The Nation Newspaper

Tag: projects

  • ‘Buhari’s reforms ’ll make money available for capital projects’

    ‘Buhari’s reforms ’ll make money available for capital projects’

    The Federal Government said yesterday that ongoing institutional reforms are aimed at make additional resources available for the implementation of capital projects for improved service delivery and transformation of the Nigerian economy.

    The government also said it remained committed to the economic development of the country and was determined to hold people accountable and ensure that business activities in both the public and private sectors are carried out effectively and transparently in line with global best practices.

    The Secretary to the National Planning Commission, Bassey Akpanyung, who disclosed this at a news conference to announce activities lined up for the 21st Nigeria Economic Summit, said some of the reforms include the adoption of a zero-based budgetary system with effect from the 2016 financial year.

    Other reforms, according to him, include the introduction of the Treasury Single Account system, the restructuring of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and blocking of financial leakages in the Federal MDAs, among others

    He said this year’s economic summit had been designed to elicit deeper dialogue on how best to make tough choices, considering the present global economic realities which the government needs to deal with.

    He said the continuous decline in oil prices, resulting in reduction in government revenues, insurgency in some parts of the country and rising unemployment rate, especially among the youth, has made it imperative for government to start thinking outside the box on a post-oil economy.

    While announcing the 21st Nigerian Economic Summit will hold between October 13 and 15 in Abuja, Akpanyung said  the summit had become “an  annual dialogue event which is jointly organized by the National Planning Commission representing the public sector and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group representing the private sector.”

    He said further: “It is the most enduring public private dialogue process that has been sustained over the past 21 years since it started in 1993. The NES has provided a credible and widely recognised platform for forging understanding and consensus on our national economic policy direction and economic growth strategies.

    “Over the years, stakeholders in Nigeria and abroad have come to acknowledge the NES as the premier platform for policy dialogue in Nigeria. The NES has indeed become the largest and most prestigious annual economic forum for policy makers and the private sector, the academic and development partners and civil society organisations

    “The summit has over the years contributed immensely to strengthening the relationship between the public and private sectors and the transformation of the Nigerian economy. It is also reassuring to note that the key outcome of the summit has helped in influencing policies since the inception of the summit arrangement.

    “The theme of the summit this year is ‘Tough Choices: Achieving Competitiveness, Inclusive Growth and Sustainability’. This is consistent with the aspiration of the present administration’s change agenda and the medium term successor strategic plan 2016 to 2020 which focuses on fighting corruption, addressing unemployment, insecurity, institutional reforms, economic growth and development.

    “Experience worldwide has shown that issues of unemployment, insecurity, corruption and inclusive growth cannot be tackled effectively without addressing the competitiveness of the economy.

    “Indeed, the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 indicated that Nigeria fell seven places to 127th out of 144 countries, largely on account of weakened public finances, as a result of lower oil export and prices, weak institution, corruption, dire security situation, weak infrastructure and high youth unemployment rate. We expect that the summit will come up with measureable outcomes on how best to achieve competitiveness and inclusive growth in a sustainable way”.

    He further said: “One has observed that we are talking about issues of inclusiveness, competitiveness and sustainability. There is no way you can discuss these issues without looking at the policies that relate to making our economy competitive. To this, I will say at the summit, we will discuss everything, including the TSA. The essence is to open up discussion and then see the pros and cons and when the public sector meets the private, we jointly look at the pros and cons and advise better on what is there.

    “We are also aware that there are various schools of thought. These issues need to be taken in the contest in which they are. We have to look at those policies and why they happened in the first place.”

  • TCN eyes 30 projects to boost wheeling

    As the power generation improves and expected to continue to increase, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has marked out 30 critical projects to expand its wheeling capacity to 8,000 megawatts (Mw) from 5,300Mw.

    Its Managing Director , Dr. Abubakar Rasheed Tambuwal,  told The Nation that TCN has over 130 projects ongoing but chose 30  to equip the transmission network for more generation.

    He said: “We have over 130 ongoing projects from 2002 but some of them were stalled due to lack of fund. Out of those we have identified about 30 which are critical for us to be able to reach the evacuation capacity that we need over next coming years. These are the projects that we have articulated for immediate funding. We are still working with the government. We are putting in our request, so that these critical projects are properly funded.

