The Nation Newspaper

Tag: infrastructure

  • ‘How to fix Fed Govt’s $2.9tr infrastructure need’

    ‘How to fix Fed Govt’s $2.9tr infrastructure need’

    The Federal Government is capable of meeting its $2.9 trillion infrastructure need if it could create appropriate legal and regulatory conditions for investment in Public Private Partnership (PPP), President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Agele Alufohai, has said.

    Alufohai said it is untenable for the Federal Government to solely rely on proceeds from oil exploration to finance infrastructure the country needed.

    Speaking at the 2013 Annual Conference of Registered Quantity Surveyors, organised by the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN) yesterday in Abuja, he identified the need for the country to become more productive, diversify its economy and create jobs for the unemployed youths.

    He said: “If we create the right legal, regulatory and socio-political environment for investment in PPPs, a significant portion of our infrastructure needs can be privately financed. I firmly believe that the skills of quantity surveyors are required to create the trust and transparency between government and investors, between investors and financiers and between infrastructure project companies and communities that sustainable PPP require.”

    He observed that developed nations had adopted the PPP strategy to finance their infrastructure especially in areas of health, education, among others.

    Describing the strategy as a new frontier, he tasked members to make themselves relevant in the neahead of the NIQS 25th Biennial General Meeting.

    However, Alufohai warned members of the institute to uphold reputation of the profession such that they should be transparent in their dealings which relates to public infrastructure and procurement.

    President of the QSRBN, Mallam Husaini Dikko, said the conference was designed to bring all registered quantity surveyors to brainstorm on how they could utilise their skills to promote and improve on the development programme of the federal government.

  • Fed Govt mulls 30-year infrastructure plan

    Fed Govt mulls 30-year infrastructure plan

    The Minister of National Planning Dr Shamsudeen Usman has said his government is working on a 30-year infrastructure master plan that will integrate key sectors of the economy.

    He spoke at the World Press Conference on the forthcoming 19th Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) in Lagos.

    “We are drawing out a 30-year infrastructure plan that is in draft now and we are going round the six geopolitical zones to see how we can integrate sectors to work better together,” he said.

    He said there had been challenges in infrastructure.

    He noted in the past, Nigeria adopted a gas master plan, a road master plan, but that some of them failed because of integration, especially with Information Technology now.

    He said the agricultural sector has the largest potential to diversify the economy, create jobs, secure food supply, lower inflation and expand foreign exchange earnings for the country.

    The sector contributed an average of 40 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2011 and last year. “With an average GDP growth rate of seven percent in 2011 and 2012 and 6.56 percent in the first quarter of this year, the prospects for Nigeria are huge, in the immediate and near term,” he said.

    NESG Chairman Mr Foluso Philips said the summit would not only focus on the agricultural sector, but also address how the sector would be improved upon.

    Former NESG Chairman, Dr. Frank Nweke said Nigeria has a great opportunity to improve its earnings and create jobs through agriculture.

    “With unemployment rates as high as 23.9 per cent as at 2011 and a high food import bill of approximately $8 billion in 2012, our country has opportunity to reduce unemployment through investment in the agricultural sector and conserve valuable foreign exchange,” he said.

    He disclosed that the summit would include a presidential dialogue with President Goodluck Jonathan and other African presidents, eminent local and global private sector leaders, captains of the agribusiness industry and several Pan-African economic institutions.

  • Fed Govt votes $5b for gas infrastructure devt

    Fed Govt votes $5b for gas infrastructure devt

    • Project delivery begins 2015

    THE Federal Government will spend between $4 billion and $5billion to develop the gas infrastructure blueprint expected to ensure sufficient supply of natural gas both for domestic use and export, The Nation has learnt.

    The project’s blueprint, which includes major gas pipelines referred to as backbone pipeline network, some of which are ongoing, will also form the foundation and primary source of gas supply for the planned Trans-Saharan gas pipeline spearheaded by Nigeria, Niger and Algeria.

    The Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige, said the network is a major part of the government’s gas infrastructure initiative, adding that completion and delivery of projects would begin from 2015.

