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Tag: project

  • Firm, businessman in court over Dubai hotel project

    Firm, businessman in court over Dubai hotel project

    Can a court restrain an investor

    from deploying lawful means

    to retrieve his investment in what he perceived as a doubtful project? Does the law allow the court to compel an unwilling investor to invest in a project he doubts its actuality?

    These, among others, form issues to be determined when the Lagos High Court opens hearing in a suit instituted by a Dubai, United Arab Emirate-based real estate company, Sigma III Limited and five others against a businessman, Washington Agbons Umweni and one other. The other claimants are TFG Real Estate Limited, Nigel Burnside, Ms Tochi Izuchukwu, Miss Denise Igbokidi and Mac-Henry Isemede. The other defendant is Umweni’s lawyer, Tunde Abioje.

    It is the claimants’ case that the businessman, who had subscribed to its proposed hotel project in Dubai, changed his mind midway; having made about 20 per cent contribution, now seeks a refund of his investment and termination of the transaction.

    Umweni on his part denied any relationship with Sigma III and two of the claimants. He said his transactions were with The First Group, an international property development company, who he accused of insincerity. He wondered why The First Group was not made a party in the suit.

    The claimants stated in their statement of claims that Umweni subscribed in December, lasrt year to one of its projects – TFG Marina, a proposed luxury hotel to be built in Dubai, and was allocated Unit 2212 at about N48.4million (AED1,099,500).

    They averred that parties duly executed Property Reservation Agreement (PRA) and Sales Purchase Agreement (SPA), which regulate the contract between them. The claimants added that the SPA made provision for installmental payments, which Umweni allegedly agreed to.

    The claimants averred that Umweni, in compliance with the agreement between parties, made installment payments totaling about N9.8million, but stopped payment sometime later and demanded for a refund on the ground that he had lost interest. They stated that by the plan, Umweni was to make full payment by November 30, 2014 after which the project, which at the time of his subscription was at its elementary stage, was to be completed and handed to him.

    In two letters written by lawyer to the claimants, Ismail Muftau of the firm of Jackson, Etti & Edu, in response to Umweni’s letter demanding a refund, the claimants initially denied any wrong doing, insisting that a refund was not an option under the agreement. After threats by Umweni, through letters by his lawyer, Abioje to deploy all legal means to recover his trapped funds, including exposing the claimants’ alleged fraudulent dealings by reporting to relevant agencies, the claimants agreed to make a refund of Umweni’s N9.771,876 investment, but less 40 per cent. They later conceded to 30 per cent, a proposal which Umweni refused and insisted on reporting the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the police and other relevant agencies, in his effort to retrieve his funds. Dissatisfied with Umweni’s insistence on the refund of his full deposit, the claimants accused his (Umweni’s) lawyer of interfering in the agreement between parties.

    They want the court to among others, compel Umweni to continue with the transaction, in accordance with the alleged SPA

    In their joint statement of defence, Umweni said the project was introduced to him by The Furst Group’s representatives – Jennifer Anaba and Armanda-Roy Onwualu, who later invited him to a meeting with other The First Group officials, who he later met at the company’s office at seventh floor, Bank of Industry (BoI) building, Abuja last year. He said the officials convinced him to buy into the TFG Marina project, even when he had expressed his intention to invest in a completed project.

    He identified the company’s officials with which he had meetings to include Ms Izuchukwu, Ms Mouna Kamassi and Harry Smith. He added that they never told him they were acting for another company but TFG. He said he believed they were TFG officials because the officials’ complimentary cards and the Property Reservation Agreement, containing payment schedule and details of the Skye Bank account into which he made all his payments showed that he was dealing with TFG. Umweni stated that he never had any transaction with the first claimant (Stigma III) or its officials in respect of the TFG Marina project. He added that he only dealt with TFG Real Estate Ltd, when on his refusal to make payment into an account in Dubai in the name of First Homes Worldwide LLC, as directed by TFG, an alternate account was provided by TFG Real Estate in Skye Bank, 3 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    He also denied knowing or ever dealing with Miss Igbokidi and Isemede (5th and 6th claimants) in respect of the TFG Marina project.

