The Nation Newspaper

Tag: road

  • Residents to Fashola: fix our road

    Residents to Fashola: fix our road

    Residents of Ijagemo community in Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to make good his promise to improve their lot.

    Among others, they are asking the administration to fix the road leading to the community, which they claimed, “is now being plied with canoes.”

    The residents said they had complained to the council, adding that the worsening condition of the road is affecting their economic activities.

    One of the community’s leaders, Alhaji Adio Ajakaye, told The Nation: “I am a native of this community and the road has been like that since the days of my grandfather. Besides the bad road, we once groped in the dark for two years. Fashola must extend his good governance to our area.”

    Another resident, Mr Tunde Balogun, corroborated Ajakaye, saying: “It is very stressful when going out and coming into the community. I have been living here since nine years now; the road has always been used for campaign by politicians, only to forget us after the elections.”

    Mrs. Sherifat Adeoye, a trader, said most of them are scared of the roads and now carry their loads on their heads to and from their houses.

    A motorcyclist, who identified himself as Monsuru, said he, like others, had been spending more money on repairing his bike daily because of the bad road.

    Alhaji Taiwo Akintola, another elder in the community, expressed concerns over the plight of school children and the aged, noting that the problem was caused by an abandoned canal in the area.

    A source said Fashola had inspected the road, adding: “I am sure that plans are afoot to work on the road because I learnt that our chairman has been on the state government’s neck.”

  • East-West Road…The goal post is shifted again

    In Nigeria, one of the most important roads is the East-West Road. It is a major connecting road for the Niger Delta states. It stretches from Delta, to , Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states. Its bad state has affected the economic and social lives of the people living around that axis and the people using it.

    December this year was the deadly set for the completion of work on it. The Federal Government re-affirmed its commitment to ensuring the completion of the East-West Road last weekend.

    After inspecting the road for two days, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Dr. Steve Oru stressed the need to showcase the achievements of the ministry on the  strategic East-West Road.

    Oru explained that because of the importance of the road to the people of Niger Delta and Nigerians, some other on-going projects had been sacrificed to ensure the completion date was realised, adding: “Together as partners, we will complete the East-West Road project by December, 2014.”

    He added: “My mandate in the ministry is mainly to ensure the timely completion of the East-West Road. I appeal to the contractors handling the project to increase their tempo of work. The Federal Government will provide the fund to complete of the project.

    “With the level of commitment by this administration, the road would be completed by December, 2014. Some sections of the road have been completed and are due for handing over by the contractors.”

    He said people cannot judge this administration on East-West Road alone.

    The minister, who said the Federal Government was committed to the development of the Niger Delta, sought the cooperation, support and collaboration of stakeholders in the region to nip in the bud pockets of threats and kidnapping of expatriates and excessive demands by communities from contractors which often result in work stoppage.

    He commended the contractor for the quality of ongoing work on Patani Bridge and assured that the ministry would support the company to enable them speed up work.

    But by the time the Director of Operations, Setraco Nigeria Limited, which is handling the Section 1 & 2 of the project (Warri-Patani Bridge-Kaiama Bridge-Ahoada-Port Harcourt), spoke it was evident that the minister’s expected delivery date may not be possible.

    Setraco’s Director of Operations Mr. Michael Angelo said the schedule time would be extended to December next year, meaning one more year of pain and anguish for users of the road.

    Oru, however, described the December 2015 being targeted by the contractor for the completion of the Kaiama Bridge, which is like the last bit of the job, as unacceptable. He added that Setraco had the expertise to mobilise more hands and materials toward an earlier completion.

    He urged the contractors handling the construction of the 870-meter Patani Bridge and the 750-meter Kaiama Bridge to expedite action on their respective projects in order to fast track the completion of the road by December.

    The minister said: “I believe right now, you people always work in day time; if it is possible to work at night, we (Ministry) need your requirement and everything that can pump up the spirit and make the work move faster. And the ministry is ready to back the contractor up in actualising this dream.”

    On Section 3; (Port Harcourt – Eket) in Rivers/Akwa-Ibom states, Dr. Oru said that the quality of work done by Reynolds Construction Company (Nig.) Ltd. (RCC) so far has been very satisfactory while RCC promised to complete that section at due time.