    The network, he explained, includes Escravos-Lagos pipeline system, Obiobi/Oben pipeline and the QIT/Obigbo, Obi 3, Ajaokuta, Kano pipeline. It would not only serve as the country’s gateway to efficient and sustainable domestic gas supply, but will also form the primary foundation of the planned Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project, which Nigeria, Niger and Algeria are major stakeholders.

    The project is planned to ferry gas from the region to the Mediterranean and to Europe, he said.

    Ige told The Nation that on completion, the country would be delivering about five billion cubic feet of gas daily as against the less than two billion cubic at the moment.

    He said: “We are delivering the gas infrastructure blueprint which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2008 and that includes the expansion of the Escravos-Lagos pipeline system, the link between the east and the west, which is the Obiobi/Oben pipeline and the QIT/Obigbo, Obi 3, Ajaokuta, Kano pipeline. That is the backbone pipeline we are trying to put together.

    “With that network, we will be in a position to ensure that gas from everywhere can get to the major markets because with that, we will have full connectivity from ExxonMobil to Lagos and to the north and vice-versa, and the cumulative production we are looking at the end of this is about five billion cubic feet per day. Now we are getting close to two billion cubic feet per day, and that shows how rapidly we are moving.

    “For us to move to the next level for big time production, we need this entire infrastructure to come together. When we complete the east west, that will open another volume of production. Our target is to be in a position where we can support at least about four to five billion cubic feet per day and this infrastructure will make that happen. “

    He said the infrastructure would open up access to supply and to the markets. Once we have this backbone in place, we can start expanding to other parts of the country, he added.

    On the cost of the project, he said: “The cost is difficult to determine because it is a combination of infrastructure, but it should be about $5 billion. By the time we have spent that amount, we would have been done with our backbone infrastructure. The delivery of the projects will be between 2015 and 2017. Obiobi/Oben project is expected to be delivered by 2015 and from there, subsequent segments will be delivered.”

  • Osun residents hail infrastructure renewal

    Osun residents hail infrastructure renewal

    Residents of Osun State have expressed their satisfaction with Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s infrastructure upgrade efforts.

    Quite a number of projects are being undertaken by the state government, but clearly, the conversion of the 45-km Osogbo-Ikirun Road to a dual-carriageway is its flagship project.

    Since the state government signed a N17.8 billion contract agreement with SAMMYA Construction Company Limited for the dualisation of the road, the project segmented into three phases- Osogbo-Dagbolu (International Market) to Alamisi Market in Ikirun (9.52 kilometers); Osogbo (Old-garage) to Ikirun junction Road (20.5 kilometers) and Ikirun-Ila Odo- Kwara State Boundary Road (16.55 km), the state government has been receiving a lot of commendation from residents of  the state especially road users.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Transport, Mr Oladepo Amuda, an engineer, had assured that the project would be completed within 24 months.

    SAMMYA  Construction Company Limited took that directive seriously.

    A development financial institution, the Infrastructure Bank Plc (TIB) which is the transaction advisor and financier of the project, is also working in conjunction with the construction company and other stakeholders to fund the project.

    The Chairman, SAMMYA Construction Company Limited, Mr Sammy Adigun assured that a lot of hands were employed to ensure the deadline was not missed.

    He also revealed that the company signed a local content undertaking, such that the labour and materials would be sourced locally up to 60 per cent, stressing that the actual target was 90 per cent to provide jobs for the people of the state.

    Adigun added that for executing the project, the administration of Aregbesola has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to fully implementing its aggressive road development plan for the state, which, he said would facilitate the rapid development of the state.

    Several months down the line since work commenced on the multi-billion naira project, opinions of people of the state about the performance of the contractor on the job habe been nearly the same.

    People are praising the rare technical know-how at work on the project.

    A trader at Igbona Market in Osogbo,  Alhaja Sarafatu Aina, said the contractor SAMMAYA has proved that it is capable of handling the job with the deployment of brand new machines for road construction, adding that the workers handling the project have also been clearly dedicated to the project.

    A shop owner at Ayeitoro area of Osogbo, the state capital, James Obiora  noted that despite the increasing rain, the uncompromising spirit of SAMMYA has ensured work progressed steadily on the project.

