The Nation Newspaper

Tag: projects

  • Kano earmarks N8.2billion on projects  

    Kano State government has set aside about N8.2 billion for the execution of several developmental projects across the state. Out of this amount, N5.33 billion will be spent in the renovation, fencing and provision furniture for schools in the state, the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Yusuf Bello Dambatta, has revealed.

    According to the Commissioner, this is part of the resolutions reached during the state weekly executive council meeting held at the government house, Kano. He added that the council granted approval to the state Ministry of Education to utilise the 2012 UBE matching grant for projects in the education sector, in the tune of N1.7 billion.

    Also the council consented to build 100 teachers’ houses in some selected schools at the cost of N339. 8 million, while the Ministry of Education was given approval for the utilisation of N24.4 million 2011 UBEC funds for the purchase of education materials and equipment.

    Alhaji Yusuf Dambatta added that N214.3 million was set aside for projects aimed at improving water supply in Kano metropolis and N18 million for drilling of 12 motorised boreholes in some women centres in the state.

    Other projects approved by the council are the construction of a new Zoo at Bagauda at the cost of N182.9 million, rehabilitation of vandalised electricity networks across the state, N70 million for furnishing of 26 new magistrate courts, N50.0 million as well as equipping of Kano Dental Centre and rehabilitation of the Eye clinic at Murtala Muhammed General Hospital at the total cost of about N74.7 million.

  • Jonathan inaugurates N600m MDG projects in Abia

    President Goodluck Jonathan has inaugurated projects worth N600 million executed under the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] in collaboration with the Abia State government for the 2011 project year.

    Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Dr (Mrs.) Precious Gbeneol, Jonathan said that the projects will help to cushion the harsh conditions being experienced by the vulnerable and set people in the state.

    The projects, included 17 state-of-the-art ambulances for the 17 local government areas of the state and 43 health centres completed and equipped in three focal local government areas of Obingwa, Ikwuano and Ohafia.

    Jonathan said that the projects were targeted at the poor with a view to eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. He commended the state government for fully executing the projects which he assured will improve the living standards of the people.

    He explained that Abia State has been listed as one of the states to benefit from the N1.2billion conditional cash transfer for 2012, which would be designated for projects in four local government areas of the state for judicious utilisation of previous funds.

    The President noted that in the 2012 project year, four local government areas of the state, Umuahia North, Arochukwu, Isiala Ngwa East and Ukwa East, will be benefiting from the MDGs and urged the council chairmen to ensure maintenance of the projects sited in their areas.

    In his remarks, Governor Orji said that a total of 250 health centers, 10 solar boreholes among others have been executed in the state since 2007, adding that the projects were executed to have meaning on the lives of the people of the state.

    The Executive Secretary Abia Sate Planning Commission, Mrs Adanma Iheuwa said the state joined the league of MDGs states in 2007, and that since then, the state has continued to benefit from the implementation of MDGs projects.

     

  • Capital projects take N87b in Edo’s N150b budget

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday presented next year’s Budget proposal of N150,045,377,060 billion to the House of Assembly.

    He said the proposed budget, christened “Taking Edo State to the next level”, would consolidate on the achievements made in the last four years and accelerate economic growth.

    Oshiomhole said: “The 2013 budget is not only targeted at the completion of on-going infrastructural projects, but also at accelerating economic growth. We are committed to expanding the conducive environment already created for economic development and, above all, the empowerment of the citizenry.

    “We shall take measured steps to smoothen practically all the rough edges in the delivery of services to our people across all sectors.”

    In the proposed budget, N87,407,475,855 billion, representing 60 per cent, is voted for Capital Expenditure; N62,637,901,205 billion, representing 40 per cent, for Recurrent Expenditure.

    To speed up development, Oshiomhole said the government would concentrate on the completion of on-going projects; technical education, skill acquisition; improving Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR); job and wealth creation as well as youth empowerment.

