The Nation Newspaper

Tag: project

  • ‘Airport road project costs N4.916b’

    Edo State Government yesterday debunked allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party that its airport road cost N17billion.

    It said the road project cost N4.916billion including compensation for buildings demolished, two kilometers underground drainage, sidewalks and streetlights.

    State Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Mr. Clem Agba, who disclosed this yesterday said the initial cost of the project was N5.2billion.

    Agba said he increased the ministry’s revenue from N45million to N430million yearly.

    He spoke at an award ceremony for some tax payers in the state.

    Agba explained that the state government spent no kobo on the open portal website which the PDP claimed cost N14billion.

    The commissioner confirmed that the state government wrote to then PDP Federal Government to stop work on the Ibore erosion site because it does not want the project abandoned like was done at the Auchi and Queen Ede erosion.

  • More Akwa Ibom communities to benefit from electrification project

    The Akwa Ibom State Government has given assurance that more rural communities will benefit from the electricity extension programmes in the state.

    The Commissioner in the Ministry of Rural Development, Ekong Sampson gave the assurance while playing host to residents of Onyungo Aban community of Nung Oku Ibesikpo in Ibesikpo-Asutan Local Government Area, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office yesterday.

    The rural development boss reiterated the commitment of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration to its 2-year electrification programme, which according to him, is ongoing. He also emphasized that no part of the State will be left out.

    Sampson made it known that the State Government is appreciative of the Ibesikpo-Asutan people, considering the enormous contributions of some of their illustrious indigenes to the State Government’s success.

    He said his ministry has overtime shown reasonable level of concern towards Ibesikpo-Asutan power supply, especially to control possible pressure that power shortage in the area might put on the capital city of Uyo. He said Ibesipko-Asutan LGA has received the highest number of transformers from the Ministry.

    The leader of the delegation and chairman of the Onyungo Aban residents’ forum, Mr. Etim Iton, commended the Honourable Commissioner for his efforts in channeling Government’s attention to address the concerns of rural communities. He also expressed trust in the present administration, describing its agenda as revolutionary.

    Iton, lamenting about the challenge of poor power supply, said that extremely low voltage, most times unusable electricity has been really frustrating; especially with the condition of outrageous billings.

    According to him, the community has made several self-help efforts to fix their faulty transformer but has not been able to emerge from the plague.

    His words: “We have heard how the government, through your Ministry, is saving such small communities like ours all over the State, so we have come with confidence that the goodwill of this government will be extended to us.”

    Sampson explained that release of transformers by his Ministry has been based strictly on need. He therefore promised that his team of Engineers will carry out proper assessment, so as to boost power supply to the area.

    The Commissioner also addressed concerns over poor power supply and outrageous billing by power distribution companies, noted that the power sector has been privatised.

    He urged the group to encourage community members to pull together and explore the mechanism of consumer right advocacy to articulate their concerns. With such, he said, local communities will be able to constructively address some of their key concerns in the power sector.

  • Water project rehab takes off in Ebonyi

    Water project rehab takes off in Ebonyi

    Ebonyi State will spend N2.1 billion on the rehabilitation of water facilities, said Governor David Umahi in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    He was speaking while flagging off the state’s Sustainable Development Goals water projects in the three senatorial zones of the state.

    The project is dubbed “Operation Water Ebonyi State.”

    Addressing the people during the ceremony, the governor said Ebonyi was among the 10 lucky states which accessed the SDG grant of N600 million each.

    According to the governor, the beneficiary states were expected to match the grant with additional N600m each in order to access the fund. He explained that Ebonyi did not only do so; it injected additional N900m into the pool, thereby having the N2.1bn for the water projects.

    The sum, he added, would be used to fix the Ezillo water plant, the Sacamori water station,  the Juju hill water scheme and the Ohaozara water station.

    He said: “Let me put it properly that Federal Government gave N600m and we were expected to match it with another N600m.

    “We did and we also provided another N900m. So altogether, the three lots of the projects are going to cost us about N2.1bn; so Federal Government N600m; Ebonyi State Government, N1.5bn.

    “Let me say that the scope of this job is, part one, rehabilitation of Ezillo water treatment plant, and Sacamori pipeline network facilities. We tend to have storage tanks in Ichichi forest, which will supply the federal university at Ndufu Alike, supply the local government of Ikwo, supply some areas in Izzi, supply our rice mill and that of Engr. Ugwu as we make efforts to get our rice millers to also take over the UNIDO rice mill. The Sacamori pipeline has its network through Ezza North, Ezza South, Ishielu, Izzi,Ohaukwu, and even FUNAI .