    Similarly, answering questions on how the construction work has improved youth empowerment, a driver recruited by SAMMYA, Yunus Adegboyega said: “I got a hint that SAMMYA was employing drivers and I approached its office. That was how I got the job. The salary is very attractive and there was training for all the workers. Besides empowering us financially, SAMMYA is also exposing us to skills in our various areas that are very new to many of us. The number of youths from Osun State that have been employed in various departments and sections of the company since the work began on the road is well over 500.”

    He said further that the state government has demonstrated its readiness to place the state in the league of developed states, while the governor has demonstrated his desire to permanently etch his name in the minds of people in terms of infrastructural development.

    A traditional ruler, Oba Rauf Adedeji, the Akinrun of Ikirun, one of the towns through which the road passes, commended both  the state government and SAMMYA Construction Limited for making the project a good reference point in the country.

    For the monarch, the dream to transform the state’s infrastructural facilities as conceived by the governor is actually being given a life by the contractor handling the project.

    The royal father urged everyone involved in the project to ensure that the drive and determination shown when the work statrted would be sustained throughout the duration of the project.

    The founder of Sword of Spirit Ministry, Eweta, Pastor Israel Wemimo said the major gain the state is recording through the ongoing Osogbo-Kwara Boundary project is in the area of empowerment.

    He declared that youths in Ikirun and adjoining communities, who could not be absorbed by the contracting firm handling the work at the moment, eagerly await when the contractor will shift full attention to the part of the project that traverses the community.

    Chief Tadese Esuleke of Oloba Compound, Osogbo, held similar views.

    He said: “Many youths in the state who could not get opportunity in OYES are beginning to turn their attention to SAMMYA, the contractor working on Osogbo-Kwara Boundary Road. Honestly, this work is assisting in mopping our streets of these hitherto idle young men. You can call it an indirect way by government and its partner, the contractor, to empower young ones”.

    Speaking on behalf of students’ movement in the state, a former Osun State chairman of Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of National Association Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Bosede Safety said: “People are saying the youths empowerment is one of the gains recorded by the state through the project of Osogbo-Kwara Boundary road but beyond that fact, I think the preservation of lives and properties of the people that will use that road. The rate of accident on that road before this construction work is relatively high. Lives and properties have been lost and that will have to stop now with the expansion and

    reconstruction work going on.

    “I want to express the gratitude of the people of Osun state, most especially the youths, who apart  from benefitting as road users, also have gainful employment opportunity through SAMMYA . With this kind of infrastructure, automobiles being used in the state will have longer life span, thereby reducing spending on vehicle maintenance which further relaxes the strain on peoples’ income”.

     

  • Lagos to develop sport through infrastructure

    Lagos State Sports Endowment Fund (LSSEF) has embarked on a bold move to revolutionise sports development in Lagos State through public private sector initiative.

    The LSSEF, which was reactivated by the Fashola administration, has released a plan that would involve all major stakeholders from the public and private sectors, to take sports to the next level in the state, through massive infrastructural development.

    At a maiden Town Hall meeting held in Lagos last week as part of its efforts to raise funds for sports development where critical stakeholders assembled, the board of the LSSEF speaking through its chairman Real Admiral Anthony Oni (rtd), said the body will continue to work assiduously to encourage public-private sector to support sports in the state.He also presented its plan to build sports centers’ across all the local councils in the state, to promote grassroots sports development amongst the youths.

    The chairman reaffirmed the commitment of the LSSEF to keep refining and reviewing its priorities on a regular basis to keep abreast of achieving its set goals, which is sourcing funds through partnership to develop sport infrastructure in Lagos state.

    He said that the fund was set up to provide strategic leadership, impetus and funding for sports in Lagos State with a renewed clarity of purpose and a focused approach to working with their partners to make a difference for and through sports.

    Also speaking at the event Executive Secretary of LSSEF, Mr.Tunde Bank-Anthonytouched on the composition of the LSSEF board as a well balanced decision making organ comprising five representatives at directorate level from the Lagos State government and10 representatives from the private sector as a way of building confidence of all critical stakeholders in the adjudication and channeling of mobilized funds to achieve the desired objectives.

    The executive secretary stressed on the immediate plan of the body to embark on a road show to sensitize the fifty three local councils and local council development areas in the state to bring them on board in the fund mobilization drive to build sports infrastructures in the state.

