The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rehabilitate

  • Fed Govt to rehabilitate Kastina roads

    The Federal Controller of Works for Katsina State, Tunde Balogun, an engineer, has assured motorists that rehabilitation of  federal roads in the state would soon start.

    This is coming on the heels of the submission of proposals for the repairs for their capture in the ministry’s budget

    Balogun, who gave the assurance  in Katsina, during a chat with The Nation in his office, said already the dualisation of the Kano-Katsina federal highway was in progress and that work on the Katsina border end of the road, which was awarded to Chinese firm, CCECC, was also ongoing.

    He said: “The state government is taking charge of internal roads within the state capital or local government headquarters, like the Kano road in  Malumfashi and the bye-pass. It is the Katsina State government that has been maintaining that intersecting roads within the town.’’ He revealed that road maintenance remains the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency’s  (FERMA) responsibility, while rehabilitation of major highways, especially when it stretches to eight kilometre and beyond.

    According to Balogun, there is much improvement on road funding under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari compared to the past, hence the reason for the rehabilitation and construction of federal roads.

    On his assessment of the condition of federal roads in the state, the controller said it is fair, when compared to what obtains in some other states. He identified other federal roads being captured in the proposals to include; Katsina-Dutsinma-Kankara road, Katsina-Jibia road and Daura-Kano road.

    Meanwhile, FERMA has assured motorists plying Funtua-Bakori-Katsina roads that the patching of the potholes on the road had not been abandoned as being insinuated, and that work would resume on the road as soon as the rainy season is over.

    FERMA Resident Engineer in Katsina State, Ali Abdul, told The Nation, that the road was being handled under direct labour and supervised by one of their workers.

     

  • Rehabilitate Lekki Scheme II bad roads

    Sir: We had high hopes when, so many years back, the Lekki Peninsula Scheme II was developed. The speed at which its infrastructures and drainage systems were embarked upon and part completed, was impressive. Land owners were encouraged, even threatened at some point, to develop their lands, and move in. Many of us complied.

    Then, suddenly it all came to an abrupt halt, unceremoniously.

    The roads within our gateless and porous ‘estate’ have become deplorable, and security risk to residents. The major access and link road, now known as Monsurat Olayinka Street, running parallel with Ogombo Road, by Abraham Adesanya Housing Estate, in particular, has since become a death trap. Some of the big potholes there are now craters big enough to damage any vehicle.

    This road was once awarded to Road Constructions Contractors, but was abandoned; evidenced by a mountain of interlocking paving blocks, dumped on the road some years ago.

    We would like to passionately appeal to our governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to please come to our rescue urgently, and kindly obviate the agony and trauma we experience on a daily basis. Multiplying our anguish is the absence of street lights, and night time insecurity of our lives and properties.

    We are law abiding citizens, and contribute to the development of Lagos State through regular payments of taxes and other state’s charges.

     

    • Chief M. Labi Ishola Lemomu,

    Lekki Ajah, Lagos State.

  • Council rehabilitates 17 roads

    Within 15 months of its establishment, the Wewe Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Oyo State has rehabilitated 17 roads within the council.

    The LCDA was carved out of Saki West Local Government last year.

    Some of the roads rehabilitated are NEPA Road, Apinnite, Challenge Road, Erunfun-Mountain of Fire and Praise Ministry Road, Sunday Ishola Road, Arowselu Road, Akomolesin, off Asabari Road and Adetola Street. Others include Tiwadayo Road, Munas Area Road, Rabiu Road, Babatunde Imuran Road and Ona Ara Road.

    The Chairman of the LCDA, Mr Olaniyi Olawuwo, told Southwest Report that the roads were rehabilitated as a matter of priority in his administrations’s quest to improve transportation and overall quality of lives of the residents.

    Olawuwo, who pledged that the meagre resources available to the council would be channeled towards making life easier for the residents. He said the vision of his administration was to bring government closer to the people.

    He added that he would sustain the efforts to make Wewe LCDA the best vehicle of development in Oyo State.

    Olawuwo further explained that while some of the roads were executed through direct labour, others were executed through contracts to construction companies.

    He said his administration has also chlorinated wells across the LCDA to upgrade the quality of water used by residents.

    Calling on residents to embrace good environmental health practices, the council chairman said cleanliness is next to Godliness, adding that his administration would sustain all efforts to make the monthly environmental sanitation exercise more effective.

