The Senate yesterday said it would pass the controversial Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) this week.
It said passage of the MTEF and FSP will enable it to commence consideration and passage of the 2017 budget.
It said the consideration of the report of the Committee on Finance on the 2017 to 2019 MTEF and FSP, in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 will be top priority.
The passage of the MTEF has held up commencement of work on the 2017 budget proposals which had earlier been slated for last week.
The upper chamber also said that it would occupy itself with the amendment of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and the Universal Basic Education Act.
The ministerial briefing on the proposed closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, will dominate discussion at its three day plenary sittings, the Senate said.
This is contained in the notice paper released by the office of the chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Baba Kaka Garbai.
It said following the decision to invite the Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), representatives of the company billed to handle the repair of the runway of the airport, Julius Berger, Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika as well as heads of the security agencies, discussions on the proposed closure will continue today.
Tag: Senate
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Senate to pass MTEF this week
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Senate, minister’s parley on Abuja Airport repairs deadlocked
… Project to gulp N5.8bn
The interaction between the Senate and Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, on the proposed closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, ended in deadlock on Thursday.
The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, said discussion on the matter resumes will next Tuesday.
The inability of Sirika to give the Senate the exact cost of the repair works made the Senate to ask the minister to come back with the vital information on Tuesday.
Sirika, Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bello Mohammed, Chief of Air Staff, Managing Director of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and others were invited by the Senate to furnish the upper chamber with detailed explanation on why the airport will be closed for six weeks.
Sirika told the lawmakers that the Federal Government planned to fix the airport dilapidated runway.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, asked Sirika to furnish the Senate with the cost of the repair work and the cost of ferrying passengers from Kaduna to Abuja during the closure of airport.
Ekweremadu said, “Mr. Minister, can you please give us the cost of the repair works and the breakdown of the financial cost? Specifically how much you intend to spend in conveying passengers from Kaduna Airport to Abuja during the closure of Abuja Airport? We need to know.”
The minister put the cost of the project at N5.8 billion.
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Senate: Full list of APC caucus who signed Ndume’s removal
The caucus of the All Progressive Congress who signed the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as leader of the senate included 39 out of 63 Senators in the 109-member Senate.
Recall that the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday announced Ndume’s removal shortly before the upper legislative chamber adjourned plenary.
Saraki made the announcement following a letter he received from the APC caucus titled; ‘Notice of Vote of No Confidence/Change of Leadership’ in which the caucus requested for a change in the leadership.
The letter which contained the list of Senators (See same below) who appended their signatures was captured in the Senate’s votes and proceedings of Tuesday, approved on Wednesday.
Full List of the APC Caucus:
- Donald Alasoadura, Ondo Central
- Rafiu Adebayo, Kwara South
- Jibrin Barau, Kano North
- Baba Garbai, Borno Central
- Dino Melaye, Kogi West
- Abubakar Yusuf, Taraba Central
- Benjamin Uwajumogu, Imo North
- Mustapha Bukar, Katsina North
- Joshua Dariye, Plateau Central
- Ibrahim Gobir, Sokoto North
- Shaba Lafiagi, Kwara South
- Ibrahim Abdullahi, Sokoto South
- Francis Alimikhena, Edo Central
- Suleiman Nazif, Bauchi North
- Usman Nafada, Gombe North
- Kabiru Marafa, Zamfara Central
- Olugbenga Ashafa, Lagos East
- Tijjani Kaura, Zamfara North
- Suleiman Hunkuyi, Kaduna North
- Ubali Shittu, Jigawa Northeast
- Shehu Sani, Kaduna Central
- Magnus Abe, Rivers Southeast
- Aliyu Abdullahi, Niger North;
- Umaru Kurfi, Katsina Central
- Isa Misau, Bauchi Central
- Babajide Omoworare, Osun East
- Yahaya Abdullahi, Kebbi North
- Kabiru Gaya, Kano South
- Ali Wakili, Bauchi South
- Ahmed Yarima, Zamfara West
- Sabo Mohammed, Jigawa Southwest
- Ahmed Lawan, Yobe North
- Olarenwaju Tejuoso, Ogun Central
- David Umaru, Niger South
- Abdullahi Gumel, Jigawa Northwest
- Monsurat Sunmonu, Oyo Central
- Binta Masi, Adamawa North
- Danjuma Goje, Gombe Central, and
- Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano Central.