    The Chairman of the occasion, Chief MoladeOkoya-Thomas charged the LSSEF to involve the community in their plans and in their bid to raise funds and support for the project, while also calling for massive support of the private sector in the project to develop sports in Lagos state.

    In the main presentation on the theme; “Sports Development and Social Engineering; The Role of the Private and Public sector”, Mr. TunjiAdeyinka, managing director of Connect Marketing noted that an endowment fund is a necessity in a state like Lagos for sustained investment in sports.

  • Infrastructure: FG rolls out 30-year Master Plan

    Infrastructure: FG rolls out 30-year Master Plan

    The Federal Government has rolled out the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) aimed at attracting foreign investors for the next 30 years.

    The Minister of National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman, disclosed this yesterday in Kano.

    He urged government functionaries to embrace the document to sustain economic growth in the country.

    Usman, who spoke during the Zonal Validation Workshop on the draft for Northwest, said the Federal Government has concluded plans to develop the infrastructure necessary to enhance economic development and attract foreign investors.

    He said that the purpose of the NIIMP is to give first-hand information to foreign investors on the level of socio-economic and infrastructural development to guide them on profitable businesses they can establish.

    According to him: “If the concept of NIIMP is properly galvanised and enhanced, the nagging problem of unemployment will become history and the Nigerian youths will benefit tremendously from the whole idea.”

    The Minister admitted that the current infrastructure stock in Nigeria is inadequate, explaining “that is why the National Planning Commission has been mandated to coordinate the development of NIIMP, which master plan is to run for 30 years and designed to address the challenges in the infrastructure sector holistically.”

    He noted that the 30-year master plan will require $2.9 trillion to close Nigeria’s infrastructural gap, which includes, energy, Information Communication Technology, Housing-Regional Development, Vital registration and security.

    Others, according to him, include finance mechanism, transport, Water, Agriculture and Mining, Plan Delivery, Monitoring & Evaluation, Social Infrastructure and legal and regulatory

    Kano State Governor, Engr. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, said Kano state Government was in total support of the NIIMP project, adding that the state government has evolved a strategy that would boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to provide alternative fund for socio-economic development.

     

  • Ibadan residents relish infrastructure upgrade

    Ibadan residents relish infrastructure upgrade

    Residents of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, have continued to applaud the infrastructure upgrade in the city.

    There is a predominant feeling that the ancient city is undergoing a massive makeover, the latest effort being the inauguration of the Mokola fly-over bridge.

    A day to the launch of the historical facility, residents of the city were in high spirits. They had waited to see the bridge commissioned so that the difficulties experienced on the ever busy road will come to an end. To show their eagerness and preparedness for the event, all the traders, artisans, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), motorcycle operators popularly known as Okada, and members of the business community declared a work-free day to be part of the epoch-making event which attracted both the high and low in the society.

    All the major markets in the city were closed, while the traders in these markets came out en masse to attend the event. Some were decked in Ankara uniform, others donned peak caps and T-shirts bearing the portrait of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Their city was changing and they were happy about it. Some have been converted to dual-carriage ways and beautified. Jobs are created. The state capital is looking neater and healthier. There is better access to quality health and education. Transportation and commerce have improved, while peace and order have been restored.

    The amazed audience was wondering how the governor was able to achieve these feats within two years in office when past governors failed to accomplish much in four years or more. Some have asked “where did the governor get the money to execute this project”. But that is the kind of governor they have been yearning for after many years of stagnation and bad governace.

    The commissioning of the flyover was accompanied by two other multi-million naira projects; the ultra modern market at Scout Camp, and the new Garage Modern Motorpark, Ibadan.

    The people’s faces glowed in appreciation for the good work of the governor. Now, there is unfettered movement of people, goods and services in most areas of the city as a result of a good road network.

    That the Mokola fly-over bridge, the first to be accomplished in the last 35 years by any civilian administration was successfully constructed and completed within a span of two years was still a like a dream to many.

    Indeed, for an average motorist, Mokola Roundabout was a no-go area most especially during peak hours, with a journey from Dugbe to Ojoo which should not take 20 minutes, taking  not less than  two hours. A commercial motorist, Kazeem Adelaja,  said  he always prayed in the morning not to be hooked up in the vehicular bottleneck so as not to waste precious time and fuel in the process.

