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Tag: minister

  • Baby boy for ex-minister after 23 years marriage

    After 23 years of marriage, Mary, wife of former Minister of State, Interior, Humphrey Abah has delivered her first baby.

    A thanksgiving service attended by top government functionaries and other dignitaries was held in Abuja on Sunday at the United Evangelical Church, National Worship Centre to celebrate the birth of the baby.

    Abah who said for twenty-three years his political opponents laughed at him for not been able to father a child was grateful to God for finally granting his desire.

    He revealed that even doctors in London have “said that my wife will not be able to bear any child.”

    The ex-minister said God has since been his hope even after doctor’s declaration adding that there was no pressure from his family to either marry another wife or seek another alternative.

    His words: “I always pray to God for a day like this. My political opponents have used my childlessness to mock me. I have come across some people who initially we were in the same camp together but because you did not do one thing or the other that they wanted you to do on grounds of principle the say ha… we are not surprised after all he does not have a child. You get that kind of jab. I keep telling people that I have gotten to a position in life that I am driven by what the word of God have promised me and I do not take to comments that come from sides.

    “I told my wife not to listen to side talks but should focus on God and she has always listened to me. My advice for other people who are looking for this type of day is for them to draw strength from our testimony. Because God has promised he shall not fail.”

    The mother of the baby boy, whose name is David Onu Abah said after fifty years of age it is only God that can give a child.

    Her words: “I feel great and grateful unto the lord for all that he has done for wiping away my tears and making me a mother at last. It is a dream I have had since I married at the age of 27.

    “Now I am more than 49 years of age. It has taking a long time for this to come true. I have shed many tears. My lives have witnessed my tears. But regardless of them all the journey has been rough.

    “In the year 2012 on my birthday which was November 18, it was a Sunday I came to the church and I asked the pastor and he asked a little child to pray for me. The church rose up and chorused Amen. That same Sunday the church organised a praise concert and I danced before the lord and I said the lord has provided me with a birthday gift. After that we came April 2013 and there was fasting and prayer I keyed into it and I prostrated before the lord and I asked him to please answer my and not to allow my enemies have the last laugher on this matter.

    “Our story is that of Abraham and Sarah. I have passed menopause and I have been looking unto you if you did it for Sarah then you have to give me strength to conceive. Even when London Doctors in 2011 told me nothing could be done. I knew that it is only him that can help me. But I focused on the lord. When they told me that I was pregnant I ran the test and I was pregnant and I said truly the Lord is faithful. I scrammed and cried in the Hospital and everyone there rose up in the same vain and were giving thanks unto the lord. Since then the story has been from one testimony to another. Our child was born on the October 10, 2013.”

    Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro described the ex-minister as a man of faith urging others waiting for the Lord to emulate the family.

    His words: “He is my friend and he was the Minister of State Interior. Something wonderful has happened in the life of this family. For those looking for a child they should have the spirit of faith and patient. God works in a miraculous ways. Most of the things that we require in live if not all God gives and he gives at his own time. The birth of this child after so many years of waiting is a lesson for all that before God no time is late.”

    Among other dignities present at the ceremony were, the Controller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Mr. Zakari Ibrahim, Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. David Paradan, former Controller General of NPS, Olushola Ogundipe.

  • Minister advises Nigerians on unity

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has congratulated Nigerians, especially those residing in the Federal Capital Territory as they mark the New Year.

    In his New Year message, the minister urged Nigerians to re-dedicate themselves to the building of a united Nigeria where generations yet unborn would be proud.

    According to him, this year is very special to the country because it marks the 100th year of the amalgamation of the Northern and the Southern Protectorates of Nigeria.

    Senator Mohammed called for patriotism where love for the country is most paramount, even as he urged them to shun any act that could bring about division.

    He said Nigerians should pray for their fatherland as well as its leadership, for God to continue to guide, protect and give President Goodluck Jonathan the strength and wisdom to steer the affairs of state, thereby implementing the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

    He appreciated God for sparing our lives to witness this New Year celebration, in spite of the daunting security challenges facing some parts of the country.

    Senator Mohammed urged Nigerians, particularly residents of the FCT irrespective of their religious beliefs or political inclinations, to continue to live in peace and harmony with one another.

    Mohammed enjoined residents to remain steadfast, believe in the capability of Nigeria’s leadership and be their brothers’ keepers, in keeping with the customs and traditions of Africa.

