work was going on, motorists are allowed easy movement.

     

  • UNILORIN tackles delayed completion of programmes

    The Postgraduate (PG) School, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has instituted additional mechanisms to check the challenge of students overstaying on their and doctorate  programmes at the university.

    The Dean of the Postgraduate School, Prof Badmas Yusuf, said the university had introduced a prototype design and attendance register for PhD candidates.

    He said the initiative was a measure to ensure that the programme is well planned and progress could be monitored.

    Yusuf, however, said despite this, the Postgraduate School had discovered that many students do not graduate as scheduled.

    This, he noted, had prompted the school to introduce a questionnaire,  designed to monitor the progress of students on postgraduate programmes and identify challenges they may be facing in the course of their programmes.

    The questionnaire was made available from September 14 at the postgraduate School and is due for submission by Friday.

  • $1.65b Lekki seaport for completion in 2019, says Ambode

    Lagos  State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has assured that ongoing construction works at the $1.6 billion Lekki seaport would be completed in 2019.

    Speaking yesterday at the formal unveiling of the office of Overseas Affairs, also known as Lagos Global, he said the seaport, on completion would be the deepest in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Represented at the ceremony by  Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, Ambode said other projects that would get the attention of would-be investors in the state include the $1.3 billion Badagry Creek Industrial Park that will be completed in 2018 and the $12 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Park among others.

    He said his administration has resolved to prioritise the achievement of the four pillars of the Lagos State Development Plan (2012-2015) which include economic development, infrastructural development, social development and security, and sustainable environment.

    He said the Lagos Global is an initiative of his administration, designed to encourage ease of doing business and help to turn Lagos into Africa’s model megacity and global economic and financial hub that is safe, secure, functional and productive.

    The governor recalled his inaugural speech on May 29 last year, where he stated the commitment of his administration to make Lagos an investment destination of choice by creating a favourable environment for local and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

  • Ambode assures of early completion of Mile 2-Badagry road, others

    Ambode assures of early completion of Mile 2-Badagry road, others

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday assured Lagosians of his administration’s determination to complete the Mile 2-Badagry Road Expansion project in quick time.

    Governor Ambode who gave the assurance when he inspected the Mile 2-Badagry road expansion works, which is being expanded to a 10-lane way, said the contractor working on the project will be mobilised to ensure its completion.

    He said: “What we have come here to do is to specifically ensure that the contractor here is mobilised. It’s also important for us that the contractor takes it as a major priority.

    “The Mile 2 Badagry Expressway is very important to all of us and like we said, it’s a project that we must finish. It’s a project that I would like to be completed within the shortest possible time, so I’ll like to see greater work done on the road project itself.”

    On the Blue Line Light Rail project, the governor said efforts will be made to ensure that the Mile 2 to the National Theatre Corridor is completed soon.

    “We should be able to put to use whatever has been done from Mile 2 to Marina. Immediately they commence work on the road project from Mile 2 towards Badagry, once we pass the aspect of Okokomaiko, we should be able to do the Blue Rail from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko,” he said.

    He urged the contractor to increase the pace of work on the project just as he assured them of government’s readiness to address the challenges they might be encountering towards completing the project.

    “What we expect is that notwithstanding the rain or whatever, the immediate mobilisation should be done and then the contractor should also increase the pace of work. That’s what we’ll like to see and wea also wish to let you know that whatever it is that are encumbrances to completing this project, we’re all going to sit down to make sure that we alleviate the sufferings of our people,” he said.

    The governor who later inspected the Badagry Deep Sea Port project assured that the state government will give adequate support to the initiative just as he assured the communities within the location that their interests will be protected.

    He said the Sea Port, on completion, will be the biggest in the African continent.

    “The land space for the Deep Sea Port is over 1000 hectares of which we have just been told that there’s going to be a free trade zone and then a container terminal that we are going to have here.

    “We already know that the investors have done the best they can. We have Mearsk in the bouquet of investors who have signed on to this project and what that means for us is that we are going to have the largest cargo container port in Africa, situated in Badagry.

    “That means a lot of us in terms of employment. It means a lot for us also in terms of new settlement like it has been said, we hope that in the next two months, we’re coming to start this project here,” he said.

    He said he personally came to see the project, stating that it is part of his promise to bring development to the communities in the axis.

    Harping on the need to complete the project, he said the state government will ensure that the 12 communities expected to be resettled as a result of the project are duly compensated.

    He said aside the Deep Sea Port, the state government will utilise the tourism potentials and side attractions notable within the axis.

    “Like you have also been told, this project is 500 metres away from the ‘Point Of No Return’ which is also a tourist attraction for us; so we have decided to protect that particular place to make sure that tourism is also complemented in this project.

    “With a Deep Sea Port project like this, it means that there would be new settlements in Badagry, new towns and the standard of living is positively affected by this kind of project.

    “That is why we want to appeal to everybody including every Lagosian, before I came here, I inspected the Mile 2 Badagry Expressway Project which is a 10-lane project. There is no way we want to do the Deep Sea Port project here if we do not finish the Mile 2 Badagry Expressway project.

    “I just want to assure you that simultaneously, those two projects will start in earnest and then we will use that to create jobs for our people and also increase the GDP (gross domestic product) of the Lagos economy and strongly within the next four years you will see a dramatic change in this axis of Lagos,” the governor said.

  • ‘Cassava factory near completion’

    The Plateau government said the structural development of its Cassava Processing Factory had reached 60 per cent completion.

    Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Steven Barko, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), added that the  project is a fall-out of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and a Brazilian firm, EBS Fedeta de Fedates, signed in 2012.

    He said: “It has gone up to between 50 to 60 per cent in terms of structural development but all the machines have been manufactured.

    “Furthermore, 10 Plateau youths have been trained in Brazil to handle the factory. In fact they returned (from Brazil) just one week ago.”

    He said the state Ministry of Works had completed the construction of the road leading to the factory while the boreholes for supply of water to the factory had been sunk and ready for use.

    He said: “We need water, reliable water and all the boreholes that are needed for the water have been completed; the road to the factory has been completed.

    “The structural development is what is going on now and you know the delay in completion is because sometimes this structures and equipment must come together so that they would understand where to fix this, where to fix that.”