    He said: “The Mokola Roundabout is a problem to an average motorist in this city, and we often find out that the bottleneck is caused by impatience on the part of the road users. On my part, I always tried everything to avoid the place so that at the end of the day I would not waste my money burning fuel unnecessarily.”

    Senator Ajimobi who described   the  road as critical in the transportation network of Ibadan in terms of commerce, education and overall well-being of the citizens, said  the flag-off  of the construction of the bridge on the  ever-busy Sango-Mokola-Dugbe Road, was a testimony of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the citizens of the state live a better life.

    The governor who visibly expressed joy to be a vehicle of transformation, said: “It is a testimony to the fact that we desire good and robust life for the people of Oyo State. This particular flyover was conceived as part of the overall vision and mission of this administration to restore, reposition and transform the state and her citizen’s transportation to higher efficiency and effectiveness.

    “The completion of the bridge is expected to translate to less stressful journey for her citizens, especially the people of Ibadan and visitors to the state capital.”

    As early as 7.00 am, a large crowd of ordinary people thronged the Mokola area  with most of them singing and drumming to celebrate what they called a “monumental and unprecedented achievement” in the history of the state. Twisting their bodies to the sweet drum-beats by local drummers who thronged the venue of the event, the people could not hide their excitement.

     

     

     

     

     

    given the harrowing experience that they had suffered in the past and lauding the government for coming to their rescue.

    The elated former governor of Lagos State, and National leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) in his address lauded Governor Ajimobi whom he described as an actualiser, performer and

    extra-ordinary leader in Oyo State, for the project which he said would impact positively on the lives of the people of the state. He particularly commended the Ajimobi administration for making the people the cornerstone of its economic policy, saying “we all can see developments in all ramifications’’.

    Senator Tinubu who told the people of the state that the flyover bridge and all the projects inaugurated were just tips of the iceberg, assured that more good things would still come while

    lampooning those who he said had had the opportunity of presiding over the affairs of the state but failed woefully, but who were now forming “an unholy alliance’’, stating that their alliance would fail as the people of the state were now wiser and could read between the lines.

    He said,  ” I read recently that some of them were collaborating, the old enemies who dealt themselves out of office with guns, cudgels, sticks, and cutlasses. They say they want to collaborate again, ah!

    They have failed because they will fail now again.  They were down before, they were down again. No matter what evil they put together they will continue to collapse like a pack of cards. If they forget,

    we helped them before,  let their conscience tell them. I Bola Ahmed Tinubu did what I have to do to protect the integrity, the character , the content of our democracy and the freedom of our people through him, but what did they pay back? Today, here we are .  They left the

    office of the governor in shambles and they return the state backward and rotten. Now, the office is clean, free and you see rapid progress, you see a government that made the people the cornerstone of economic policy. You see civilization in Ajimobi administration.

    You see restoration, you see commitment and radical transformation and

    urban renewal. They even refused to paint the buildings in the Secretariat where they work. They were enemy of progress,  they were enemy of change and they were enemy of the people.”

    Also speaking, Governor Okorocha, commended his Oyo State counterpart for transforming the state, particularly Ibadan where he said he built one of his schools taking care of indigent students while Governor Amosun congratulated the people of Oyo State for voting a “performer’’ as the governor, saying the result of their decision was the all-round transformation being witnessed in the state now.

    Goodwill messages were also given by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Oorelope Adefulire and the National President of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Bayo Oyero among others.

    Senator Ajimobi, in his address, said the bridge was a dream come true and a historical mileage in the state and berated the opposition whom he said embarked on a campaign of calumny since the day the construction of the bridge began, urging them all to acknowledge excellence wherever they saw one.

    His words, “I remember that on Thursday, December 22, 2011, when we flagged off the construction of this fly-over bridge, we provoked the unbelief and disdain of cynics and political opposition. To them, the construction of the bridge was akin to building the biblical Towers of Babel, with its impossible tendencies.  Even when the bridge was being constructed, we became the butt of jokes of the opposition who, either out of mischief, naivety or their well-known cynicism, mocked the

    absence of an erect bridge, months after its flag-off. Unknown to them, the essential components of the bridge, being mostly pre-fabricated, were undergoing construction in the company’s yard.