    Umweni stated that the first time he saw the Sigma III name was when a draft copy of the SPA was brought to him. He said he drew the TFG official who brought it, Elena Kovalkina to the Sigma III Ltd written on the draft agreement, but that Kovalkina said being a draft, the agreement was not yet binding and that when the fair (actual) copy was ready, the name would be corrected to read The First Group.

    He denied signing any of the agreements referred to by the claimants, but said what he signed was a payment schedule, indicating his mode of payment.

    He stated that the company’s officials failed to provide him with the fair or actual copy of the agreements up until he decided to discontinue with the payment.

    Umweni stated that he agreed to the transaction after he was taken to Dubai and shown the purported site of the proposed hotel, where he saw construction equipment that had been taken there. He said works were at piling stage.

    He said he was surprised, when six months after he started payment, he visited Dubai and on reaching the site of the project, works still remained at the piling stage, while all the construction equipment he saw on his first visit had disappeared.

    Umweni said he also noted the sign post erected close to the project, which earlier bore – TFG Marina Project – had been changed to WYNDHAM Dubai Marina, without the company either informing him or explaining the reason behind the change.

    He said on his return to the country, he complained to TFG officials about his discovery in Dubai, but that none of the officials could address the issues he raised. He stated that while still expecting the company to provide response to his queries, he was surprised to receive a letter from Sigma III Ltd, informing him that he was in default of his installment payment to the project.

    Umweni averred that he ignored the letter from Sigma III because he had always dealt with TFG and was still expecting The First Group to provide reasons for its decision to unilaterally change the name of the project, without informing him as a subscriber, and the lack of progress in its execution.

    He stated that having waited endlessly without any meaningful response from TFG, he instructed his lawyer to write the company and demand for full refund of his contribution, having refused to explain the suspicious developments he had noticed.

    Umweni admitted writing the company to demand for a refund and informing it of his resolve to explore all legal and legitimate means to retrieve his contribution. He accused the TFG of breaching whatever understanding they had and argued that the suit was a diversionary measure aimed at frustrating his resolve to ensure that his contribution was refunded in full.

    He noted that TFG, who had argued that he was in breach of a purported SPA, which it claimed made no provision for refund, had made proposals to refund part of his contribution upon his threat to report the company and its officials to relevant government agencies.

    Umweni cited TFG’s proposal of April 15, 2013 seeking to refund N4,847,940; another of April 24,2013 proposing N6,771,380 and the third proposal in which it offered to refund N7,255,042.50.

    The defendants urged the court to enter final judgment on the N6,771,380 which TFG had admitted as they were ready to prove, at trial, the company’s indebtedness on the remnant of his N9.8m investment.

    Although parties have filed and served their initial processes, no date is fixed yet for hearing in the case.

     

  • Project Fame West Africa returns with 6th Season

    Project Fame West Africa returns with 6th Season

    THE annual MTN Project Fame West Africa is back for a sixth straight season. The Award winning music talent discovery and grooming competition will commence auditions on May 25th till June 29 across 4 West African countries- Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria.

    This year, thousands of young talents will fight to get into the prestigious Project Fame Academy, where wannabe superstars are tutored by the best in the music and entertainment industry.

    Previous superstars that have graduated from the ‘Project Fame Academy’ include Iyanya Mbuk, Mike Anyasodo, Kesse Frimpong and Chidinma Ekile who won the Best Female Act (West Africa) of the prestigious Kora Award in 2012.

    In addition, 3 outstanding music concerts will be held in Benin-City (June 7), Calabar (June 21) and Lagos (June 28) to showcase Project Fame superstars alongside other Fame Academy alumni.

  • Amosun’s wife lauds Airtel’s school project

    Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has urged corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to support worthy causes. She was reacting to Airtel’s gesture to adopt a primary school in Oke-Agbo, in Ogun State.

    Inaugurating the block of four classrooms and three offices renovated by the telecoms firm under its ‘Adopt-a-School’ scheme at St John’s Primary School last Thursday, Mrs Amosun said such efforts would make the society a better place. Mrs Amosun said the initiative agrees with the policy of the Ogun State government to provide quality education to underprivileged children.

    “Airtel’s Adopt-a-School programme is in tandem with the policy of the Ogun State government, aimed to provide quality education to underprivileged children. As you know, Ogun State government is committed to creating a conducive learning environment where both privileged and underprivileged children would have access to quality education,” she said.

