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FG sets up legal team for Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
The Federal Government has set up a legal team to address the numerous court cases impacting the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, Minister of Works David Umahi has said.
He said the decision was crucial as the litigations risk delaying the timely completion of the legacy road project.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu has also approved compensation for property owners along the project corridor, including those with unauthorized structures, adding that the initiative was aimed at resolving legal obstacles and ensuring smooth project execution.
Umahi shared the updates during an inspection and verification tour of Sections I and II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with members of the National Assembly Committees on Works, where the lawmakers expressed their commitment to supporting the scheduled completion of the 700-kilometer project.
Section I of the project is 103 kilometres in length and falls entirely within the Lagos State border.
However, a phased execution of the project was adopted, for ease of construction beginning with Phase 1 of Section I, which is 47.4 kilometres in length; Ch.0+000 (Ahmadu Bello Way Junction, Victoria Island) – Ch. 47+474 (Eleko Village Junction).
Phase 1, Section II has a total length of 55.6 kilometres beginning from Ch. 47+474 – Ch. 103 + 000 (Ode – Omi, Lagos-Ogun Border.)
At the project site, Umahi urged the lawmakers to advise other National Assembly Committees to consult the Ministry before summoning its officials over what he described as “frivolous matters” related to the project.
While lamenting that numerous court cases and petitions are impeding progress on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Minister revealed that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice had established a legal team to address all pending cases.
In a statement by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, on Saturday, disclosed on behalf of the Minister that President Tinubu had approved the payment of compensation to owners of properties within the project’s corridor, even to those with illegal structures.
While urging the aggrieved to approach the courts to seek redress like others had done, Umahi appealed to aggrieved parties to refrain from politicizing the project.
“We have a lot of people who are not interested in this job being done. Everything the government wants to do, some people want to thwart it,” he said.
On Section II of the project, the Minister also informed the visiting legislators that the President had also approved the extension of the 7th Axial Road passing through the Dangote Refinery, Lekki Free Trade Zone, and the Deep Sea Port, built by Messrs Dangote Industries, on Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, to be linked with the Coastal Highway.
According to him, the two sections will be linked via a cable bridge, as obtained in other climes like Dubai, UAE.
Responding, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Mpigi Barinada disclosed that his Committee was convinced that the project was at no point abandoned, as speculated by some mischievous Nigerians, while urging the Ministry not to hesitate in approaching them on any thorny issue concerning the project.
He, however, appealed to the Minister to urgently consider the other sections of the highway passing through the Niger Delta, being an indigene of the zone.
On his part, the Chairman, House Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi pledged the commitment and support of members and the leadership of the House to see to the successful and scheduled completion of the project.
He also appreciated and commended Mr. President for the legacy project, which will boost socio-economic activities, as well as the Minister’s “can-do spirit.”
The Minority Whip of the Senate and a member of the Committee, Sen. Osita Ngwu prompted the Ministry to regularly update Nigerians about the pace of the project.
Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Onyechachi Nwebonyi, who described the project as a “game changer” commended the President, the Minister, and the contractor, noting that the project will bring the economy back, as well as benefit Nigerians, tremendously.
The Managing Director of the construction company, Mr. Dany Abboud assured the team of the availability of adequate manpower and state-of-the-art equipment to complete the project, in line with designed specifications and timelines, promising to take them on an inspection of their yard.
NASS passes vote of confidence in Umahi
Meanwhile, the National Assembly and Joint Committee on Works has passed a vote of confidence in the Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi, affirming the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a work in progress.
The joint committee members passed the vote of confidence in Umahi when he led them on an on-the-site assessment of the ongoing infrastructure projects on Friday in Lagos.
The members assured the Ministry of Works of adequate support amidst petitions allegedly slowing down the pace of work on the coastal road.
They commended President Bola Tinubu for the project they unanimously endorsed as a legacy for his administration.
The legacy project, they said, was designed to cut across all regions of the country, with high economic benefits.
Stakeholders, Minister disagree
In another development, stakeholders and indigenes of the Okun Ajah community, Saturday, disagreed with Umahi during a tour of the site of the construction by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Works.
The minister, while briefing the House of Representatives committee members in the presence of some stakeholders at Eleko Beach, said that the road was diverted in Okun Ajah because of submarine cable.
This declaration, however, generated uproar from stakeholders, who shouted that “there is no marine cable in Okun Ajah .”
Reacting, the minister said: “When we got to Okun Ajah at KM 16, we discovered that we have a lot of network cables, MTN, Africa Network that is coming from the ocean. Many people do not understand that. Twenty-five years ago, these cables were not there. Now they are there.”