    The minister expressed the commitment of his administration to provide a serene and clean environment in consonance with the Road Map of his administration and transformation agenda of President Jonathan.

    On security, the minister further assured that all security outfits in the Federal Capital Territory are working together and are more than ever prepared to remain on top of any unexpected security breach.

    He, however, charged the residents to always assist the security agents with useful information on any suspicious movement because, he said, security is everybody’s business.

  • Should a minister present the national budget?

    Under the Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), which expressly provides for the oath of office, the President is expected to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; to preserve and defend the constitution of the country.

    Section 1 (1) of the 1999 Constitution resonates the supremacy of the constitution. In Hope Democratic Party v Obi (2012, ALL FWLR (PT612), 1620 @ 1625 R.4, the apex court rule confirm the supremacy of the constitution as binding on all persons, institutions and authorities in Nigeria. In consequence, the failure to follow any of the provisions renders the steps taken unconstitutional, null and void.

    The validity of Budget Presentation by Mr. President

    The validity of budget presentation by the president is captured in S.81(1) of the extant constitution as amended. It provides thus: “The President shall cause to be prepared and laid before each house of the National Assemble at anytime in each financial year estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the Federation for next following financial year.”

    In the lexicon of law in general, the word “shall” connotes a mandatory concept. The Black’s Law Dictionary, 9th edition at page 1499 defines it as “something mandatory that drafters typically intend and that courts typically uphold.”

    In Agip v Agip (2010) 2Scm 1 @ 16,R22, the apex court maintains that when the word “shall” is used in a statue, it is not permissive, it is mandatory, its imports is that a thing must be done. Budget presentation from the import of S.81 (1) is the constitutional responsibility of the President and no one else.

    Budget Presentation by a Minister

    The President, seemingly overwhelmed by the perceived and anticipated boos from members of the National Assembly, has wittingly delegated the Finance Minister to represent him at the 2014 budget presentation under the guise of being protected by the provision of S.148 (1).

    This section provide thus: “The President may in his discretion assign to Vice President or any Minister of the government of the Federation responsibility for any business of the government of the federation including the administration of any department of government.”

    The 2014 budget presentation by the finance minister, when analysed in contest with the provision of S.148(1), does not suggest that the President can negotiate, abdicate or sacrifice a reverence exercise of annual budget presentation.

    The above scenario notwithstanding, S.67 (2) of the same constitution unequivocally permits the presence of the finance minister on such occasion.

    The aforesaid section provides: “A minister of the government of the Federation shall attend either house of the National Assembly, if invited to explain to the house the conduct of his or her ministry and in particular when the affairs of that ministry are under discussion.”

    Conclusion

    The general law is that procedures or conditions are provided for by a statue within which a budget can be presented and except where the statue admits of exception (and in this case, there is none), such procedures or conditions must be complied with in other to inject life into the statue, constitution or the polity in general.

    Equating, therefore, S. 81 (1) with any other provision(s) in the extant constitution smack of irrelevance of technical rules of interpretation.

    Delegating the Finance Minister to lay the annual budget before the National Assembly amounts to constitutional negligence which has further eroded and corroded the executive power of an imperial President: delegatus non potest delegare.

     

     

     

  • Minister decries foreign airlines harsh treatment of passengers

    Minister decries foreign airlines harsh treatment of passengers

    Minister of Culture & Tourism Mr. Edem Duke has called on Emirates Airlines to ensure that travellers are well treated while on board their aircraft because they are the main reason why the airline is in business.

    He said reports of shabby treatment of by foreign carriers is becoming unacceptable because customers deserve some level of dignity in the way they are handled by providers of air transport services.

    Speaking at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki during the launch of Emirates Holiday package last week, Duke disclosed that Nigerians are the most travelled in the world.

    He said Nigerian passengers are unique passengers because they do not only travel for leisure, they also spend a lot money in the course of their travel.

    “This is why Nigerians are rated as the fourth largest spenders in the world. Nigerians spend big when they travel but that is just what we are. So as Emirates Holidays, you must understand them if you really want to please them,” he said.

    Duke urged Emirates Airlines not only to showcase or sell the destinations of other countries to Nigeria, but also sell Nigeria as a destination to other foreigners.

    He said the government was poised to improve the tourism sector of the economy, adding that such could only be achieved if the firm worked with the government in making such dreams come through.