    As beneficiaries of the gesture, Mrs Amosun counselled the pupils to be serious with their studies as it was the only way they could repay the company’s gesture.

    “It is not for you to dance and say thank you that Airtel wants. They want you to become governors, presidents, tomorrow. Focus on your books. It is left for you to use what you are given well,” she said.

    The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, said Airtel Nigeria is committed to alleviating poverty and illiteracy from the country through education.

    Ogunsanya said:”Quality education offers children the best opportunity in life to realise their dreams and become the leaders of tomorrow. A great environment is also critical to the development of a sound mind.

    “It is therefore in recognition of the importance of education and as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility vision that we have committed to the adoption of public primary schools across Nigeria.

    “We are adopting government – owned primary schools located in an undeserved, rural and semi-urban areas and providing them with requisite infrastructure and learning tools including classrooms, textbooks, furniture, school uniforms, school bags and relevant training to improve the teaching skills of our teachers.”

     

    Head Teacher of the school, Mrs Victoria Boyejo, said she was overjoyed about the scheme which she said has changed the school’s status.

     

  • NOA woos critics of National ID project

    Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, has expressed the readiness of his agency to partner with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to provide a comprehensive national database in the country.

    In a statement, the Director, Corporate Communication, Anthony Okwudiafor, said Omeri told the NIMC Director-General, Chris Onyemenam, during a visit that critics would soon appreciate the project’s importance.

    Omeri said it was time to bring together the data gathering agencies. He said while NIMC collects information, NOA gathers data to serve the agencie, noting that they are partners in progress.

    He urged the NIMC to enlist the NOA among its stakeholders, because it is working hard with the United States’ Department of Contact Centre and other agencies to have a central data system, and that NIMC has the mandate to harmonise databases to publicise government’s policies and programmes.

    “What you are doing will, no doubt, eliminate and streamline the activities of identity requiring and data collection agencies that seemed to be doing what we really need to do one-off for the interest of the nation and for those who kick against what you are doing are ignorant of the importance of Identity Management in a nation’s building and national security.

    “The National Identity Management System (NIMS) is the best thing that will happen to Nigeria in these critical times of security challenges. It will help the Federal Government to tackle insecurity and social vices in the country,” he stated.

    Earlier, Onyemenam reminded the NOA chief that the Commission’s main reason for reaching out to NOA was based on the commission’s belief that the agency has the competence to reach out to Nigerians to support the NIMS project

    “The ability to make reference to the database upon which the card was issued is the way out,”he said, adding that the Commission has been working on the identity infrastructure and was able to begin the pilot scheme on February 23.

    He said it is issuing the National Identification Number (NIN) in over 30 states hoping that as soon as the project is launched, NIMC will cover the 774 local government areas.

     

  • I’d rather help the needy than flaunt a pet project – Ogun First Lady Olufunso Amosun

    I’d rather help the needy than flaunt a pet project – Ogun First Lady Olufunso Amosun

    Ogun State First Lady and wife of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, was recently honoured at the City People Awards for Excellence. But unlike many other first ladies who flaunt their pet projects, she was honoured as the Best First Lady in the South-West on account of her charity work. The holder of a master’s degree in Guidance and Counselling from the University of Lagos told MERCY MICHAEL that her weakness consists in not being able to ignore the needy and the vulnerable whereever she finds them.

     

    What would you say has earned you the recent award as the Best First Lady in the South-West? Did the award come as a surprise?

    I reach out to the vulnerable in the society generally. I have assisted them in my own little ways. I have a weakness for helping them wherever possible. I am of the view that a little care for the needy in our society can make a huge difference. One of my first major outings as the wife of the governor of Ogun State was the flagging off ceremony of the 2011 Maternal Neonatal and Child Health Week in Abeokuta where I charged mothers to always ensure that their children were well fed with nourishing foods in order to reduce infant mortality. I believe that if children are adequately fed with nourishing foods, they will gain the needed immunity against the diseases that are responsible for child mortality.

    You also flagged off the school-based de-worming exercise, which was organised in collaboration with Emzor Pharmaceuticals Limited in 2011. Tell us about it.