    He said: “In line with our tradition, we are concentrating the bulk of our Capital Expenditure on our key priority areas. The proposed N87.40 billion Capital Expenditure will be allocated to the following priority areas: Works (Road), N33.35 billion; Education, Drainage and Sewage/Environmental Protection, N13.29 billion; Health,N2.80 billion; and Water, N1 billion.

    “The allocation for roads will be used to complete ongoing intra and inter-city roads and fund new projects. The designs of these projects are ready.

    “Of the N13.29 billion proposed for Flood and Erosion Control as well as Environmental Protection, N8 billion is allocated to the execution of projects under the Benin City Storm Water master-plan. Also, a substantial sum has been earmarked for the continued desilting and dredging of the Benin Moat.

    “Similarly, N2.55 billion is set aside for erosion and flood control infrastructure in Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts and N1.20 billion for Beautification and Urban renewal projects across the state.

    The governor said N116, 479,778,045 billion is proposed as recurrent revenue, with N51 billion as Statutory Receipt and N26.97 billion IGR.

    The projected capital receipt amounts to N64,341,876,840.

    There is a projected deficit of N23,065,599,015 to be funded through the World Bank Budget Support Facility and additional credit lines.

    Oshiomhole said: “This budget estimate is intended to strengthen our administration’s resolve to galvanise our people towards developmental action and make the state competitive economically as well as increase self-reliance.”

    The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa described the proposed budget as a “budget of project completion”.

    In a statement by its National President, Alhaji Dada Akpeji, the group said: “We have no doubt that Oshiomhole has already hit the ground running since the people gave him a second mandate. This budget proposal is a reflection of the goodies Edo people should expect in the first year of Oshiomhole’s second term in office.

    “When the budget is approved by the Assembly, the governor would focus on the completion of ongoing projects and take advantage of the coming dry season to complete road projects.

    “We applaud the courage of the governor and his intention to sanitise the system and accelerate development. We also salute him for giving priority to roads, education, the Benin City Storm Water Masterplan, flood and erosion control.

    “His allocation of resources to the various sectors is very reasonable and we urge the people to support the governor in implementing this budget when it is passed by the Assembly.

    “It has not been business as usual since Oshiomhole assumed office and I believe he would not disappoint the people when he is sworn in on Monday for his second term.”

  • We’ll complete projects, says Fashola

    We’ll complete projects, says Fashola

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has assured residents that the N497.277 billion budget proposal, when approved by the House of Assembly, will focus on completion of ongoing projects.

    Fashola spoke yesterday while inspecting some projects in various local government and local council development areas.

    He said government would ensure that stalled projects are completed next year.

    Among the projects inspected are the Oyingbo and Tejuosho markets, canal construction in Babs Animashaun Surulere, Itire housing projects in Shitta and Mushin, reconstruction of Ilasamaja Bridge, and the expansion of Kodeosho Street in Ikeja.

    He said Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have sent in briefs of projects they intend to see through next year.

    “We’re going round because we have just finished a budget, and the essence of the budget is to focus on completion of ongoing projects.”

    Giving an overview of the projects inspected, Fashola expressed satisfaction with the work done at the Oyingbo market.

    The governor said seven of the eight sections of the market have been completed.

    He assured that the last section will be completed next month to enable roofing to begin.

    “By the middle of the second quarter of next year, it should be completed.

    “From there, we saw the work in Tejuosho, there are challenges of funding, so we need to go back now and see which way forward.”

    On the canal construction in Babs Animashaun, Fashola said there is a redesigning of the scope of work being done there.

    Speaking on the ongoing construction of the collapsed pedestrian bridge at Ilasamaja bustop on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, which was demolished two months ago, Fashola assured that the bridge will be ready for use by January.

    “The contractor is already piling and from what I am hearing by the end of January, it will be back for use.

    “This time it will be a better one, with a ramp for the physically challenged and steps for able bodied people, a roof to protect from the weather and we hope that when it is done, people will not turn it to a market,” Fashola said.

     

  • PDP to probe Elechi’s projects

    The Ebonyi State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it would investigate the projects the Martin Elechi administration has executed.

    This is to ascertain their impact on the residents, it said.