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Senate confirms Ayine as federal auditor general
The Senate yesterday confirmed nomination of Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine as federal auditor general.
This followed the report by its Public Accounts Committee, led by Andy Uba, on Tuesday.
Uba said there were petitions against Ayine’s nomination, but argued that none raised issues about the competence of the nominee.
Objection raised by Senator Binta Garba (APC-Adamawa), concerning some issues in the petitions were waived by lawmakers.
Part of Garba’s arguments was that Ayine is a relation of the incumbent Federal Head of Service Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, and that she influenced his nomination.
Garba pointed out the anomaly in confirming Ayine, who was on Grade Level 13 in the service of a Local Government in Cross River State.
The position of federal auditor general is a Grade Level 17 appointment, more so as the new man would preside over officials of Grade Level 15 and above.
Garba said: “Given his position as ‘local government auditor’, he would be placed at Grade Level (GL) 14 after conversion to federal service, whereas the law specifies GL 17 as requirement for the Office of Federal Auditor-General”.
But Minority leader Godswill Akpabio rose in Ayine’s defence, saying many of the petitions referred to by Garba were misleading.
Akpabio said Ayine was a state’s auditor in charge of the local governments in Cross River State, and not an auditor for one local government.
He added that after confirmation, Ayine would move to Grade Level 17, which he said, was at par with a permanent secretary.
The Senate Majority Leader, Ahmed Lawan (Yobe) and George Sekibo (Rivers), agreed with Akpabio’s submissions.
They pleaded with their colleagues to confirm the nominee, saying his nomination went through oral and written interviews.
His nomination received the support of lawmakers when Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu called for voice vote.
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Anthony Ayine confirmed as Auditor- General of the Federation
The Senate on Wednesday in Abuja confirmed Mr Anthony Ayine as new Auditor-General of the Federation.
This followed presentation of the report of his screening by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Sen. Andy Uba at plenary.
Ayine was confirmed in a voice vote, after deliberation on petitions written against his suitability for the position.
Presenting the report, Uba admitted that petitions were brought before the committee prior to Ayine’s screening.
He said that the petitions bothered on his suitability for the position in view of the fact that he was an auditor general for local government in Cross River among other reasons.
Contributing, Sen. Binta Masi (APC-Adamawa), said it was necessary for the Senate to take a critical look at the petitions before taking any decision on his confirmation.
According to her, some of the reasons adduced in the petitions include the fact that Ayine is related to the Head of Civil Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita.
“The petitioners said that Ayine was an Auditor-General of a Local Government in Cross River and that if he was to be converted to Federal Civil Service, he would be on grade level 14 and that he ought to be on level 17.
“Also, that the Head of Civil Service, Mrs Oyo-Ita, is a cousin and that Ayine and acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr Walter Onnoghen, who hails from Cross River , negating the spirit of Federal Character.
“So I think we should critic it,’’ she said.
However, the minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio made some clarifications on the qualification of Mr Ayine.
“In my little brief comment, I want to give clarification. The appointment is not a promotion sent by Mr President and we are not considering elevation or change of service.
“The position was advertised nationally and internationally and he was the best in terms of qualification, capability and others.
The issues raised here was raised and president in his wisdom still chose him.
“Besides Ayine was on salary level equivalent to a Permanent Secretary.
“The appointment of auditor general of local government does not mean he is for one local government but all local governments combined.
“Equally, where he comes from does not matter. He came top in written and oral interview.