    “We are not waiting for investors because that will take time for them to come and fund the projects. We are looking inwards from whatever source to be able to get enough money, which I said is a minimum of N15 billion in a year to be able to get the few selected critical projects to proceed to where we would be able to wheel the power to customers.”

    He also noted that the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) has done some transmission projects, commissioned and handed  over to TCN.

    “NIPP is also responsible for generation, transmission and distribution. On the transmission aspect, they execute those projects, commission and hand over to us. We have a way of paying back. We have not started paying back but it is a project that is being funded by the three tiers of the government, we are looking at ways of getting them paid back.

    “But we are working in good harmony with them. All the projects they have been executing in transmission, we are taking over and we are running them,” he said.

    Abubakar said privatisation of TCN  might be in the long-term. “Privatising the TCN, I think, will be in the long term. But TCN is being managed by contractors, Manitoba Hydro International. They have just been renewed one year after the previous contract time elapsed. It is expected that by the time they finish their tenure, the company will be able to be in a status that can be concessioned, that is part of the contract deliverable of Manitoba.

    “So, the company should be able to be concessioned by the government but not outright sale. But decision by the government in the future could involve privatisation but that is not on the table yet. As far as improved generation is concerned, that is why I said we have identified these projects that will make us be capable of transmitting whatever energy that is generated,” he added.

    Abubakar said funding to TCN has not improved considering the fact that a lot of projects are in the pipeline, which need to be bonded and because of the present situation, there is need for additional funding from what we used to have. “We are making all efforts to ensure that we bring funds outside appropriation of government. We have investors who are ready to come in and participate in our investor financing scheme. The scheme is still at its preliminary stage but as soon as we finalise it, we will have investors who are willing to put in their funds to develop our transmission infrastructure. We also expect more funding from the Federal Government to be able to achieve the mandate we have set for ourselves to improve on the transmission capacity,” he said.

    He said the additional funding from the government was vital because generation has improved due to improved gas supply.

  • Wike, Rivers APC disagree on Amaechi, projects

    •APC: governor wasted over N120b
    •’I’m prudent’

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday said he was running a prudent administration and managing the state’s resources well.

    The governor spoke when he conducted reporters round some projects his administration was executing in parts of the state.

    Wike, a former chief of staff in the Government House, Port Harcourt, and the director-general of Rotimi Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011, said his administration decided to first complete the projects started by his predecessor for the benefit of Rivers State residents to prevent abandonment.

    The governor assured that he would also start new projects.

    But the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the governor spread falsehood and propaganda in his 100 days in office.

    The party accused the governor of wasting over N120 billion since assuming office.

    A statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by its Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya, through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, insisted that Wike betrayed his benefactor and former boss, former Governor Amaechi.

     

     

  • ‘Dickson won’t abandon projects’

    The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, yesterday said Governor Seriake Dickson is committed to completing the projects in different senatorial districts of the state.

    Owei noted that but for the dwindling revenue from the Federation Account, Dickson would have been rounding off with most of his projects.

    The commissioner spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, when he hosted a delegation of the Bayelsa Liberation Forum (BLF).

    He said having demonstrated enough passion and commitment to develop Bayelsa, the governor deserved a second term to complete his projects.

    Owei told his audience that Dickson placed high premium on health and had initiated many projects in the sector.

    He said: “It is noteworthy that Governor Dickson places a high premium on the Health sector and has major strides in infrastructural development of Bayelsa state.”

    “Anybody who goes through the local governments of Bayelsa State will see that His Excellency, despite the limited resources available to his office, unlike what was available several years ago, has been able to build several roads, bridges, hospitals and inject capital into people-oriented projects in the state.

    “The other day, we took a tour with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and they gave a pass mark for the strides of Governor Dickson. There has been no period in the history of Bayelsa State when there has been so much infrastructural development that has brought so much value to the people of Bayelsa state.”

     

     

  • Groups partner to track Edo projects

    A transparency advocacy group, BudgIT Nigeria, has partnered Omidyar Network to track capital projects listed in this year’s budget of the Edo State Government.

    The group said it would use its “Tracka project” to ensure transparency in the state’s projects.

    The partnership, according to BudgIT’s Lead Partner, Oluseun Onigbinde, will focus on 24 communities, where the capital projects are located.

    He said the partnership would have community tracking teams.