    Now that the bridge has been completed, they have shifted their mischief to the cost of the project, choosing to ignore the comprehensive features of the project which among others include the upgrading of 1.2km long service roads and intersections, beautification of roundabout and space under the flyover, construction of new water mains, street lighting and the payment of compensation to the numerous property owners whose properties in this commercial centre of the city were affected. “

    A resident, Mrs. Mojisola Babalola, after the commissioning was full of praises to Senator Abiola, for not only fulfilling a  promise to deliver on the project but also changing the landscape of the entire area making it one of the beautiful areas in the city of Ibadan. She said, “the governor indeed has etched his name in the heart of many people with the completion of this project and we could not but be grateful for the flyover bridge.”

    Present at the occasion are the former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Chairman of ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State,  Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola represented by his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Oorelope Adefulire, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, Chief Kola Daisi, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Badejoko Adeniji, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, the Iylode of Ibadanland, Chief Mrs Aminat Abiodun, an educationist , Chief Emiola Adesina, Chief Bode Amao, Ambassador Olu Saanu, executive members of the Central Council Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), National Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), Chief Lai Mohammed, members of the state executive council and party leaders amongst others.

     

  • ‘Nigeria has potentials to develop its infrastructure’

    The Chairman, Nigeria -China Business Council, Chief Jacob Wood, has pointed out that Nigeria has the potentials to develop its infrastructure and improve its industrial base for the welfare of her citizens.

    He made the remarks at a dinner hosted in honour of members of the Nigeria-China Business Council in Beijing, China.

    The Chairman said that with hard work, diligence and honesty on the part of both private and public sectors, Nigeria will overcome the problem of infrastructural deficit and unemployment.

    He recalled his first visit to Lagos 30 years ago, which he said availed him of the opportunity to see a bridge for the first time as there was nothing like it in China then, noting that with dedication and hardwork of the Chinese people, the country was able to develop its infrastructure and improve the standard of living of her citizens.

    Wood urged members of the council to continue to cooperate and strive to attract more investments into Nigeria, while thanking the Ministry of Trade and Investment for its support to the council.

    In his remarks, Mr. David Adejuwon, Director of Trade in the ministry, said that the council can lift the economy of Nigeria and also strengthen the bilateral relationship between both countries, noting that both countries have common features in terms of population, human and material resources that will improve their trade and investment opportunities.

    Adejuwon further said that more work needs to be done to address the quality of goods produced in China for the Nigerian market, while calling for more collaboration to ensure the production of standard goods in Nigeria and China.

    Earlier, the National Coordinator, Nigeria-China Business Council, Chief Matthew Uwakwe, pointed out that the development pace in China can be replicated in Nigeria through collaboration between the private and public sectors, adding that the council will continue to attract both local and foreign investors into the country.

     

  • Plateau lawmaker revives infrastructure

    A lawmaker in Plateau State, Hon Clark Dabwan representing Mangu South constituency at the state House of Assembly, has lifted the spirits of his constituents.

    After noting the extent of infrastructural decay in the area he responded with practical help. When he visited, he brought with him building materials including bundles of roofing sheets to rehabilitate some dilapidated facilities there. He also knew exactly which facilities needed urgent attention.

    It was a pleasant surprise gift to the people.

    Dabwan is the Speaker of the House, serving his second term.

    He presented the items to his constituents at the palace of the district head, Magajin Gari Mangu Mr Michael Hirse.

    There, he told them his mission was provide the materials so that the community could fix some of its run-down structures. He also spoke of his appreciation of the support the people have given him.

    The speaker said: “I have only come back with these items as a mark of my appreciation to my people. It is my own way of saying thank you for the confidence reposed in me and the mandate you gave me to represent you at the Plateau State House of Assembly.

    “As your spokesman in the House, I have tried as much as possible to present your needs to the state government. While some of our needs in this community [have been] solved by the state government, some others are already receiving government attention as indicated in the 2013 appropriation Act. But I feel it is necessary to make my own personal contribution in appreciation of the mandate you gave me.

    “To show my appreciation, I have come with 35 bundles of aluminum roofing sheets, 10 of them will be for Alohom community for the roofing of theirs primary school, the remaining 25 bundles of roofing sheets should be used for the renovation of the maternity clinic in Mangu.