    He pointed out that prevention is better than cure, stressing that preventive measures would not only save government some funds but will also improve the health of residents.

    He also urged them to support his administration and Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration, saying both are determined to return Oyo State to its pace setting status.

    Also undertaken was fumigation of seven maternity centres in the LCDA as well as clearing of drainages and refuse at open places.

  • Enugu to rehabilitate 233 bus shelters, others

    •Recruits 65 workers for Parklane hospital

    The Enugu State government has approved the rehabilitation of 233 bus-stop shelters and hand rails in the Enugu metropolis.

    The exercise, aimed at renewing and upgrading urban structures, would start from the dual carriageway along 82 Division, Nigerian Army, to Akwata Pedestrian Bridge by Ogbete Main Market.

    Commissioner for Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority Chidi Aroh addressed reporters after the state executive council meeting.

    He said the government also approved the construction of new bus-stop shelters in all the newly-built roads, and the relocation of five “critical” bus-stops which obstruct traffic, such as the one at the popular Agric Bank junction, Independence Layout, Enugu.

    Aroh added that the decisions were reached after the council considered the recommendations of the team of technical experts constituted to review the state of the infrastructure, and how they can be enhanced and beautified to improve the status of Enugu as the historical capital of the Southeast.

    The commissioner said the council directed that the relocation be done within five days, while the rehabilitation should be completed in six weeks “in line with the government’s determination to always deliver on its promises as quickly as possible.”

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin, told reporters that the council approved the establishment of a Management Team for the new Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, which would soon start operation.

    Ekochin explained that the decision was taken in consideration of the sophisticated equipment at the centre, and the critical challenges of its management.

    He added that the Ministries of Information and Health were directed to call for expression of interest from national and international institutions, organisations and companies, for a period of one month.

    This, he said, would help the government to select the best hands to run the centre and “give citizens the best of healthcare delivery with best imaging, laboratory services and diagnostics in general”.

    Ekochin added that the council also approved the recruitment of 50 doctors (House Officers) for ESUT Parklane Hospital, Enugu to meet up with the medical demands of the hospital.

    He said 15 radiography interns will also be recruited to assist in the imaging department of the establishment.

  • Govt to rehabilitate returnees from Libya, says Buhari

    Govt to rehabilitate returnees from Libya, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised to rehabilitate Nigerian citizens who were evacuated from Libya.

    About 493 of the returnees arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omugwa at 4: 55 pm yesterday aboard Max Airline.

    They are the first batch of the 5,027 Nigerians to be evacuated by the Federal Government from Libya were they were reportedly being enslaved.

    President Buhari, who spoke through Minister of Foreign Affairs Geofrey Onyeama while addressing the returnees at the Port Harcourt Airport Hajj Camp, where they are being housed, said plans had been concluded to rehabilitate and empower the returnees. He urged them to be law abiding.

    Onyeama said:  “We are very happy at home. As you know, Mr.  President and the people of Nigeria are very worried and concerned about your well-being, and the President sent a delegation which I led to Libya where many of you are being held in very difficult inhuman condition.

    “With all the necessary resources at our disposal, he said we should go to Libya and do everything possible to bring you back as quickly as possible.

    “We with the Director General of Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),  the Senior Special Adviser to the President in Diaspora,  The Director General of The Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in persons(NAPTIP).

    “Also with me was the Federal Commissioner for Refugees as well as a representative from the office of the National Security Adviser, and the comptroller general of Immigration.

    “We went to Libya, we discussed with the government, we saw all of you young children, young boys and young girls, and we negotiated to ensure you came back.  There were a lot of challenges that we faced, but we were ready to overcome them and bring you here and you are the first batch that has arrived.

    “We saw the very difficult conditions in which you were held, we felt for you for the very traumatic experience you went through and our hearts really went out to you and I must say that each an every one of us at that delegation really felt so proud of you.

    “As young children,  notwithstanding everything that you went through,  you maintained your dignity,  your composure, your respect and you stood up when we came and sang the national Anthem,  the national pledge with pride, we are extremely proud of you; extremely proud of the way you comported yourself notwithstanding the condition, the most inhuman condition that you were found yourself during this stay.

    “We hope that one thing you have learnt is that your lives matter to Nigerians, your lives matter to Mr president.

    “There is no other place in this world that can be there than to be with your brothers, your sister and your parents here in Nigeria.