“The country advertised the position, he went through due process, so it will be wrong to set another examination for him.
“I want to say that when we have a committee that takes a lot of things into cognizance and comes up with recommendation we should not question it.’’
Akpabio said a similar scenario played out in the past when unwarranted petitions against a nominee caused the nominee a job she was qualified for.
He stressed that, “I will not like to see another Nigerian destroyed here’’.
The Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, said similar petitions came up when he was Senate Chairman on Public Accounts but were dismissed for lack of credit.
He called on the senate to confirm Ayine in view of his competence to handle the position, particularly in view of the continued fight against corruption.
“I have looked at the three reasons why the petitioners don’t want him to be confirmed. It is the prerogative of the president.
“ That he is even the auditor general for local government makes him very qualified for the position because it is the most complex work to do,’’ he said.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, while presiding over plenary, congratulated My Ayine for emerging the Auditor-General of the Federation.
He urged him to put in his best to help reposition the economy in that capacity.
“We believe that his entrant will strengthen the position, especially now that the country is fighting corruption.
“I hope, he will work with our committee on Public Accounts for proper collaboration.
“We wish him good luck going forward and I commend the committee for doing a thorough job,’’ he said.
Ekweremadu urged Nigerians to always verify their facts before writing petitions against public office holders, adding that Ayine was not from the same Senatorial District with the Head of Service.
He stressed that “sometimes people give information to destroy others’’.
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Senate raises probe panel on Southern Kaduna killings
The Senate yesterday resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the Southern Kaduna crisis.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Danjuma La’ah titled: “The recent killings in Southern Kaduna”.
Senate said the investigation would cover other parts of the country with similar experiences.
Senator La’ah noted that since 2011, various communities in Southern Kaduna had been consistently attacked by herdsmen, resulting in deaths, injuries, loss of property and displacement of communities.
According to the lawmaker, on December 23, and “even as we speak, communities of Ambam, Gaska, Dangoma, Tsonje, Pasankori, Gidan Waya and Farin Gada of Jama’a and Kaura Local Government Areas have been under serious attack by the herdsmen, resulting in deaths, injuries, and wanton destruction of property worth billions of naira”.
La’ah noted that the killings amounted to violations of the right to life, security of human persons, the respect of dignity inherent in human beings and right to property, not only guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, but also in the African Charter on human and people’s right and the international convention on Civil and Political Right, of which Nigeria is a party.
He noted that “this deliberate systematic killing demands the awakening of Nigerians to avoid a repeat of what happened in Darfur, Sudan.”
La’ah prayed the Senate to observe a minute silence for the repose of the souls of the deceased, and called on the Federal Government to take measures to secure the right to life, to security and dignity of human persons, and right to property of citizens of Southern Kaduna, and to prevent further attacks on the region.
He also urged the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killings and to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, as well as provide respite to victims.
The lawmaker also prayed the Senate to urge the Federal Government to rebuild the ravaged city of Southern Kaduna; and to establish a Joint Security Patrol of Military, Police, Civil Defence and Civilian JTF for constant patrols and surveillance of affected areas.
Senate President Bukola Saraki thanked La’ah for bringing the motion. He noted that it was the responsibility of the Senate to work to ensure peace and stability in the country. -
Senate invites Amaechi, Fashola, others over Abuja airport
THE Senate yesterday summoned the Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi, Works, Power and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola and Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika over the Federal Government’s plan to shut down the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja for repairs of its runway.
Others also invited to the meeting by the Senate Committee on Aviation within two days include Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Chief of Air Staff and the Managing Directors of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Those invited are required to meet with the committee to provide details on the planned closure as well as to explore other options, rather than a total closure of the airport.
The invitation followed the adoption of a motion on “The planned closure of the Abuja Airport”, which was sponsored by Senator Hope Uzodinma (lmo West) and five others.