    “We want to do proper integration of Ezillo water scheme and that of Oferekpe to ensure that if we have problem with Oferekpe and it is shut down, Ezillo will start supplying. But most importantly is the distribution network in Abakaliki.”

    Umahi also revealed that the third part is to address the water challenges in Ohaozara, stating that already, there is a water treatment plant in the area.

    “The third one is to address the water challenges in Ohaozara. Already, we have water treatment plant there. So what we want to do is to build a storage tank at Agukwu and build another storage tank at Ugwulangwu. So with these two storage tanks, we can network the entire Okposi, Uburu and Ugwulangwu.”

    The governor, who lauded President MuhammadU Buhari and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, for including Ebonyi State as a beneficiary of the grant, the aforementioned projects constituted the first major phase of the “Operation Water Ebonyi State.”

    He also disclosed that  the Ishiagu water project had  been  redesigned and re- awarded to a competent contractor at the cost of N1.2 billion, stressing that the arrangement was to integrate all water projects.

    He stated that the  Oferekpe and Ukawu water scheme would be completely ready to provide water.

    Umahi also  emphasised that the distribution process of the pipelines had already  started.

    “We just  started a process to do some distribution network of our pipelines .And I have directed Ministry of Water resources to immediately tell us the balance of the distribution,so that within the next one year,we should beat our chests and say,every body,especially within the capital city is drinking water.”

    The governor assured the remaining local government areas that are not benefiting in the SDG water projects that they would  be considered in other areas such as provision of electricity.

    He frowned at poor quality of some road project being handled by some contractors in  the state and warned that any contractor who was not ready to keep to specification and standard would  be shown the way out .

    Focal Person of SDG in Ebonyi state, Dr Ngozi Obichukwu attributed the realisation of the project to Umahi’s determination develop the state. She urged the people to ensure that the projects are properly maintained and protected.

  • APC urges Mimiko’s govt to account for cocoa project

    APC urges Mimiko’s govt to account for cocoa project

    Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration to account for the money spent on its cocoa revolution programme into which over N2 billion was allegedly committed.

    The party claimed that N300 million was released by the Federal Government over three years ago in aid of the programme.

    The party, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro,  noted that since the government has been in the saddle for almost eight years now, the mandate given to him by the citizenry authorised him to administer the state in a responsible and God-fearing manner as he would be held accountable someday.

    The APC contended that as the administration has less than six months left, the moment of accountability has come, beginning with the agricultural sector.

    The statement said: “We hereby challenge the governor to tell the people of Ondo State when the Cocoa Revolution programme will now begin to yield result, at least to give a measure of succour to alleviate the current economic hardship in the state.

    “There is need for the people to know when the cocoa trees will begin to bear fruits and when the much advertised Ondo State chocolate, the byproduct expected from the Cocoa Revolution programme that was massively launched with great funfair some three years ago will be on the shelves?

    “We hope the programme has not been a deceit that promotes the concept of the more you look, the less you see. One would expect the much-talked about Cocoa Revolution Programme to spread across all the 18 local governments in the state by now and not a ‘one spot, one man, one family, one town show’, an act of deception.

    “If the people being deceived don’t know, the deceiver himself knows that he is deceiving the people. The good thing, however, is that you can only fool all the people some of the time, as you can never fool all the people all the time.

    “As we approach the end of the tenure of Dr. Mimiko, let us remind him that November beckons, the day of reckoning is finally here, because he will account for all the alleged fictitious programmes and projects that were embarked upon, but not executed by his government”.

  • Kudos for educatelagos project

    The Lagos State Digital Library project is one that warms my heart because of the immense amount of local information I envisage it would provide online.

    Nigeria’s consumerist profile extends even to our use of the internet.  We download more than we upload.  In the areas where we upload, we do not add enough rich material to the discourse about Nigeria – our history, heroes, culture, and local heritage.  We only need to check Wikipedia to know how much about us that is not online.  What is available is usually so scanty that I feel bad.

    Now that the Lagos State government, through the office of the Special Adviser on Education is launching the educatelagos digital library, I expect things to change in the right direction.

    The Special Adviser on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, promised that the portal, which is expected to be operational by next January, would boast of e-books, 1,600 videos covering English, Mathematics and Sciences for all levels of learners, 2,000 study aid for key subjects for secondary school learners, vocational training videos, history of Yoruba, Lagos and Nigeria, and online course on coding.

    I am particularly looking forward to the content on history of Yoruba and Lagos State because it would enrich information about our history on the internet.  It will provide research materials for both locals and foreigners to learn more about Nigeria from an authentic source.