    The company’s lead partner said “Tracka” would work with stakeholders in the community and civil society organisations (CSOs) as partners.

    BudgIT is working with Kaduna and Edo state governments to ensure transparency in their projects.

    Onigbinde, in a statement in Abuja, said “Tracka” would enable the residents to own and track capital projects in their communities.

    He said: “Considering the challenge of transparency in the country, the most effective method to reach the masses is through the implementation of capital projects. Lots of funds are allocated as capital expenditure; yet, some projects are left undone. The plan is to follow up with the communities/beneficiaries and facilitators of the project.

    “The project will ensure feedback to citizens, using social media and also contact parliamentary, executive bodies and key institutions to close the feedback loop and aggregate feedback and build actionable intelligence for and from the institutions.

    “As Nigerians, it is important that we ensure transparency and accountability regarding the use of funds.”

  • Ambode warns contractors on road projects

    Ambode warns contractors on road projects

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday warned contractors handling various state projects that the state would not accept anything that would make life difficult for the residents.

    The governor frowned at the slow pace of work on the reconstruction of some of the road projects.

    Speaking during a project inspection tour in Bariga, Alimosho and Oshodi, Ambode reiterated his determination to make life comfortable for the people.

    At Somolu/Bariga, he said the reconstruction of the road is so important due to its strategic location and link to other areas.

    He mandated the contractor to deliver the work before Christmas, adding that while the work is going on, the contractors should provide palliative measures for the residents so that they can live their normal lives.

    At Alimosho, the Governor, who described Alimosho as the most populous Local Government in Lagos, empathised with the people on the untold hardship being experienced daily by commuters and promised to ensure completion of on-going works on the road within the next three months.

    “In the course of my campaign, I came to this neighbourhood three times asking you to vote for me, I am back here to let you know that this road that is so important to the economy of this area, we would complete it within the next three months” he said.

    Ambode hailed the residents for their perseverance, assuring them that the deplorable condition of the road would soon be a thing of the past.

    “I want to appeal to all our people living here. The contractor is going to work day and night and also create palliative for you to be able to use the road while he is working,” he said.

    At Oshodi, Ambode, ordered immediate reconstruction of Brown Street, just as he told traders to immediately vacate the right of way to ease free flow of vehicular movement in the area.

    The Governor, who walked through the stretch of Brown Street, Oshodi, said the road is germane to economy of the area.

    “Nobody should trade on this road henceforth and stop spreading your market on the road. I have seen what you experience on daily basis, that is why I took it upon myself to walk through Brown Street and I can assure you that work would commence within the next seven days,”, Ambode said.

    The council’s Executive Secretary, Dawood Adeola Olajobi appealed to the governor to help work on some major roads that needs urgent attention.

    Olajobi thanked Ambode for coming to have a firsthand information about the condition of roads in Oshodi, saying that the gesture will go a long way to show that he is a listening Governor.

    He pledged the council’s cooperation towards sustainable economic growth of Oshodi.

  • PDP battles Obiano for abandoning Obi’s projects

    PDP battles Obiano for abandoning Obi’s projects

    The Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Willie Obiano of abandoning projects initiated by his predecessor, Peter Obi.

    After its meeting yesterday, State Chairman Prince Ken Emeakayi called on Obiano to tell the people the local government allocations he had received since becoming governor.

    The party alleged that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secretariat was being built with state money.

    In an open letter to Obiano, the party alleged that the governor was planning to appoint caretaker transition committees after the expiration of the tenures of council chairmen and councillors.

    The party requested Obiano to direct the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) to conduct a by-election into the Office of Chairman of Ihiala in line withthe court’s decision.

    PDP said: “We demand to know the contract sum of the overhead bridge and flyover under construction at Awka.

    “May it please our governor to make public, the source of funding of the APGA secretariat situated on a vast government land.

    “The governor is also requested to direct ANSIEC to announce the date for the next local government elections, which ought to hold before the January 2016 expiration of the present tenure.

    “We hope and believe that you will address the issues  to reassure the people that we have an accountable government.”

    The party has appointed John Okigbo from Ojoto in Idemili South as the new secretary, following Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike’s decline.

    The party ratified the suspension of some chieftains, including its governorship candidate in the 2013 election, Comrade Tony Nwoye, and Prince Osy Ezenwa, among others.