    Emirates Holidays develops exotic packages for Nigerian travelling to Dubai and other destinations. It also develops packages for Nigerians outside the country to come into Nigeria.

    “So Emirates Holidays and Tour Brokers International (TBI) should create products that will make them comfortable,” he said.

    Vice President, Business Support, Emirates Airlines, Mr. Fabio Prestijacopo, noted that the firm was working in conjunction with Tour Brokers International (TBI) as its local partner in Nigeria to sell the best holiday packages to Nigeria to travel all across the world.

    He further pointed out that the main drive behind the holiday packages during to showcase the forthcoming Dubai shopping festival that is comes in January and February 2014 .

    According to him, the Emirates Holidays packages range from $1,245 to $2,880 for Nigerian passengers as the period would afford them the opportunity to enjoy their holidays.

    He said: “Emirates Holidays is committed towards giving our esteem Nigerian customers the kind of service and products that they expect when they travel on Emirates Airlines.

    “When it comes to booking holidays and making those everlasting memories when they travel, we are most willing to offer such experience to them.

    “Emirates Airlines is expanding and it is one of the reason why we operate Emirates Holidays to add to the value the airline is offering. We will ensure that we give them the product that they demand for and we treat them with dignity and create a lasting impression in their heart,” he added.

     

  • N50b, lives lost yearly to fires, says minister

    N50b, lives lost yearly to fires, says minister

    The Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, yesterday warned Nigerians to be careful when they handle objects that can cause fire.

    He said the nation loses N50 billion yearly and scores of people to avoidable fires.

    Moro addressed reporters yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, after a three-day council meeting on fire, which ended its fifth national conference.

    The minister said the prevalence of fire outbreaks in the country should be of concern to everybody.

    Moro said his ministry was working to reduce the trend with new policy on Fire Safety Code, Implementation and Enforcement.

    He said: “As I am speaking to you, we are losing about N50 billion to fires across the country. Lives are being lost unnecessary as a result of these preventable incidents. But because it does not occur

    regularly, people do not actually take note of its importance.

    “But, as a government, we have to be proactive enough to ensure that this is reduced in the country. That is part of what the conference this year has been able to achieve.

    “The available fire statistics shows that losses resulting from uncontrolled fires are unacceptably high and no responsible government can afford to be complacent in the face of this threat.

    “Our cities have continued to expand without corresponding provision of fire safety infrastructure; building plans are approved without due consideration for safety requirements; hazardous materials are manufactured and handled without considering safety.”

    According to him, the National Safety Code is predicated on the need to check fires through a regulatory framework.

  • We want to keep this Eaglets -Minister

    We want to keep this Eaglets -Minister

     •Hosts team today

    Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has vowed to ensure that the U- 17 World Champions, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria are kept together as a team and not go the way of the 2007 class that later scattered without making the squad of the Super Eagles.

    “When we first decided to go on the project of parading strictly young players that are really within the age bracket a lot of people thought it won’t work out but I thank Almighty God that the project has yielded a great dividend for us by the feat of the Golden Eaglets emerging World Champions in Friday’s U- 17 World Cup final in Abu Dhabi.

    “The result has vindicated us.This is a great project we have started.So by winning this world cup today (Friday) it means that we are sure footed in the development of football at the grass roots in the country.

    “The Eaglets world cup victory shows clearly that the future of the game is very bright. So I want to congratulate his Excellency Mr.President(Goodluck Jonathan).This February we won the Africa Nations Cup and now we have won the FIFA U- 17 World Cup we can’t ask for better performance and records.

    “We will have a reception for the team on Sunday (today) and after the reception we are going to have a post tournament review and assessment where we can talk at length how we can keep these talents together.

    Even if we can not keep all of them together we want to device a way where we can monitor their progress in other to sustain this tempo of success” the Minister stated.

  • At Lagos International Trade Fair, minister pushes for agric

    This year’s International Trade Fair kicked off last Friday amid funfare.

    It was opened by the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Dr Olusegun Aganga.

    The minister walked round the fair grounds, urging Nigerians to be more productive in agriculture and trading of farm produce.  He emphasised on sugar cane, saying it is the only crop whose waste materials could be used to produce many useful goods.

    The fair, held by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is the largest and most organised in the West African sub-region.