    While on Eket-Oron, the Minister congratulated the Project Manager, GITTO handling the section 4 of East-West Road, Chief Ghanem Rasibel for doing a good job.

    “The tempo has however increased but still not to expectation, the completion is our priority,” he said.

    The way things are, it will be a miracle for Setraco to complete the work this December having asked for one year extension. It is doubtful if it can reverse its decision even by adding more hands and working 24 hours daily.

    In a nutshell, the goal post has been shifted and no one can vouch if it will not be shifted again. The pain continues and victory is certain!

     

  • ‘East-West road ready by Dec.’

    ‘East-West road ready by Dec.’

    The East-West Road will be ready by December, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Dr. Steve Oru said at the weekend.

    Speaking during a two-day inspection tour of the road, Oru said some other projects had been suspended to meet up with the December deadline.

    The minister also inspected work at the skill acquisition centres in Otuoke, Bayelsa State and Iwuoachang, Akwa-Ibom State.

    He said: “The road would be completed by December. Some sections of the road have been completed and are due for handing over by the contractors.”

    Oru said the Federal Government was committed to developing the Niger Delta and sought the cooperation of stakeholders in curbing the kidnapping of contractors.

    He lauded the quality of ongoing work on the Patani Bridge and urged the contractor to ensure that the bridge is ready by December.

  • Get off the road

    Get off the road

    The tricycle has proved it has the right of way in this contest (?) The race is not for the mighty…you might say.

    Photo: MUYIWA HASSAN

  • Ajimobi in Oyo, promises to complete road dualization October

    Ajimobi in Oyo, promises to complete road dualization October

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has assured that the Iseyin-Owode-Palace Road currently being dualized will be completed by October, even as he promised to construct a befitting palace for the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.

    The governor gave the assurance while addressing the people of the state at the arcade of the Alaafin  in Oyo town yesterday.

    Governor Ajimobi had earlier joined Oba Adeyemi, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, members of the State Executive Council and other dignitaries to observe the Jumat Service at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque in the town where he admonished  the worshippers to continue to support  and pray for the success of his administration.

    He told the mammoth crowd who had thronged the palace to welcome him to the ancient town that work on the dualization of the Oyo township road was a bit delayed due to variations in the projects and some other logistics.

    Although he said the road project was initially billed to be completed by August, he, however, assured that it would be completed latest by October.

    The governor also disclosed that the contract for the radio station being proposed for  Oyo town named Atiba FM would be formally awarded next week, adding that government had concluded negotiations with some Chinese partners that would handle the project.

    He promised that the radio station, when it eventually comes on stream, would have the latest broadcasting equipment that would make it a reference point in broadcasting in Nigeria.

    Governor Ajimobi also promised that the popular Atiba Hall, rehabilitated by the immediate past administration, but which is currently in a state of disrepair, would be rehabilitated and made befitting, while rehabilitation work had already reached an advanced state at the Durbar Stadium.

    He said the two waterworks in Oyo town were currently being expanded, adding that when completed, they would be working at 95 per cent capacity and that the whole of the town would have regular water supply.

  • Youths block Benin/Lokoja road

    Youths from Ehor in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State blocked the Benin/Okene Road yesterday.

    They were protesting the over four-month blackout in the community.

    Their spokesman, Osaghae Mark, said they had made several complaints to both Benin and Ekpoma branches of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    He said: “The problem is that for the past five months now we have not had light. Some areas have light; other areas don’t.

    “We have been asking BEDC why. They said our transformer is bad. Four months ago, they brought new transformer to us. They refused to fix the transformer; yet they still bring bills.”

    BEDC spokesperson Curtis Nwade said he was not aware of the protest.

  • Ihedioha assures on Owerri-Port Harcourt Road

    Ihedioha assures on Owerri-Port Harcourt Road

    Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has assured on timely completion of the ongoing Owerri-Elele Road dual carriage way, saying the sum of N3.5 billion has been provided in this year’s  budget for the project.

    He spoke when he inspected the ongoing project, even as he regretted the delay in completion of the project which he attributed to funding. He assured that the Federal Government is committed to the completion of the road.