Uzodinma, in his lead debate, prayed the Senate to note with concern the decision of FAAN to close the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for six weeks beginning from March 6.
The lawmaker noted that he was informed that the essence of the said closure is to carry out repairs on the only runway at the airport, which is reported to be in a deplorable state.
He expressed worry that a six-week outright closure of a major and the only airport in the nation’s Federal Capital could trigger untold hardships on international and local air travellers and consequently dent the nation’s image.
He noted that a complete shut-down of the airport would impact negatively on international trade and related activities, with a multiplier effect that could exact further pressure on an already recessed national economy.
Uzodinma said the diversion of Abuja bound flights to Kaduna will throw up logistics and security challenges, including endangering the lives and properties of international and local air travelers, who will be forced to travel by land from Kaduna to Abuja.
He noted that he was satisfied that all the options have not been exhausted to avoid the shutdown of the airport, including the option of a technical package to allow skeletal air operations at the airport while most repair work on the runway is executed at night.
The senator added that major repairs in the past have been carried out without closure of the airport. “One more major repair without closure will afford the government the needed time for the construction of a second run-way as a permanent solution,” he said.
The government, he said, should be prevailed upon to explore other possible options that could avert the planned total closure of a strategic national airport as Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport with all its attendant consequences, including breach of international conventions and treaties.
Uzodinma prayed that Senate to accordingly resolve to invite the Minister of Transportation, Minister of State, Aviation, Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Minister of FCT, the Chief of Air Staff and the Managing Director FAAN and NAMA to meet with the Senate and provide details on the planned closure as well as to explore other options that can avoid a total closure of the airport.
The prayer was unanimously adopted. -
Senate, SGF may clash over Auditor General nominee
The Senate may again be heading for a collusion course with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal over Auditor General nominee, Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine.
The upper legislative chamber is currently at loggerheads with Lawal over alleged contract scam involving funds from the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE).
Following a report of investigation by a Senate ad hoc committee on Investigation of Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East, the Senate had called for the removal and prosecution of the SGF.
In what appears to be another brewing friction with Lawal, the Senate is said to have received a floodgate of petitions by interested parties citing alleged manipulation that characterised the nomination of the Auditor General.
The Senate had listed Ayine’s nomination on its Order Paper on December 15, 2016 for consideration, but had skipped the item at the last minute. No reasons were given for the action.
In one of the petitions to the Senate by the Network Against Impunity (NAI), copies of which were circulated in Abuja on Monday, the NAI said Ayine was not one of the three candidates submitted to the SGF for consideration as Auditor General.
The petition, dated December 23, 2016 and signed by the National Coordinator of the NAI, Comrade Yakubu Adagba, alleged that the original list of shortlisted candidates was substituted by the SGF before the nomination got to the Senate.
Adagba, had in the petition, alleged connivance of a high ranking official in the office of Head of Service of the Federation with the SGF to forward the name of a preferred candidate outside the shortlisted names.
The petition partly stated, “In the first place, Mr. Ayine was not one of the three candidates originally shortlisted for the position of Auditor-General by the Federal Civil Service Commission that conducted oral and written interviews for the candidates.
“The original list of the three shortlisted candidates forwarded to the SGF by the FCSC, was jettisoned by the SGF who substituted the list and presented a different list of nominees to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Therefore, Ayine’s confirmation request pending before the Senate is nothing but a cash-and-carry deal, packaged by the SGF and about to be rubber-stamped by the Senate.
“Consequently, the Senate is enjoined to tarry a while and should not confirm Mr. Ayine in a hurry, to avoid giving legislative backing to official impunity.
“Due diligence and proper investigation by the Senate will save the nation the misfortune of installing a wrong candidate in an establishment as sensitive as the office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.
“To establish authenticity or otherwise of the nominee, we charge the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to demand the records of the screening exercise conducted by the Federal Civil Service Commission for scrutiny”.