    Activities at the fair include dancing competitions by exhibitors who use it as a marketing strategy to woo customers to their shops. Products showcasing through dance, demonstrations and T-shirts worn by these dancers. There are also awareness programmes and sales promotions at the fair.

    After the opening, it was time for shoppers and exhibitors to access the venue.

    A sales representative for LG Electronics, Miss Obaze Kosiso Chukwu, said customers could save about N5,000 on some products.

    However, she lamented the poor sales, saying: “Being the first day at the fair, people haven’t started visiting. But I am optimistic that, subsequently, during the 10-day fair, I will make sales.”

    She also said the fair was better organised compared to last year’s . “The ticketing arrangement is better than what it used to be,” she added.

    Chief Operating Officer, Converged Dynamics Capital Services Ltd, Mr Ayo Bisiriyu, said the fair is the best place to exhibit goods and services. “As a participant or an exhibitor, I believe with the structure in place, it is a competitive environment and a good arrangement by the government.”

    He, however, complained of poor publicity, but commended the new location, adding that people didn’t get to know that the fair would begin on November 1.

    He praised the change of location from the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to Lagos Island, saying the latter is more accessible. He said: “Though the Badagry Expressway is better organised and spacious – to accommodate more exhibitors and visitors – compared to the Tafawa Balewa Square, people work more in Lagos Island. Therefore, the tendency to be at the fair after working hours is guaranteed. I intend to look out for such customers between 4pm and 5pm.”

    Mrs. Felicia Agwu is a shopper, who was attracted to the fair because of the free items given to visitors, especially drinks. She commended exhibitors for providing cheap and genuine products with warranty of one year.

    For Mr Adeyinka Adewale, the case is different; he would have preferred the Badagry Expressway despite the heavy traffic on that road. ”The Badagry venue is more spacious and accommodating, it has more space to display wares and move freely at the same time. It also has a spacious parking lot, unlike at the Tafawa Balewa Square, where the parking space is congested.”

    However, banks and financial institutions stepped up their games, as they wooed people to bank with them, with awareness campaigns.

  • Minister urges security agencies to collaborate

    Minister urges security agencies to collaborate

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed has urged security agencies to pull resources together in order to better contain threats.

    The minister made this call while declaring open the Federal and states security administrators’ meeting in Abuja.

    Senator Mohammed insisted that such collaboration and co-operation would go a long way in tackling the current wave of security challenges ranging from terrorism and armed robbery to kidnapping.

    He impressed it on the delegates at the meeting to be patriotic and courageous in implementing the recommendations and outcome of the meeting to holistically fight all facets of crime and criminality.

    The minister, who was represented at the occasion by his Special Adviser on Security, Colonel Abdullahi Kudu, commended the forum for meeting in Abuja; describing the choice of the Federal Capital Territory as very strategic to national development.

    He said that in order to improve the security in and around the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Administration has envisioned the need to put in place a joint security initiative of the FCT and contiguous states known as G7.

    Senator Mohammed remarked that the idea is to have an inter-state collaborative network for the harmonisation of security strategies, exchange of information/technology and organised trailing of criminals and other syndicates.

    According to him, the achievement of this contiguous security network in reducing the criminal activities within the G7 zone is worthy of note.

    He stated that the FCT Administration has been providing consistent logistic support to the security agencies in the FCT as well as lending support in emergency situation when the need arises.

    The minister recalled that the FCT Administration, last year, provided 114 operational vehicles to various security agencies in the territory, fitted with the latest communication and security gadgets necessary to combat crimes.

    He assured that his administration would continue to put every necessary measure in place for the security of the FCT residents and visitors as well as their properties.

    He commended the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan for lending support to the Federal Capital Territory Administration in the fight against terrorism and all sorts of criminality in the FCT.

    The minister also commended the security agencies in the FCT for the relative peace in territory.

    Also speaking at the occasion, the FCT Director of Security Services, Malam Bashir Muhammad welcomed the participants to the meeting and emphasised that the uniqueness of the present security challenges in the country makes the role of federal and states security administrators’ meeting as a repository of intelligence information.

    The Director noted that Senator Mohammed has been alive to the responsibility of maintaining peace and tranquillity in and around the 8,000 square kilometres of the Federal Capital Territory.

    He commended the minister for his efforts in opening up new districts thereby accelerating the provision of infrastructure to the existing ones with a view to decongesting the 250 square kilometres of the Federal Capital City, Abuja to further ease security administration.