    “I will make funds available for the purchase of wood for the roofing as well as for other relevant materials and to take care of labour. This maternity clinic is very dear to my heart and I will want the project completed in 30 days from now.

    “The people of Lahir village, I was told, are also contributing money for electrification project of their community. I have here a cash sum of N150,000 as my personal contribution to their electricity project.

     ”Most importantly I will not forget my party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on which platform I was elected; I have here a station wagon Peugeot car to assist them in carrying out party functions.”

     Hon Dabwan asked the people of his constituency to continue to support the redemptive government of Governor Jonah David Jang so that the community will continue to benefit from the administration.

     Chair of the management committee of Mangu Local Government Area, Hon Isa Shikven who witnessed the presentation, said, in his remarks, that the local government and the people were proud of the Speaker.

    Hon. Shaken said: “Our representative at the House of Assembly has not only represented us well; he is heading the legislative arm of government in the state. This is why we are so proud of him.

    “The Speaker has no official powers to allocate projects but he is already doing that in his personal capacity, in an effort to put a smile on the faces of his constituents; we will ever remain grateful.”

    The Magajin Gari Mangu (District Head) who received the building materials on behalf of the community, expressed his gratitude . He said the items will go along way in alleviating the suffering of the people particularly at the maternity clinic.

  • Plateau lawmaker revives infrastructure

    Plateau lawmaker revives infrastructure

    A lawmaker in Plateau State, Hon Clark Dabwan representing Mangu South constituency at the state House of Assembly, has lifted the spirits of his constituents.

    After noting the extent of infrastructural decay in the area he responded with practical help. When he visited, he brought with him building materials including bundles of roofing sheets to rehabilitate some dilapidated facilities there. He also knew exactly which facilities needed urgent attention.

    It was a pleasant surprise gift to the people.

    Dabwan is the Speaker of the House, serving his second term.

    He presented the items to his constituents at the palace of the district head, Magajin Gari Mangu Mr Michael Hirse.

    There, he told them his mission was provide the materials so that the community could fix some of its run-down structures. He also spoke of his appreciation of the support the people have given him.

    The speaker said: “I have only come back with these items as a mark of my appreciation to my people. It is my own way of saying thank you for the confidence reposed in me and the mandate you gave me to represent you at the Plateau State House of Assembly.

    “As your spokesman in the House, I have tried as much as possible to present your needs to the state government. While some of our needs in this community [have been] solved by the state government, some others are already receiving government attention as indicated in the 2013 appropriation Act. But I feel it is necessary to make my own personal contribution in appreciation of the mandate you gave me.

    “To show my appreciation, I have come with 35 bundles of aluminum roofing sheets, 10 of them will be for Alohom community for the roofing of theirs primary school, the remaining 25 bundles of roofing sheets should be used for the renovation of the maternity clinic in Mangu.

    “I will make funds available for the purchase of wood for the roofing as well as for other relevant materials and to take care of labour. This maternity clinic is very dear to my heart and I will want the project completed in 30 days from now.

    “The people of Lahir village, I was told, are also contributing money for electrification project of their community. I have here a cash sum of N150,000 as my personal contribution to their electricity project.

    ”Most importantly I will not forget my party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on which platform I was elected; I have here a station wagon Peugeot car to assist them in carrying out party functions.”

    Hon Dabwan asked the people of his constituency to continue to support the redemptive government of Governor Jonah David Jang so that the community will continue to benefit from the administration.

    Chair of the management committee of Mangu Local Government Area, Hon Isa Shikven who witnessed the presentation, said, in his remarks, that the local government and the people were proud of the Speaker.

    Hon. Shaken said: “Our representative at the House of Assembly has not only represented us well; he is heading the legislative arm of government in the state. This is why we are so proud of him.

    “The Speaker has no official powers to allocate projects but he is already doing that in his personal capacity, in an effort to put a smile on the faces of his constituents; we will ever remain grateful.”

    The Magajin Gari Mangu (District Head) who received the building materials on behalf of the community, expressed his gratitude . He said the items will go along way in alleviating the suffering of the people particularly at the maternity clinic.