Shortly before proceeding on recess in December, the Senate had called for the sack and prosecution of the SGF, citing illegal award of contract and payment of over N200 million to Rholavision Engineering Limited, a firm in which Lawal has substantial interest.
The company was said to have been awarded inflated and phantom contracts of over N200 million, from funds dedicated to the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) for clearing invasive plant species in Yobe State.
Although SGF has continued to deny wrongdoing in the alleged contract scam, President Muhammadu Buhari had referred his case to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami for investigation. -
Senate, SGF and the real “grass cutters”
There have been wild reactions, public outcry, social media memes and even protest, following the Senate’s subtle indictment of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawan, for corruption and misapplication of Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) funds.
I initially also joined the frenzy, fumed, issued ultimatum and vowed to join a street protest to force the Federal Government to take decisive action against those involved in the diversion of funds meant for the IDPs.
Having spent several years in both public service and civil society, and participated in almost all protests and peaceful demonstrations to champion the cause of a common man, my conscience is always the guiding light of my actions. Being an active member of Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN), I decided to join other NGOs for a fact-finding mission in the North East.
Documents at our disposal indicate that the contract was clearly stated as: “Award of Contract for the Removal of Inversive (invasive) plants along River Channels & 115 Hectares of Simplified Village Irrigation Operation In Yobe State”.
The documents show that the contract was not awarded to Rholavision, the company linked to the SGF but to Josmon Technologies Limited with address at 9, Moputo Street, 3RD Floor, Fames-Jal Plaza, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. The letter of award of the contract with the title stated above, which was signed by Aminu Ahmed, (Head of Procurement PINE) states: “I wish to refer to your quotation on the above subject and convey approval for the award of contract for the Removal of Inversive (sic) Plant Species along River channels and 115 Hectares of Simplified village Irrigation Operation in Yobe State to your company at the total cost of Two Hundred and Seventy-Two Million, Five Hundred and Twenty –Four Thousand ,Three Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira, Two Kobo (N272,524,356.02) only, inclusive of 5% VAT with a completion Period of Three (3) weeks”.
Again, we found out from the document from PINE that Rholavision was not the main contractor that got the job. It was engaged only as a consultant even though the Senate Committee created the impression that the company of the SGF executed the contract.
The letter from PINE was titled: “Award of Contract For The Engagement of MSSRS Rholavision Engineering Limited As A Consultant” and reads: “ I wish to convey to you the approval for award of contract to you as a Consultant on Removal of Invasive Plant Specie along River Channels and 115 Hectares of Simplified Village Irrigation Operation in Yobe State at the cost of Seven Million, Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixteen Naira, Ninety-Six kobo (7,009,516.96) only, inclusive of all taxes, for the period of six (6) Weeks…”
The letter was also signed by Aminu Ahmed, (Head of Procurement, PINE).
From the foregoing we were able to verify even from the documents that the contract in question has nothing to do with grass cutting at any IDP camp, but of course it was to clear invasive plants in river channels which will aid the rehabilitation of IDPs by enabling easy flow of water through the channels to help fishing activities, enable proper irrigation for farming activities, and eliminate flooding for the communities during rainy season, when they return home from the camps after being displaced by Boko Haram insurgency.
During the course of our investigations with PINE, we were made to understand that Rholavision Engineering Nigeria Limited were co-opted into the project as consultants based on their past successful work in the North East. The provided verifiable evidence showing that the company had been engaged in the clearing of the thypa grass from the Hadejia/Jamaare River Basin in 2013, a contract they executed for the African Development Bank (ADB).
Our findings revealed that corruption which usually trails federal contracts channelled to states is at the heart of this crisis. We found out that some officials of one of the states in the region do not want PINE contracts awarded to independent companies, but rather that the funds from PINE should be allocated to their state through them directly. We understand this is why one of the state government officials specifically told the Senate Committee that PINE had not done anything in their state despite clear evidence of clearing/evacuation of invasive plant species & irrigation operation on 115 Hectares of land.