  • Provost lauds Fed Govt, TETFund on projects

    The Provost Federal College of Education (Technical) in Umunze, Anambra State, Prof Josephat Ogbuagu, has hailed the Federal Government and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for initiating various intervention projects towards development of education and sustaining funding of tertiary institutions.

    Ogbuagu gave the commendation in an interaction with reporters last week in his office. He said the college had benefited largely from the TETFund intervention, which he said had created an enabling environment for quality learning.

    He vowed that he would leave no stone unturned to ensure judicious use of the funds to achieve the institution’s objectives.

    According to Ogbuagu, the office of the provost and other administrative offices in the college would be relocated to the permanent site of the institution for effective management of the school.

    He promised to continue to work hard to sustain the cordial relationship between the host community and the college.

    Ogbuagu thanked Governor Willie Obiano for his efforts in education and security, reiterating the college’s readiness to partner with relevant agencies in the state to improve teaching and learning.

     

  • Aide: Lalong ’ll complete projects

    Aide: Lalong ’ll complete projects

    The focus of the 2015 budget estimates of Plateau state government will be the completion of on-going projects inherited from the immediate past administration.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Rauta Dakok disclosed this while presenting the breakdown of the 2015 budget estimates.

    The sum of N215.4 Billion budget estimates of the state has already been passed by the state house of assembly and singed into law by the state governor Simon Lalong.

    Dakok said: “The new government of Simon Lalong has expressed interest in the completion of all inherited capital project in the interest of people of the state.

    She added: “This was why the lion share of N37.4 billion of the 2015 budget was allocated to the ministry of works to enable the ministry complete those ongoing projects.

    “Other relevant ministries like that of transport, Land, as well that of Urban Development have also bee allocated adequate funds in the budget to ensure the completion of ongoing projects under their ministry.

    “You will agree with me that the timely completion of these inherited project is also in pursuance of peace, security, welfare of civil servants as well as to improve existing social infrastructure of the state.”

  • Ayade’s signature projects

    Ayade’s signature projects

    Since Cross-River lost 76 oil wells to her neighboring Akwa Ibom state, her economic condition has remained in near parlous state. The Civil Servants had suffered more over this predicament, as their little emoluments became the only lubricant for the market driven economy of the 40-year-old state.

    This loss of oil wells coupled with the dwindling federal allocation can only be imagined, as both the government and people have lost all hopes, relying on divine mercies to redeem the image of the impoverishing economy.

    Even with the burden of taxation, not much could be assembled to glitter the hope of a once-vibrant economy. Interestingly, the people persevered and made untold sacrifices for their beloved motherland, as they do not have another state but Cross Rivers.

    The emergence of Professor Ben Ayade as the fourth Executive Governor did not only come with a quota of hope but also with lots of inspiration. The passionate environmental scientist in the wake of his campaign, publicized practical and adorable ideas for the development of the local economy. His ideas were at home with Cross Riverians and tenable to even the mitigated minds. The people believed in him.

    Ayade had prepared the minds of the people not to depend any more on federal allocation only, for survival as a government and as a people. Rather than blowing the popular whistles of inherited debts like his counterparts in other states of the federation, the Governor has chose to blow the trumpet of a well-endowed Cross Rivers state; full of potentials and capable of taking the state and the nation to a greater height.

    Giving insight on his new task, during his inaugural speech, Professor Ayade said; “I am fully aware of the weight of this challenge and fully resolved that by the Grace of Almighty God, we shall build on the great tradition of excellence left by my brother and my leader, His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, these past eight years. Fellow Cross Riverians, I am a proud inheritor of an outstanding legacy, which has firmly placed our beloved state on the global map of purposeful leadership; and for this, I am eternally grateful.”

    “Fellow Cross Riverians, we have come to that bend in the river where we must all rise to our full height to envision and carve out a better future for ourselves and posterity. True, it seems such a daunting task with the falling oil prices and dwindling revenues, further compounded by the general atmosphere of despondency across the country, with our backs against the wall, we must dig deeper into the wells of our creativity and hew out a new pathway to greatness.”

    Taking the words of the African sage, Nelson Mandela with him, that “it always seems impossible until it is done,” the governor reinvigorated that drive to hit the ground running so as to succeed.