    The chairman of the forum who is also the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office, Mr. Esther Gonda lamented that ‘ember months’ every year come with extra security challenges, even as he charged the forum to find ways of making kidnapping and other sundry crimes unattractive as well as unprofitable.

    She called for consistent and aggressive enlightenment campaign to make Nigerians have a change of attitude towards the get-rich quick syndrome.

  • Ministers of Bling

    Ministers of Bling

    Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Archbishop of Buenos Aires was a simple pastor. He lived an austere life. Shunning the official mansion of the Archbishop of a diocese of more than three million inhabitants, Father Bergoglio lived in an apartment and prepared his own super throughout the 15 years of his episcopal ministry in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

    He was a man of the people; the people’s Bishop, so to speak. He was one and part of them. “ My people are poor and I am one of them”, he said on several occasions to explain his simple lifestyle. He travelled by bus and underground train when he could have used any limousine of his choosing which the Catholic Church could readily afford and would have gladly provided.

    The son of Italian immigrants, Jorge’s father Mario was an accountant employed by the Railways in Argentina while his mother Regina was a full time housewife devoted to raising their five children. He came from a humble background and never forgot that even when he was moving up the ladder in the Catholic Church. He remained faithful to the common man and was always empathetic to them. He felt what they were feeling.

    When he was created Cardinal by Pope John Paul II on 21 February 2001, he told the faithful back home in Argentina not to travel to Rome to celebrate his elevation but to donate whatever they would have spent on the journey to the poor and needy. They were always in his thoughts and he told his fellow priests in Argentina to do the same.

    God probably was watching him and preparing him for a future role as head of the Catholic Church worldwide. His people were also watching so also were his fellow priests, the Cardinals who converged in Rome in March this year and elected him the 266th Head of the Catholic Church. For his official title, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires until March 13, 2013 chose Pope Francis I.

    Though born of Italian parents, the first Pope from the Americas never forgot his humble South American background and his passion for the poor when he arrived in Rome. Typical of him, he declined to live in the Vatican opulent Papal mansion and chose a less grandeur place. He shunned all forms of flamboyance and seemed to have defined his papacy as being for the poor.

    And to demonstrate his zero tolerance for any ostentatious living, the Pope Thursday last week suspended the flamboyant Bishop of the Diocese of Limburg in Germany, Bishop Franz-Peter Tebart-van Elst for spending a whooping N43 million to renovate his official residence.

    Bishop Deluxe or Bishop of Bling as Father Tabart-van Elst is known in Germany has been in trouble with his congregation for some time now following his extravagance. Series of petitions from his diocese had been sent to Rome complaining about him, demonstrations against Holywood like lifestyle had taken place a couple of times outside his official residence. Some of his fellow priests in Germany were also getting concerned about his lifestyle. So, what did the Vatican do?

    Pope Francis invited him to Rome and after a few hours of discussion sent him on immediate suspension and ordered investigation. Another priest has been put in charge of Limburg Diocese temporarily. Decisiveness! Character! Firmness! Walking the talk! Call it whatever, this is leadership.

    Now come back home.

    Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was an anonymous civil servant or private person somewhere in Port Harcourt Rivers State ekeing out a living for himself and family before patience and fate brought him good luck and thrust him into limelight via politics.

    Born into an Ijaw family from Otuoke in Bayelsa State, Jonathan had a humble or shall we say poor background and, according to him, had no shoes when he was growing up. He knew poverty and poverty also knew him, if I could use that expression. He struggled to go to school and made it through just by His grace. His grass to grace story you all know.

    Like Pope Francis he wasn’t born into affluence, but unlike the Head of the Catholic Church he has embraced affluence clutching tenaciously on to it. He speaks out against corruption but doesn’t seem ready or capable of fighting it. Some members of his inner circle are strongly suspected of being neck deep in corruption yet he still goes about with them.

    Just like the German Bishop of Bling, one of Jonathan’s ministers is known to be not just flamboyant but extravagantly so. He has a Minister of Petroleum Resources who goes about with a handbag whose cost could build a modest primary school somewhere there for some of the millions of our school age kids running about the streets naked. In spite of public outcry against her ostentatious lifestyle Madam Untouchable remain unbothered and Mr President unwilling unable, incapable or may be powerless to either remove or call her to order.