    “We know that many if you were trafficked many of you taken against your better judgement, you have come home and you will not be abandoned.  There are provisions in place to provide for an extensive rehabilitation for you to enable you to get education, skills and development to equip you to get jobs.” He stated.

    He thanked the Rivers state government on the behalf of the returnees for accepting to accommodate them.

    He urged the youths to become advocates of discouraging intending illegal migrants outside the country.

    “After all you have been through in Libya, we want you to go out there as advocate to tell other young boys and girls in the country your experiences in Libya  so that they will not make the same mistakes, so that they will not be in the same condition to be exploited and be deceived into embarking on this hazardous journey.”

    Director General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede advised Nigerians against illegal traveling, stressing that other Nigerians who travelled to Libya are being treated well.

    The returnees who were clothed in tick track suits came in with no luggage save nylon bags and worn out sack bags. They are mainly youths aged between 19 and 42 years, majority of the returnees are from Edo and Delta states.

    On arrival they were screened by a medical team from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

    Secretary to the State Government Kenneth Konami who represented Governor Nyesom Wike, pledged to partner with the Federal Government to see to the welfare of the returnees.

  • Community urges govt to rehabilitate its only primary school

    Residents of Evbokabua in Orhionmwon Local Government of Edo State have appealed to the government to rehabilitate the only primary school in the community.

    They spoke yesterday in interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Evbokabua.

    A pastor, Mr. Peter Efe-Osayande, told NAN the present condition of Osadebawmen Primary School, the only public primary school in the area, was deplorable.

    “Rehabilitation is long overdue. The pupils get drenched whenever it rains and this is not good.

    “The school was established in 1955, and three of the five buildings have collapsed, while the remaining one has a leaking roof.

    “The only building the pupils are managing now, was built in 2007 through the Education Trust Fund,” he said.

    Mrs. Rose Bose said: “Politicians have come here with electioneering promises and after getting our votes they refuse to keep their promises.

    “Parents are begging the government to rehabilitate the school.

    “For more than 15 years there has been no power supply at Evbokabua because the supply that came through Abavo in Delta State was disconnected.”

    Another resident, Mr. Friday Unionmwan, said the community was underdeveloped.

    He added: “We appeal to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) to come to our aid and fix the primary school, reconnect us with the national grid and repair our road.

  • ‘Military’s plan to rehabilitate Boko Haram members okay’

    Concerned Professionals Congress (CPC) said yesterday the initiative by the Defence Headquarters to rehabilitate, de-radicalise and re-integrate about 800 repentant Boko Haram combatants into the society will quicken the peace process and boost reconstruction efforts in the Northeast.

    Describing the initiative as novel, bold and courageous, they said it would inspire hope, strengthen faith and restore confidence among Nigerians in the unity, stability and indivisibility of the country.

    The group’s Coordinator, Tukur Musa Tilde and Chief Media Strategist, Emeka Nwapa, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the move by the nation’s military high command to de-radicalise the sect’s repentant ex-combatants and offer them opportunity to contribute to the growth of the society  will advance the frontiers of humanity in the nation.

    Expressing regret at the incalculable but avoidable damage which the activities of the sect had done to the destinies of families, institutions, communities and careers in the last five years, the group praised the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN)  for galvanising the patriotic and gallant efforts of its troops in alliance with other security forces to downgrade Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast, thereby setting the stage for robust global interest for rebuilding programmes.

    It further observed that Operation Safe Corridor offers the nation and its citizens an opportunity of reinventing and reinforcing its unity, sovereignity and indivisibility in line with the aspirations, dreams and philosophy of one nation, one destiny of its founding fathers.

    The group argued that Liberia and Sierra Leone were instances of countries with worse cases of crimes and criminalities committed by citizens against fellow citizens as well as felony against the state but are today living in admirable peace and harmony because the ex-combatants surrendered and were de-radicalised, rehabilitated and re-integrated by their people into the society.

  • Lawmakers to rehabilitate Obajana-Kabba Road

    Three members of the House of Representatives from Kogi West have taken up the rehabilitation of the 45- kilometre Obajana-Kabba Road.

    They are Karimi Sunday, representing Yagba Federal Constituency; Tajudeen Ayo Yussuf, representing Ijumu/Kabba-Bunu Federal Constituency and James Abiodun Faleke representing Ikeja/Ojodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State, but an indigene of Kogi State.

    Sunday, who disclosed their resolve to give the road a facelift, noted that they were moved by the deplorable condition of the road and the plight of the residents.

    He said there was no doubt that motorists, who plied the road, experienced hardships.