    “As we climb this imposing mountain of hope, we shall widen our scope, broaden the horizon and sharpen our instincts for fresh and big ideas that will galvanize this great state to achieve its full potential and usher in a prosperous Cross River, where our people will live in peace and harmony with one another and with nature.” He added.

    True to his talk, Professor Ayade has speedily embarked on an enterprise with the private sector. The private sector is encouraged to raise 500 million Euros for Calabar Deep Sea Port project.

    The Broad Spectrum Industrial Services is the consortium working with the administration towards realizing this project and has become the perfect sign of many good things to come. For Simon Eyo, a Calabar resident, ‘it is not too early for a man who knows his onions to embark on a project like the Calabar Deep Sea Project, knowing how innovative and transformational it will be for our economy especially in the face of Nigeria trying to look away from oil.’

    For the governor, this is the source for his passion. “Our seaport had been dormant because it has no evacuation corridor to permit the passage of mother vessels. Consequently, these mother vessels often berth in Lome while flat vessels are used to convey the shipments in bits to Calabar.”

    “Chad and Niger Republic are land-locked so, they rely on Lagos seaport. If Calabar seaport becomes functional, it will serve as the second largest distribution outlet to our neighbouring land-locked countries with the expected distributional consequences. The sea-port is to generate N30 billion every month.”

    The Broad Spectrum will also include in their tray of projects; the construction of a dual carriage super highway, a modular refinery, cement factory,etc. as part of their economic blueprint for the Ayade years in Cross River State. Now the ball is rolling.

    The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the consortium, Mr. Michael Havre have said that the figure (500 million Euros) neither represents a loan nor a grant but purely that of project financing as the projects would be executed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement which only requires 25 percent bank guarantee from the state government. For a passionate Ayade, Bank Guarantee cannot hold down a monumental project as this, as a leading Nigerian bank has already agreed to look into the possibility of issuing the guarantee on behalf of the state.

    Havre disclosed that he is in touch with one of the banks that have agreed to issue a guarantee on behalf of the State government.

    He made it clear to the government and the people that the involvement of the state is going to be very minimal as it is purely a PPP driven. “I don’t need your money, what I just need you to do is get to your bank and give us a bank guarantee and we are good to go and that is why we are here. We are here to work with you to bring progress to Cross River,” said the Broad Spectrum boss.

    While Ayade is bent on making the state a new economic hub, there are indications that Hydro Power projects to generate 90 Megawatts of Electricity are already on the drawing board following his new deal with some Chinese experts. The Governor plans to generate 30mw from Kwa Falls, 30 mw from Agbokim while the canalization and Channelization from either Ikom, Calabar and Itigidi Rivers will generate 30mw, bringing the total output to 90mw.

    From his words of wisdom; “we are happy because we understand the power generation mechanics and how it works. A lot of states that invested in gas turbines today have their hands burnt because it is always very difficult to sustain the turbines. The huge gas supply per day at high running cost makes turbines more expensive to operate.”

    “So if we go hydro, the water is free. It is obvious that we are taking the right path and we are lucky to have this (Chinese) team which is tested and proven with long history of successes as experts in the field,” he assured.

    Apparently wary of the numerous abandoned projects in many parts of the country, Governor Ayade is not one who has not learnt from history. “As a people and a state who understands the difficulty of gas powered turbines, we as a state decided to develop a culture that will insist on hydropower.”

    “The decision for hydro is specific. In spite of the fact that it has high cost of initial investment, the downstream over time will kneel out the initial operational cost and therefore, from longevity operational efficiency and sustainability, it is imperative that we have to go for hydro, more so we are a coastal state,” he reiterates.

    One may also be amazed at his quotient of understanding and passion to take Cross Rivers state into a new economic surprise. “Our thinking is that, since we have opportunity to have about three locations where we can generate hydroelectricity, our requirement as a state is a little below 8mw, so from our projections we shall be generating 90mw at the three locations, utilizing only 30 as a state and selling out the remain 60mw to the Federal Government.”

    The governor has been excited over the acknowledgement of the peaceful disposition of his people as observed by the investors who pointed out that Cross Riverians are nice and warm people.

    There are other undertakings being incubated for ‘hatchery’ by the governor in Cross River. They include an assembly plant for the production of trucks and mass transit vehicles already being promoted by Steyr Nigeria Limited. The Governor has prepared the grounds for these projects to come on stream.

    Ulayi is a media aide to Ayade