    Some of his ministers and buddies either own private jets or fly about in one at the tax payers expense. Some even do so without shame and to the neglect of their duties. University teachers are in the fourth month of a strike that has kept our children at home and yet his coordinating Minister of Education was busy for most of last week coordinating the burial of the mother of the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan in Rivers State, spending our money on a purely private matter. He is busy fighting the governor of his state instead of fighting to get lecturers back at work and our children back in school

    The latest of Jonathan’s numerous Ministers of Bling is the one in charge of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. I am sure by now you all know her story, the two BMW armoured cars that she caused the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to buy for her at 1.6million USD. The Naira equivalent in price I don’t know because I don’t know which exchange rate to use; CBN’s or the one from the parallel market? Both are unstable.

    In spite of the public outcry, President Goodluck Jonathan is still dragging his feet, unsure of what to do or unwilling to do anything to punish Madam Stella for this flagrant abuse of public resources verging on corruption. It is over two weeks since the scandal broke out now and all our president could do was set up an administrative panel to look into the case. Meanwhile Princess Stella Oduah, another of the untouchables in Jonathan’s government stays in office as if nothing happened. It is business as usual for her. She even accompanied Mr President on a pilgrimage to Israel, the first by a sitting Nigerian leader. What kind of leadership is this?

    When Bishop Franz-Peter Tebart-van Elst spent 46 million USD to renovate his official residence, Pope Francis didn’t wait for any administrative panel before sending him on suspension even if temporary. And if Vatican’s investigation exonerates him, I am sure he’d get back his position. The Pope acted first to protect the integrity of the Church as a against that of the Bishop. He has, by that prompt action, sent the message out that the Church, particularly his papacy will not tolerate that kind of behavior particularly from his priests.

    By keeping Stella Oduah in office while the three ‘wise’ men look into the bullet proof cars scandal, what message is President Jonathan sending out? If truly he harbors no tolerance for corruption as he often says and he remembers that sometime in the past, not too long ago, he had no shoes, and therefore luckly to be where he is today, then he should not be keeping the likes of Stella Oduah and other Ministers of Bling in his cabinet; those who care less whether the rest of us have shoes or not as long as their comfort is guaranteed.

    I do not know whether the president is a Catholic, but whether he is or not, he should draw inspiration from what Pope Francis did and suspend Stella Oduah immediately, while investigation continues. If she’s found not guilty, she returns to the cabinet.

    This culture of some “animals are more equal than others” in Jonathan’s cabinet will not only not help him but also further erode the thin integrity of his government and Nigeria’s standing in the eyes of the watching world.

    If another Minister other than Oduah, Madueke, Wike and any other member of the kitchen cabinet, has this kind of credibility problem hanging on his or her neck, will President Jonathan be this protective?

    President Goodluck Jonathan should remember where he is coming from and protect the interests of millions of Nigerians who had no shoes like him when they started but have worked hard to create the wealth he and some of his ministers and friends are now enjoying. They should spend our money responsibly and on things that would benefit us. The Ministers of Bling in his cabinet should be thrown out; enough of this irresponsible leadership. Pope Francis has shown how to be a responsible leader. It’s over to Jonathan.

  • Will East-West Road be ready next year?

    Will East-West Road be ready next year?

    The Federal Government believes the East-West Road will be ready next year. The joint National Assembly Committee on Niger Delta, led by Senator James Manager and Hon. Warman Gorima, had cause to doubt this after a tour of the project.

    Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godsday Orubebe was also on the tour of the project which spans Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

    The tour began from the dualisation of the Warri section, a 102km stretch road, where work is said to be in the region of 73 per cent.

    The next stop was the Patani bridge, crossing river Facados. It is the longest of the bridges on the road. This bridge is said to have reached 69 per cent completion stage and would be ready by December next year. Work at the Okoso bridge was also inspected and here members of the committee raised alarm over the pace of work. Though the contractor allayed their fears, adding that the set back observed was as a result of security challenges and the recent flooding.

    Senator Manager asked the contractor how the National Assembly could assist to ensure that they meet the deadline without compromising standard. Besides, he wanted the supervising ministry and contractor on site to be factual on the completion period.

    But, Orubebe assured members of National Assembly that if there was any difficulty along the line, he would not hesitate to let Nigerians know.

    At the end of the tour, which lasted a whole day, both parties agreed to the fact that the project might be hampered by lack of fund. Also, there was an indication that there might be variation in the cost of the Niger Delta road projects as a result of the impact of last year’s flood.