    The exercise was conducted for primary school pupils across the 20 local government areas of the state to reduce worm infection among children. My office as the wife of the Ogun State Governor has also initiated many significant programmes aimed at supporting the present administration in its mission to rebuild the state, such as the education standard in schools in Ogun State. In a bid to wake up the motivation in the students and complement the free education scheme and free text books distributed to students in the state by my husband’s administration, I felt that a reward system of some sort could assist in motivating the students to strive to do better.

    As a guidance counsellor by profession, I decided to seek sponsorship to support a motivating programme for SS3 students. In our campaign to make life more comfortable for the less-privileged in February 2012, the UPLIFT Foundation collaborated with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation and Enpee Group to organise a free eye campaign for over 4,000 people from the 20 local government areas of the state. An event such as this became particularly necessary with my observance over the years. I mean, it is painful to see people go blind simply because of cataract, a disease that could have been cured easily through medical treatment. Ignorance has cost a lot of less- privileged people their sights, and that breaks my heart.

    After the free eye camp, we also carried out free surgeries where necessary. Through our programmes, we are giving a sense of belonging to aged people in the state. During my husband’s birthday in 2012, for example, instead of felicitations, we invited over 1,000 aged persons to join him in celebrating his day. We gave them health tips at the event, including free medical screening. Realising that this was just one day in the lives of these people, on my birthday last year, 100 of these indigent aged citizens were identified and have now been put on a monthly plan to receive essential commodities and a monthly stipend to assist them in their daily lives. We also have other programmes for the people of Ogun State, which time will not allow me to mention.

    What does this award mean to you?

    I feel it is a very reputable one. I had never attended any. I was called out from the blue and told that the work that I had been doing had qualified me for the award; which suggests that they had actually done their homework and were not just giving awards frivolously.

    Would you say you really deserve this award?

    I would like to believe so, to the glory of God. I had never gone personally to receive any award. But when this one came, stating all the work that I had done, I knew I had to be here myself because this award is obviously being given on the basis of merit.

    What is the nature of your own pet project?

    I don’t have a pet project. Unlike other governors’ wives who have pet projects, I only reach out to anybody that I can help in the society.

    What about your foundation, Understanding People’s Limiting & Inhibiting Factors Today (UPLIFT)?

    It had existed before my husband became a governor. The foundation’s activities are divided into six groups, namely, Uplifting the Widows, Uplifting Unemployed Graduates, Uplifting Women, Free Eye Camp, Uplifting the Aged and Uplifting SS3 Students. In the course of our work with widows, the foundation has supported indigent widows with business start-up items like salon starter kits, table top gas cookers, sewing machines and soft drinks business starter kits, to mention but a few.

    Furthermore, as a demonstration of our sensitivity to graduate mothers, the foundation provides emergency crèches so that they too could have the chance to take advantage of the programme. These graduates are taught skills like barbing, wireworks, millinery, fabric beading, small chops and pastry, event decoration, manicure and pedicure, shoe making, makeup and gele (headgear) tying, to mention but a few.

    We have also placed priority on the empowerment of women in the state. Therefore, we have distributed deep freezers, motorcycles, generators, sewing machines, grinding machines, among other items. at distributorship prices to be purchased by members of established cooperatives within the state. They are given the chance to spread the payment for these items over a 12-month interest-free period. Our Uplifting the Age programme gives a sense of belonging to elderly people in the state.

    How to do you manage the home front with the volume of work you do as the First Lady?

    Well, I guess it has become a part and parcel of me and a way of life because we are not new in politics. As you know, my husband had been a senator before he became a governor. So, it is just basically a way of life for me.

    You mostly appear in African attire. Why is it so?

    I am an indigene of Ogun State and a citizen of Nigeria. So, I am supposed to be an ambassador for African clothing. Besides, I love being comfortable and simple. So, I would not be caught wearing anything uncomfortable and vulgar.

    How has your free eye camp impacted on the people in the state?

    I would humbly say this has been of great benefit to thousands of indigent people in Ogun State. Eyesight is something that can be easily taken for granted, and that is why we have stepped up our awareness campaign to reduce loss of sight in the state. We are generally passionate about the health of the people in our state, especially the less-privileged.