    Its Chairman, Prince Ugorji Amaoti, addressed reporters in Abakaliki, the state capital, after the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party submitted its report to the State Executive Council (Exco) on the 13 local government areas and 64 development centres.

    The PDP chairman said the party would not recommend any sanction against any of the council chairmen or development centre coordinator who performed below the expectation of the party until Governor Martin Elechi would have gone through the report.

    He noted that the report was not to witch-hunt anybody but to ensure that those who performed below expectation are encouraged to turn a new leaf.

    Submitting the report to the party Exco, Amaoti thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity to interact with him.

    He explained that the PDP embarked on the tour of the councils to get first-hand information on their operations.

    The party chairman said the PDP occasionally undertook oversight functions on the performance of those it elected to manage the affairs of the people.

    Amaoti said the report was in two parts: the major copy and the abridged version.

    He noted that the report would enable the government to have a deeper insight into the councils.

    The party also presented Party Project Magazine and wall clocks with the PDP insignia.

    Amaoti said the clocks would be given to political appointees and elected members of the party to remind them that they are products of the PDP.

    Elechi hailed the party chieftains for their innovativeness.

    He said: “We have a chairman, who has so much confidence in our party. Yet, he is unassuming.”

    The governor said the tour was to ensure that those who emerged through the party deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

    Elechi noted that the zonal leadership of the party had undertaken similar trips.

    He added: “We hope the national leadership will also do the same. If this can’t be done state by state, it could be zone by zone.”

    The governor said his administration will, by December, tour the local governments to interact with the people and thank them for the mandate they gave him.

    Elechi added that the government would study the report and encourage sanction against any erring council.

     

  • Niger opposition parties accuse Aliyu of executing elitist projects

    Major opposition parties in Niger State – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) – yesterday accused Governor Babangida Aliyu of executing projects they said have no economic value to most residents.

    They took a swipe at the House of Assembly for failing to carry out its oversight function on the projects.

    At a joint media briefing addressed by their chairmen and governorship candidates in last year’s elections, the parties accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration of not executing masses-oriented policies but those that satisfy the elite.

    Through the CPC Chairman, Mallam Umar Shuaibu, the opposition parties challenged the execution of some projects, such as the Niger-America Medical City, Millennium Shopping Plaza, Minna Five-Star Hotel – where N500million has allegedly been expended – and Ward Development Project.

    The parties alleged that the electorate was told that the projects were to be executed through the Public Private Partnership (PPP), adding that the “partners” have abandoned sites after collecting mobilisation fees.

    They demanded a detailed account on the N5 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Aliyu administration and a private firm, Snecou Group of Companies, for the execution of the multi-sector projects.

    Shuaibu said: “Like other projects, the N5billion project was not only designed to fail but was indeed signposted by huge failure. In the first instance, the state government seemed not to have called on the services of its legal personnel before dwelling on the MoU.

    “The amount expended on this project has not been appropriated via the annual budget and implementation began even without any bill of quantity. The MoU offered the PPP partner a blank cheque.”

    The opposition parties also alleged that the PPP projects were used to siphon state funds, adding that there was no evidence of endorsement by appropriate approving authorities prior to their implementation.

    Shuaibu was in company of ACN Chairman, Capt. Isa Mokwa (rtd), and their ANPP counterparts, Hajiya Jummai Mohammed and other top leaders of the parties.

    They berated the House of Assembly for not monitoring the alleged mismanagement of state funds by the executive.

    “The Assembly stands indicted for not pursuing the Appropriation Bill with deserved efficiency, if not for a silence of conspiracy,” Shuaibu said.

    Mokwa said the opposition would send the ruling PDP packing and that the leaders of the three parties at the wards have been directed to work for the success of a new movement in the state.

  • PDP to Mimiko: don’t deride Fed Govt projects

    Barely 11 days to the governorship election in Ondo State, the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusola Oke, has warned Governor Olusegun Mimiko through his campaign organisation, the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation (OOCO), not to deride Federal Government projects.