    I urge other states to float similar projects. I hope they will also invest in film documentaries that will cover history, geography, culture, art, fashion, and other aspects of our lives.  News from Nigeria should not all be about fraud, mediocrity, insecurity and economic gloom.

    I believe very strongly we have a lot to showcase to the world.  We are a country of almost 200 million people.  We are colourful, intelligent, fashionable, creative and very warm.  We have a lot of positives to give to the world.

    Yes, there is a need for values re-orientation so we check fraudulent activities, which makes foreigners suspicious of us.  If we are able to live by the good values passed on by our ancestors, check insecurity, and achieve economic development, Nigeria would become the new Dubai in the nearest future.  We would have tourists from all over wanting to visit the most colourful country in the world.  Am I dreaming? No, we can achieve it.

  • Ambode pledges speedy completion of Eko Atlantic City project

    Ambode pledges speedy completion of Eko Atlantic City project

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday carried out an extensive tour of the Eko Atlantic City Project, pledging his government’s support to see the project to speedy completion.

    The governor was confident that the initiative would boost the state economy and increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), when the city takes off in the next 18 months.

    Ambode, who was accompanied on the tour by members of his cabinet, said: “I would like to express the total support of this government to this project because at the end of the day, we need to grow the economy of Lagos and this obviously is going to have multiplier effect on our IGR.

    “We promise that we are going to grow our IGR to N30 billion by 2017 and N50 billion by 2018 and this project is a sure outlet in achieving that goal,” he said.

    He expressed satisfaction on the infrastructure already put in place, saying that investors can now take advantage of the investment opportunities.

    Hailing the promoters of the EAC Project for their confidence in committing huge resources to the Nigerian economy, Ambode said their investment was a positive sign that Nigeria remains the investment hub in Africa.

    He said: “Notwithstanding the economic recession that has befallen the country right now, we have come to also show that outside the recession, there is a whole lot of progress going on in the investment climate in Lagos State.

    “We are very happy that the signs are looking very good for investment in Lagos. We are also very happy that we are doing everything possible to encourage investors to come into the state and I like to assure that we are committed to make this project a big success.”

    Ambode, who also inspected the 8.5-kilometre long shoreline wall, otherwise known as the “Great Wall of Lagos”, built to protect the EAC, said it was gratifying that the project would not only protect the new city, but also protect the whole of Victoria Island against any ocean surge, which was one of the primary reasons for the project.

    Chairman of Eko Atlantic City Mr. Ronald Chagoury said one of the first two residential buildings in the new city would be completed by the end of August.

    The second residential building, he said, will be ready before the end of the year, adding that the first office block will be ready between September and October.

  • COREN to probe flyover project

    council for the Regulation of Engineering Practice in Nigeria (COREN) plans to investigate the flyover project in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    The probe will include the Ama Wire Okigwe road and Akwakuma Orlu road flyovers under construction by the Imo State government

    This is coming after the alarm raised by the social justice group, Imo Bilie Initiative of Nigeria (IBIN) over the poor quality projects being carried out in the state by the government saying the projects do not meet international standard

    Meanwhile, the Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) Owerri Inspectorate has been directed to visit the sites and report back to the council for appropriate action.

    COREN’s Registrar, Mathias Adoyi who spoke in a telephone interview at the weekend, said the council would remain committed to safety and value for money in engineering projects, among other things, adding that the regulatory body would do its best to retain its valued integrity

    The group through its Convener and National Coordinator, Obidinma Aku had written the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), COREN and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to investigate the work saying the flyovers are death traps.

    The Secretary to the Imo State Government, Ezenna Eche, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the flyovers, including the one at the Okigwe road, met the required standard.

    He said though the foundation was laid by the previous administration of Governor Ikedi Ohakim, the government of Rochas Okorocha has been able to redesign and make them even stronger.

    Eche said: “In fact, I didn’t know that this present government would be able to work on that project, but it has been able to complete it. It seemed as if he was not going to complete the project because it was started by a government that would commission a project and would not complete it. They said he would abandon it but it didn’t happen that way.’’

    Eche said contractors do many of the jobs, and that it is the government is committed to the local content programme.

    He added that there was no need for contractors and technicians to come from countries, such as Korea, Japan and Lebanon, to work in Nigeria when there are competent Nigerians to execute the jobs.

    He, however, regretted that in most cases, people are not living up to standard.

    “We keep doing things the old way, some people when they are mobilised run away with it while others do shoddy jobs, nevertheless, the projects are up to standard, where there are errors we make amends he maintained,” he said.

    But, according to Aku, heavy duty trailers and tankers ply the road very often, a development, he said, would bring about the sudden collapse of the bridge if quality materials were not used.