  • Mobil signs Qua Iboe 500MW power project agreement

    Mobil signs Qua Iboe 500MW power project agreement

    Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) / MPN Joint Venture, has signed a seller’s representative agreement (SRA) for the 500 megawatts (MW) Qua Iboe power project, located at MPN’s Qua Iboe terminal, in Akwa Ibom State.

    In a statement, the General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Paul Arinze, quoted the Managing Director of MPN, Mark Ward as saying that the project is a demonstration of MPN’s commitment to Nigeria, and supports President Jonathan’s priority of providing electricity to the country.

    The signing of the SRA, it explained, is a critical part of the overall commercial framework that enables MPN to undertake power activities and facilitates the sale of power by MPN to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc for itself and on behalf of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

    He explained that the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for the project, have been concluded, while commercial tenders for Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) are nearing completion.

    Exxon Mobil Corporation is the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, and uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil is one of the largest oil producers in Nigeria through the operations of two upstream affiliate companies – Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.

    The two companies have notable history, proven experience and a strong record of contribution to Nigeria’s development, the statement, added.

    Meanwhile, the National Executive Council Committee on Reinvesting Plan for Power Sector is to submit its report to the Vice-President today, Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said.

    The Governor, who is a member of the Committee spoke after the meeting held to review the reports of the Committee at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

    Obi, who declined further comments on the issue, insisted that it is only the Chairman of the Committee, the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke that should address the press, if need be.

    He said the Committee was set up as part of efforts by the government to find lasting solutions to power problem in the country.

    He said President Goodluck Jonathan and the Governors are committed to resolving the problems of power in the country, and are doing everything possible to find lasting solutions to the issue. “In view of how serious the President as well as the Governors take the matter, I assure you that the power problem will soon become a thing of the past,” he said.

    On snippets from the report, Obi said: “ I am not the Chairman of the Committee. It is only the Chairman that can do that. In any case, the report will be presented tomorrow (today). why not wait and the entire report will be made available to the press,” he added.

    The Committee was set up by National Executive Council to review the technical report on the power sector and to recommend best ways for investment in the sector.

    Chaired by Imoke; the Governors of Anambra, Peter Obi; Kogi, Idris Wada; Katsina, Ibrahim Shema; Minister of National Planning, Dr, Shansuddeen Usman; Chief Executive of Transmission Company of Nigeria, Don Priestman; Principal Consultant, Energy Sector Practice, Dr. Cezley Sampson,; the Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding, J. A Olotu, among others, were present at the meeting.

     

  • Senate praises project

    Senate praises project

    Members of the Senate Committee on Education have praised the management of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), led by Prof Bartho Okolo, for using its resources to upgrade infrastructure and enhance academics.

    Led by its chairman, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije, the committee visited the university at the weekend as part of its oversight function on educational institutions in the country.

    Speaking after inspecting some of the projects of the institution on Enugu and Nsukka campuses, Chukwumerije noted that the massive infrastructure upgrade in the university was a reflection of quality, focused and visionary leadership in the institution.

    He said: “My impression about the oversight visit here is one of a very massive transformation going on here. And it confirms the general impression I share with the people that leadership is pivotal in any social phenomena. Whatever you talk about the flow of history, whatever you talk about changes in larger environment, the catalyst is always the quality of leadership.

    “Coming back to Nsukka after years I delivered lecture, I could not believe this is the same place I had visited five years ago. There is a massive change in facilities, in landscape and in general environment. For the first time, I feel the university is, at last, coming back to its former glory as one of the first generation universities in the country.”

    Responding to questions raised by the senators, Prof Okolo lamented that paucity of fund remained the challenge in running the university in Nigeria. According to him, the institution received about N19 million for overhead cost whereas it spent over N27 million on electricity bill alone.

    The VC cited the civil war as a major drawback to the development of the university, but said his administration had been making efforts to address infrastructure through support from the government, private sector and public-spirited individuals.

    On measures taken to expand the revenue base of the university, Prof Okolo said one of the major things his administration did was to enhance the revenue generation potentials of the institution through international grants and direct investment in property. He added that the institution had taken measures to mobilise its alumni across the world to support its development.