    Speaking with reporters in Akure, the Director-General of OOCO, Dr. Dare Bada, said the frustration of Mimiko is understood as his attempts to rig the election are on a daily basis being uncovered.

    Bada said the governor has engaged mercenaries who will disrupt election in the areas where he is not popular.

    He said the targeted areas are Ondo North and Ondo South.

    Bada alleged: “Mimiko has been lobbying the Presidency to disorganise our party. He has bribed a lot of people with the state money. The bribes are given out in hard currencies.

    “We have it on good authority that some thugs have been hired by the LP. Also, Toyota Hilux Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have been purchased and branded in security colour to be used by the hoodlums.

    “Security uniform to be used by the thugs have also been sewn.

    “The coming of Vice-President Namadi Sambo has deflated his bubbles of lies in the minds of our loyal party members and the people of Ondo State.

    “His latest attempt is the dragging of the amnesty programme of the Federal Government into his dirty politics. I think it is a disservice to play politics with the amnesty programme of the government, considering its level of success and advantages.”

  • Firm begins second phase of N6b housing projects in Adamawa

    The management of Resort Savings and Loans Plc has begun the second phase of its N6billion housing project in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

    The mortgage firm delivered 30 housing units in Yola in the last quarter of last year.

    In a statement in Lagos by its Managing Director, Mr Abimbola Olayinka, the firm said buyers have begun taking possession of the homes.

    The buyers, the statement added, include those who bought the homes

    from the company through the National Housing Fund mortgage facility.

    It explained that the company has begun the second phase of the project, in which it will build 100 housing units.

    The mortgage firm assured that the project would be taken round the country, adding that the second phase in Yola started because of the increasing demand for housing in the area.

     

  • Ahmed urges Fed Govt to leave states,

    Ahmed urges Fed Govt to leave states,

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed yesterday urged the Federal Government to hands off its projects in the state for sustainability and maintenance.

    The governor spoke in Ilorin, the state capital, at the beginning of a tour of federal projects in the state, under the National Good Governance Monitoring Team, led by the Information Minister Labaran Maku.

    He noted that there is usually no budgetary provision for the maintenance of such projects after inauguration.

    Ahmed hailed the minister for leading the monitoring team.

    The governor urged the residents not to see the programme as a one-off event but an opportunity for states and the Federal Government to work together.

    He said: “The tours should be an opportunity for the Federal Government to see the impact of its programmes on the people and help in determining resource allocation.

    “The tour is a platform that will enable the Federal Government to see where there are completed, ongoing, abandoned and untouched projects in the states. It will also enable the government to see how resources are allocated. Therefore, we need a strong collective effort in driving democracy.”

    Maku said the tour was packaged to ensure that Nigerians know more about government efforts at providing the dividends of democracy.

    He said: “It is important in democracy that you carry people along in whatever you are doing. Democracy is about contest and competition and we must not fail to let people know what we are doing.

    “The idea is to let the states explain not only progress being made but also their challenges. There is no way the states and the Federal Government can work separately, because we share the same objectives of meeting the needs of our people.”

     

  • Fed Govt rules out new capital projects in 2013 budget

    Fed Govt rules out new capital projects in 2013 budget

    The federal government may not embark on new capital projects next year, Information Minister Labaran Maku, has said.

    The minister who dropped the hint in Abuja during the inspection of government projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the National Good Governance Tour said government has decided to concentrate on the completion of all critical and on-going projects in 2013.

    He said: “For 2013, hardly will any ministry initiate new projects. We want to complete existing and on-going projects.”

    “What we are doing is concentrating efforts on on-going projects. In the past, when new administrations came on board they would abandon on-going projects and start new ones.

    “But this administration is committed to continuity. We want to complete critical, abandoned and on-going projects.”

    “In less than half way of this tenure, we have started to see transformation projects in the country.”

    He cited the abandoned N18 billion Lower Usuma Dam project in the FCT which he said is now being revived by the administration.

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, said the dam would pump 20 million cubic meters of water per hour to the city when the project is completed by December.