  • Muslim students seek support for project

    The Lagos State Area Unit of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has appealed to corporate organisations to assist the government in raising and equipping the youths with necessary skills in oder for the country to attain steady development.

    The MSSN Amir (leader), Saheed Ashafa, made the appeal when he led members of the society in a visit to BUA International Limited in Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Saheed said private firm needed to assist government in empowering the youths. One of the ways to do this, he said, is to support the actualisation of the Human Capital Development Centre (HCDC) project of the Muslim students’ group.

    The HCDC facility, which is located at Noforija in Epe, is used in training Muslim youths during school holidays.

    Ashafa said: “We appeal to corporate organisations and individuals to support the sustenance of our HCDC project. We believe that when the project is sustained, it will help to build youths in key areas that will enhance national development.”

    While presenting a short documentary of the HCDC project, chairman of the project committee, Kaamil Kalejaiye, said the project would help the youths to discharge good leadership role in the society.

    He said: “The HCDC is being developed to provide multidisciplinary leadership training for the youths as a mark of continuous contribution to national and community development in areas of academic excellence, spiritualism, intellectualism and morality. The entire cost for the project is N1.2 billion.”

    The centre, when completed, will enable the MSSN train more than 30,000 youths on various skills in a year, said Kaamil.

    He added: “The facilities currently available on the site are inadequate to host both male and female programmes. We strongly desire to give a facelift to the existing facilitates to a degree that will support the hosting of the female programmes in the current year.”

    Speaking on behalf of the BUA Group of companies, the company’s General Manager (Cement Expansion in Africa), Mr Suleiman Ali, praised MSSN for its youth development projects. He said the company would support the development of the youth and contribute its quota after discussing the proposal with the company’s management.

    Ashafa presented the MSSN’s list of upcoming programmes to the company. They included Young Managers Quiz contest, Quran Memorization contest and youth camps, among others. He also presented the proposal for the support of HCDC project to Ali.

    Other members of the MSSN delegation included Vice Amir, Ishaq AbdulAzeez,  Financial Secretary, AbdulKabir Kuye, Public Relations Officer, Idris Qasim, Administrative Secretary, Abduljelil Adeosun, former Editor, Saheed Adigun, and Shakrullah AbdulFatah, Head of Logistics and Transport.ý

  • Azura power project ‘ll boost economy, says Fashola

    Azura power project ‘ll boost economy, says Fashola

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola  has listed the positive spinoffs that would result from Azura Power Plant in Benin, Edo State. He said such projects across the country are in line with current efforts by the government to achieve increased power generation to run the engine of the economy.

    Fielding questions from newsmen after a tour of the facility, which is largely a private sector initiative, Fashola expressed pleasure at the progress of work on the site and said spinoffs such as supply of materials, and employment of members of the local community were positive signs that the efforts of government are impacting positively on the people.

    The minister, who recalled that the approvals and agreements required by the private companies to source for funds for the project could not be signed for more than one year before the current administration assumed office, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for finally signing the required approvals which enabled the investors to commence construction. He added that since construction work started, there has been visible positive impact especially on the host community.

    Fashola ‘s Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Hakeem Bello made this known in a statement yesterday.

    Speaking about the positive spinoffs of the project on the host community, Fashola described it as “a very strong and positive sign of the impact of the decision of Mr. President” who, according to him, “directed that all the approvals necessary in carrying out this project be given immediately after he took office.

  • World Bank lauds Lagos over FADAMA project

    The World Bank has given the Lagos State Government a pass mark for sustaining the FADAMA agricultural project in the state.

    The commendation came during a visit by the Federal Government/World Bank fifth technical mission to the State Coordinating Office of FADAMA project in Oko Oba.

    The Head of the mission and Task Team Leader, Dr.Adetunji Oredipe, said the state government deserved to be praised for its commitment to the success of the project in the state.

    He said the state occupies strategic place in the project in Nigeria because of several initiatives that has boosted agricultural produce and as a corridor for the movement of goods on land, sea and air.

    Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Permanent Secretary Dr. Olayiwole Onasanya said: ”The FADAMA project is a poverty reduction initiative because it has empowered a lot of farmers in Lagos State and transformed them from subsistence level to commercial farmers. Fishermen in riverine areas of Ibeju Lekki, Lagos Island among others can now boast of improved standard of living through the project, hence, the state government would continue to encourage its sustenance.

    The state coordinator of the project, Mr Folu Ajijola, said: “The project has improved since the last World Bank mission to the state because our production cluster has increased by 25 per cent. Equally, the number of farmers has doubled and a lot of capacity building for farmers and stakeholders has taken place.”