    “This is one of the major projects that will link Imo State with other coastal states of the Niger Delta and indeed trigger economic development. Therefore, the Federal Government is committed to its timely completion,” he said.

    While advising contractors on quality delivery of projects, Hon. Ihedioha said he would continue to embark on inspection visits to the area until the project is completed. He urged the contractors to immediately repair the collapsed portions of the road to cushion the effects of road users while the construction progresses.

    In another development, the people of Nwangele, Isu, and Njaba local government areas of Orlu Senatorial zone in Imo State were ecstatic as the Deputy Speaker who is a gubernatorial hopeful under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP took his consultation tours to the areas with the message of emancipation, rebuilding and restoring the dignity of Imo from the clutches of bad governance.

    Hon. Ihedioha regretted that Imo, under the incumbent leadership, is weak, unhealthy and collapsing due to bad governance and needs deliberate steps to get a person who will give Ndi Imo quality leadership.

    He said Imo people should not be sentimental with their votes but to support a man who has the capacity to provide quality leadership as he believes not in nepotism but in those who can perform, assuring that if voted into power as governor, he will embark on rapid rural development.

    “Only a candidate with antecedents, an honest person with competence and capacity can fix Imo State and I am well prepared to do that,” Ihedioha stated. Addressing the people of Nwangele, the South East Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives Hon Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi from Enugu State noted that the mammoth crowd that received Ihedioha is a demonstration that PDP is, indeed the party on ground in the state, noting that what happened in the state in 2011 was a minor setback that must be corrected.

    He stressed that he has no doubt that come 2015, with Hon. Ihedioha; PDP will make a triumphant entry back to Imo Douglas House.

    Earlier, the members representing Nkwerre/Nwangele/Isu/Njaba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Jones Onyereri and his counterpart from Ohaji Egbema/Oguta/ Oru East Federal Constituency, Hon. Irona, had informed the people that Ihedioha is the consensus candidate of all members of the House of Representatives from Imo State and Southeast for the governorship of Imo State.

    They described Ihedioha as a selfless, courageous man, a bridge builder who has been of great assistance to all they have attracted to their various constituencies and in the entire state.

  • FCT MINISTER: Complete Karshi-Apo Road

    FCT MINISTER: Complete Karshi-Apo Road

    I must commend the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, for his transformation agenda to give the territory a facelift.

    The minister is working, and my advice is that he should not relent in his efforts in this respect.

    As the minister goes on with his transformation, he should not forget to complete the road that links karshi Satellite Town and Apo, that is, the Karshi-Apo Road.

    This road, among other benefits, will ease the traffic jam on the Abuja-Nyanya-Mararaba Road.

    The people in Karshi Satellite Town are your supporters. They are solidly behind your transformation agenda and political activities.

    We are expecting action soon on the road.

     

    R. B Kefas,

    Karshi Satellite Town,

  • GOVERNOR ELECHI: Give us electricity and fix our road

    GOVERNOR ELECHI: Give us electricity and fix our road

    I am calling a Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State to bail out the people of Ezza Ndiagu Ogbuinyagu in the Ezza North Local Government Area from their problems.

    We do not have electricity, and our major road is very bad. We have been living in darkness which has further created more problems for us.

    Motorists and other road users in the community have abandoned our only major road which runs from Ntezi to Ivo. We are not happy with this.

    To bring our problems to an end, Governor Elechi must swing into action by awarding contracts that will put our roads in good shape and provide electricity for us.

    All our neighbouring communities are enjoying dividends of democracy. We also need them. It is my hope that our governor will give us.

     

    Ezaka Abel, UNICAL.

  • Repair Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road

    Repair Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road

    This is an appeal to Governor Theodore A Orji who has been ruling Abia State with wisdom and patriotism, two attributes which make a governor great.

    He has done a lot for the poor through his progressive ideas which have successfully transformed the state. I must commend the good governor for making dividends of democracy available to the masses of the state.

    But there is one important thing I want the governor to do for my people. I want him to repair the Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road. This is a major road in Abia State.

    People of the state will not forget you, if you put the road in good shape.

    Therefore, I am expecting work to start on the road soon.

    Pastor Akpan,

    Vice Chancellor’s Office,