Our goal was to find out if indeed any work has been done at all. Remember that the work in question is the intervention by PINE within the Hadeja-Nguru wetlands, spanning an area of 3,500sqkm, made up of 12 Local Governments from three states (Yobe, Jigawa, & Bauchi).
The intervention work involves manual channel removal of aquatic weeds (typha & other), simplified irrigation scheme, provision of motorized & manual boats, & construction of water control gates.
CATBAN alongside the local NGOs went to the Likori Bridge in Marma Channel on the Hadejia River. We found the first project sign post which consists of the contractors’ & consultants’ details. In order to see for ourselves the level of improvement as a result of the invention work, we took a boat down into the water canals that were previously overgrown with thypa grass. We paddled towards Burwa Fadama under Kabak community which subsequently led down Nguru Lake. It was at that point we gathered that at that part of Marma channel some communities were wiped out. Examples of such communities are Kakayau village, Matara Gari Gana, Duwa Kaku. Also down the Marma Channel within Yobe State, communities like, Sabon Gari, Araro, Maja Kakori, etc were also wiped out.
The Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip was said to have visited Yobe and Jigawa States in 1988 in trail of birds from the Palace in England and spoke about the thypa grass.
The claims that it was meant to clear grass in IDP camp or that nothing has been done are nothing but unfortunate. That the company which executed the project gave kickback to the SGF to the tune of N195million is also false, because in the first instance, the contract was executed and the scope of their job entailed not only the clearing of the invasive plans but also sinking of 115 boreholes, laying of pipes across 155 hectares for irrigation, provision of aquatic pumps and supply of boats. If they then give N195 million as kickback from a contract of N240m, what then did they execute the project with? It simply would mean the project was given them as a free source to make money, which contradicts the fact that the projects were genuinely executed.
We will like to advice government not to allow the people suffer more hardship due to elite politics, as there is the need for regular monitoring of the thypa grass on water to avoid further blockage after the recent opening up of the channels facilitated by PINE.
•Hanga is Director of Mobilisation at CATBAN. -
Inheritance Bill: Auchi monarch threatens Jihad against Senate
the Otaru of Auchi in Estako West Local Government Edo State, HRH Aliru Momoh, the Ikelebe III, has threatened to lead a jihad against the Senate over its proposed Inheritance Bill.
The Otaru, who is the state chairman of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), noted that issues bordering on inheritance have been concluded in the Holy Qur’an.
Speaking at the 20th Auchi Day annual celebration, HRH Momoh said nobody could alter anything about inheritance, which had been passed over 1,400 years ago by the Almighty God in the Qur’an.
The monarch noted that he has a committee in his kingdom deals with the sharing of inheritance to ensure justice in accordance with the Quran.
He warned of dire consequences, if anybody tampered with inheritance matters, as given by God.
Momoh said: “The issue of inheritance has been passed over 1,400 years ago by the Almighty God in the Qur’an. Who is capable of altering that?
“If anything, I believe sincerely it is a joke. But if it is not, I will lead a spiritual jihad against the Senate, should they alter the issue of inheritance as dictated by the Qur’an. Who are they?
“A lot of us have the volition to do what we like but those volitions are limited in the sense that the human brain cannot surpass what has been explained by Almighty God.
“Nigeria is at peace. The peace we prayed for is gradually coming to us. Boko Haram is gone; the Avengers have been diminished.”
The Otaru hoped that President Muhammadu Buhari would lead the country to glory because of his integrity.
He urged Nigerians to embrace the policies and programmes of the Buhari administration to enhance national development.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, who was represented by the chairman of the state’s Inland Revenue Service, Chief Oseni Elamah, urged Auchi indigenes to key into his Reform agenda, especially in agriculture and solid minerals.
Obaseki promised to revamp the Auchi Fertiliser Company as well build roads in the area.