  • Jim Iyke’s new project

    Jim Iyke’s new project

    NOLLYWOOD ‘Bad Boy’ Jim Iyke is leaving no stone unturned with his reality TV show, “Untamed Reality TV”, which is set to hit the airwaves soon. The dude we learnt used a stone to kill two birds recently when he used the opportunity of being at the wedding of 2Face Idibia and Annie Macaulay to shoot some episodes of his reality TV show in Dubai.

    Report has it that the shoot has seen him take shots from some locations in Nigeria, US, Ghana and recently in Dubai.

    We gathered that the actor flew some of his crew to Dubai to shoot some scenes for reality TV show.

    The reality show which he started shooting in 2012 is said to highlight some personal lifestyles of the actor.

  • Lottery: Nigeria loses N2b monthly to project delay

    Nigeria is losing revenue in excess of N2billion monthly as a result of the delay in the implementation of the Lottery Platform As a Service (LPAAS) Project by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), it was learnt yesterday.

    The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Systems Numeric Nigeria Ltd, Athan Achonu, while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, said the Lottery Commission and the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) shunned due process in the bidding process for the LPAAS contract.

    The Systems Numeric Ltd petitioned the committee on February 25, accusing the Lottery Commission and BPP of violating due process in the bidding process for the contract as contained in the Act establishing the Lottery Commission.

    “But for the delay in the launching of the project, by now, Nigeria ought to be making about N2billion monthly from lottery. Unfortunately, we are faced with this delay as a result of the flawed process in the award of the contract,” Achonu said.

    To support his claims, Achonu, in the petition to the committee, said his firm met the biding requirements prescribed by the BPP.

    He said: “For instance, in compliance with the requirement, my company submitted a technical proposal in which the financial proposal was a section. But the other company submitted its technical and financial bids as separate documents in violation of Section 13 Page 17 of the Lottery Commission’s request for proposal, RFP.

    “In addition, the rival bidder failed to submit the performance bond as required, whereas he provided performance bond of N500,000,000.00 that was sourced from a bank. Unfortunately, the facility is still accumulating interest to the detriment of my company.”

    He, however, expressed concern over the inability of the BPP and the NLRC to adhere to due process.

    Said he: “With the foregoing, we expected that in compliance with all international best practices for bids of this nature, our company would have been awarded the contract.

    “To our amazement, instead, the SGF directed the Lottery Commission, BPP and the ICRC to further review the bid, which unnecessarily gives our rival bidder an opportunity in the LPAAS bid.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Youths stop project inauguration

    Officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) were on Wednesday chased away from the inauguration of the Obazogbe-Abudu road project at Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Youths from several communities in the locality stormed the venue with placards, saying the project was not completed.

    The youths, led by Felix Oshodin, said the 24km project terminated at Abudu and not Obagie, where the contractor stopped work.

    Canopies and seats were arranged for the entourage of the NDDC Managing Director while musicians and cultural troupe from Benin were entertaining guests, when the protesters stormed the venue.

    The refreshments to be served were taken back to Benin by NDDC officials and the protesters waited till the canopies were brought down.

    Inscriptions on the placards read: “No to commissioning of roads”; “Our road is yet to be completed”; “The 24km road ends in Abudu”; ”We will not allow the commissioning of half road”; “Federal Government should come to our aid”; “We say no to embezzlement of public funds”; “We will not allow cheating again”; “The contractor should do a good job”.

    The monarch of Obazagbon, Moses Omobude, said a borehole and electricity projects being executed by NDDC for the past seven years are yet to be completed.

    “How can they inaugurate a road yet to be completed? The slabs on the gutter leading to our houses are yet to be covered,” he said.

    The Enogie of Ugboko, Solomon Ojiomade, urged the NDDC to complete the project before inauguration.

    He said, “The era of deceit is over. If we allow them to inaugurate the half job, they might not come to complete the job again.”

    A NDDC bill board on the road showed that the project was Obazogbe-Abudu road but the commission’s Director, Project Monitoring and Supervision, Alexander Okenwa, said the scope of the project awarded has been completed.

    Okenwa, who spoke in Benin City, yesterday said the first phase terminated at 24km.

    He said he wanted to use the opportunity to appeal to the MD to consider awarding the remaining few kilometres.

    “The project was done to specification. I think the protesters might have been sponsored to stop us.”