    Orubebe said the variation would be included in the next budgeting year.

    The project, which has consumed billions of naira, still needs over N100 billion.

    Though it is assured of a N50 billion African Development Bank loan and another N40 billion from the 2014 budgetary allocation, about N48 billion is still needed to be sourced to complete the work.

    Speaking shortly after completion of the tour, Manager said: “Talking about the East-West Road, you know you have the topographic challenge, you also have these seasonal challenges that are there because you know construction of road projects in the Niger Delta takes about three or four months out of the twelve calendar months for you to do an effective job. So, that huge challenge is there and you have the challenge of funding of the project. Even if you have all the finding for the project, which is not there right now, it is impossible. You also saw that water has taken over some major parts of the road, particularly from the end of Delta to the beginning of Port Harcourt. So, construction work cannot take place right now and from what we are seeing, realistically speaking to deliver that road on December 2014, I want to feel that it is not very realistic with what is on ground. So, for them to do an effective job, I think we talk about 2015, the end of 2015. I am not a civil engineer anyway, but from what I saw on ground, 2015 December is far realistic than December 2014, which is about one year from now. So, we just have to be realistic that is what is on ground and it is not just the fault of anybody. The road itself is a massive one. The stretch is from Delta to Akwa Ibom, it is not a small one. I think the contractors are also doing their job.”

    Gorima said: “What we have experienced is the oversight function basically on the East-West Road… We also did oversight function on section 1,II, III and IV of the East West Road. Section I is from Delta to part of Bayelsa.

    “The contractors are on sight and they are doing very well. The only problem we observed as a committee is the issue of funding, and I think at this stage, we will appeal to the Federal Government to look for alternative source of funding. We have come to the conclusion that the budgetary allocation for the East-West Road is not enough if we must finish that road. We subscribe to the fact that the East-West Road is very important to the people of the Niger Delta and indeed Nigerians as a whole because all Nigerians pass that road.

    “The minister has promised that they are going to hand over the road in 2014, but we still have our doubt as a committee. Because he said that with the fact that all things being equal, in terms of funding and weather conditions and so many other factors, but as a committee we still have our doubt.

    “Now that we have seen the whole stretch of the road, we will go back as a committee to look at the issues and we will also invite the contractors and minister to discuss.

    “The minister is sure that by next year they will receive N50 billion from ADB and if we receive N50 billion from ADB, the SURE-P funding in 2014 and the budgetary allocation for 2014, we will still have a shortfall of N50-60 billion in 2014 and that means we will still have a carry over to 2015.

    “If you look at the structure of the road, specifically Section II, which is between Bayelsa and River states, you find out that nothing has been done there and nothing will be done there this season and when it is filled with sand, you need the rain to fall and solidify the sand before you can now put the asphalts and this is the issue.”

    But the Orubebe would not agree with the two members of the National Assembly. He said: “What is required to complete the road is about N141 billion. That is what is expected of us to inject to complete East-West Road. It is a road of over N339 billion. We are looking at N141 billion. Once we have that one we will be able to complete the road very well.

    “Now, because of funding constraints in government resources, we have also look outward for external funding. We are expecting N50billion from ADB. I can tell you that we have gone very far and any time from now, that loan will be ready and when we inject that one into the financial plan, we will be working towards delivering that road.

    “This is a government that believes in what it says and if there are challenges along the line, this government will not hesitate to tell Nigerians that because of this challenge or the other, we have this kind of constraint. For us, you know the last time I told Nigerians, particularly the people of Niger Delta, explaining the situation of things and how this project was awarded, and I said first we were looking at 2013 when we took over this project in 2009. And somewhere along the line, we realised that because of funding, the challenges of the terrain, it was shifted to 2013 and I said lots of things have been put in place and I said it would be completed in 2014.

    “When we toured the road, we all saw what was happening. This is a peculiar area. A lot of the areas are already flooded now and that makes it difficult for work to go on; we also have security challenges. You will see that every expatriate is being protected by six soldiers. That was not an expenditure that was expected to eat into the budget of the project. So many things have happened. The desire of the ministry is to deliver this road by December 2014 and we are working towards that.

    “Financial arrangements are being put in pace. And as we go along, because we want to be transparent and upright with the people of this country, if there are issues, we should be able to tell them that we now have this issue, but we are working towards 2014 December.”