    The lawmaker said they have no option but to mobilise resources to rehabilitate the road, especially as the rainy season is near.

    He said commercial activities have been paralysed, as farmers can no longer transport their produce to the market.

    Sunday said: “We have taken the pains to study the situation since we daily receive complaints from our people that if the Obajana Road is repaired, it will improve the lives of the people.

    “We understand that if the road is put into a proper shape, there will be less pressure on the Okene Road and movement will be quicker and easier for the people. The advantage is that it will improve the economic activities of the communities.

    “We decided to make this sacrifice to ensure that life is made easier for our people.”

  • ‘Rehabilitate victims of Ife-Modakeke feud’

    The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, yesterday advised Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to rehabilitate victims of the Ife – Modakeke crisis.

    The Ife-Modakeke crisis broke out in 1998  and spilled into 1999 and 2000 during the reign of Ooni Okunade Sijuade and the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Francis Adedoyin.

    Over 70 persons were killed, scores displaced and properties worth hundreds of millions of naira destroyed.

    Alake gave the advice at his Ake Palace, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when the Ooni visited him.

    Oba Ogunwusi, who arrived at the palace at 3:42pm, was accompanied by some Ife monarchs, chiefs, aides and 15 palace drummers.

    They were recieved by Oba Gbadebo, his wife, Olori Tokunbo, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Taiwo Adeoluwa, Egba traditional rulers and chiefs.

    In his welcome speech, the Alake, who prayed for the Ooni’s longevity and peaceful tenure, urged him to be cautious in his search for unity in Yorubaland.

    Oba Gbadebo said the Ooni of Ife is one of the five principal monarchs in Yorubaland.

    He listed the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba of Benin, Alake of Egbaland and Awujale of Ijebuland as the four others.

    Alake, who lauded former President Olusegun Obasanjo for honouring the Ooni, said Obasanjo demonstrated humility by prostrating before the Ooni.

    He noted that the only challenge of the Yoruba traditional institution has always been fuelled by the ego of some traditional rulers.

    Oba Gbadebo said Ogunwusi’s reign and his visitations to Yoruba obas would engender the needed peace and progress of the race.

    Responding, the Ooni said the much needed unity of the Yoruba was achievable.

    He emphasised that love and unity of purpose ought to precede the much agitated progress of Yorubaland, which he promised to pursue.

  • Lagos to rehabilitate 471 roads by December

    Lagos to rehabilitate 471 roads by December

    Lagos state Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) has promised to rehabilitate 471 roads by the end of next month.

    About 282 of the roads, LSPWC General Manager Ayo Shodeinde said, had been completed, adding that work has begun on 189 roads which will be completed by next month.

    He said 117 of the roads belong to the Federal Government.

    Some of the roads being rehabilitated had been bad for up to 10 years, he said, adding: “When the governor came in, based on his promises to the people during the campaigns, he said the situation was unacceptable and we have been able to put many roads in shape.

    “We have done 282 roads since June 2015 till date. Anytime from now, we would start work on the 189 listed. We would work every day and night to ensure life is more comfortable for residents in the state.”

    He listed some of the roads rehabilitated as Metal Box Road, Acme Road inward Akilo, Ejigbo-Ikotun road, among others while some potholes were also fixed.

    Shodeinde said Alfa Nla/Capitol road in Agege, Brown Street in Oshodi, Okota road in Isolo, among others were being constructed.

    “We are doing the second asphalting on Ejigbo; the place is quite motorable now. The Ikotun-Ijegun road is 85 per cent completed because of the drainage system,” he said.

    Shodeinde said the exercise has reduced traffic congestion, pointing out that the public works gangs were on the road day and night.

    “The Governor is not sitting down; he wants all the roads in Lagos to be motorable. He wants the hard life that Lagosians are going through to be alleviated. He cannot stand Lagosians going through hardship.

    “People are testifying now that the traffic is moving. You know when the roads are good, it means economic growth, people will be able to move from one part of the state to another, transport their goods without stress, you will notice that even the hoodlums and pickpockets, they operate when there is gridlock, as far as gridlock that is being caused by potholes are concerned, we are on our feet to ensure that we put the road in order to reduce the traffic,” he said.

    He assured that by the end of December, the LSPWC would have rehabilitated more roads across the state.

    He urged the public to call 07098107021; 08023131820 and send also send enquiries@LSPWC-NG.com to draw attention to any bad road.