Buttressing his point, the minister explained that about one month ago, there was a cable challenge that disrupted the network throughout the entire West Africa, adding that in order not to go through that challenge again, the ministry met with the stakeholders and a decision to divert the Coastal Road was taken.
“So when you hear people talking that we left the gazetted corridor, it is for this reason because you are talking of a multi-billion naira cable network at that location.
“We have to divert at Kilometres 16 and we now resurface at Kilometres 25. That is why you have been hearing all sorts of things. “
He insisted that the government had finalized the corridor, and “there is no change on that corridor again,” he said.
One of the stakeholders, Yusuf Odunuga appealed to the minister to use the opportunity of the road construction to save the heritage of the people of Okun Ajah from Ocean surge.
Odunuga, who is an indigene of Okun Ajah also insisted that the cables are in Okun Mopo, which is many kilometers away from the community.
He said ” Oga, I know it very sure, the cable you mentioned is on Kilometre 23, please use a stone to kill two birds. Save our community from Ocean surge by diverting the road to block the surge of the ocean.”
One of the investors, Arc Ejiro Asholami said that he would be losing more than N40 million (Forty million naira) to the diversion of the road, which is no fault of his.
Umahi, stakeholders meet in Lagos
Meanwhile, the National Assembly Joint Committee on Works and the Federal Ministry of Works will hold a stakeholder engagement meeting on the ongoing Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, announced the meeting in a press statement released on Friday in Lagos.
Expected at the parley, which holds at Orchid Hall, Eko Hotel, Lagos at 12 pm, are representatives of renowned firms in the construction industry, government officials, community leaders, and civil society groups.
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi will brief the gathering on the progress of the coastal road, a legacy project of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government, and also receive feedbacks from the public.
A similar meeting on the project was held last week in Akure , Ondo State.
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SEE Black Market Dollar (USD) To Naira (NGN) Exchange Rate Today, 22 November 2024
The black market dollar to Naira exchange rate on Friday 22 November 2024 can be accessed below.
NewsOnline Nigeria has obtained the official naira black market exchange rate in Nigeria today including the Black Market rates, Bureau De Change (BDC), and CBN rates. Please note that the exchange rate is subject to hourly fluctuations influenced by the supply and demand of dollars in the market. As of now, you can purchase 1 dollar at a certain rate now, however, it’s important to remember that the rate can shift (either upwards or downwards) within hours.
How much is a dollar to naira today in the black market?
Dollar to naira exchange rate today black market (Aboki dollar rate):
According to Bureau De Change (BDC) sources, the exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players bought a dollar for N1710 and sold it for N1750 on Friday, November 22, 2024.
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Buying Rate N1730
Selling Rate N1740
Dollar to Naira CBN Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) CBN Rate Today
Buying Rate N1745
Selling Rate N1750
Please note that the rates you buy or sell forex may be different from what is captured in this article because prices vary.
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Simon Ekpa to Face Extradition, DHQ Declares
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has declared that Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed prime minister of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will be extradited to the country to face charges against him.
Speaking on the arrest of Ekpa in a short press statement made available to journalisrs, the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Chris Musa, was pleased with Ekpa’s trial.
Gusau wrote: “CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice.”
Recall that the Finland district court in Lahti had ordered the remand of Simon Ekpa on probable cause for public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent in Nigeria. Ekpa was accused of using social media platforms to spread separatist propaganda linked to IPOB, a group advocating for the secession of southeastern Nigeria.
The court alleged that the offences dated back to August 23, 2021. Finland authorities have also investigated Ekpa in the past for alleged financial crimes, including the collection of funds through questionable means.
The head of the investigation, crime commissioner Otto Hiltunen of the Central Criminal Police, stated, “The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland with means that have led to vi3lence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria. The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
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Oil theft: DHQ rubbishes Tompolo’s allegation against Navy
Defence Headquarters, Thursday, described as ‘laughable’, allegation by Chairman, Tantitta Security Services, Mr Government Ekpemuopolo, alias Tompolo, that the Nigerian Navy was sabotaging the fight against crude oil theft.
Noting that it cannot be seen to be joining issues with Tompolo, the DHQ, said the work of the Navy and its determined efforts to rid the Niger Delta of economic saboteurs and crude oil thieves which is reflecting on the nation’s crude production, was there for everybody to see.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this while commenting on Tompolo’s allegation made on Monday.
He said: “What I will say is that such allegation is just laughable. We will not join issues with anybody. What we seek is cooperation not conflict. We don’t want all these back and forth. We don’t want all this blackmail. What we want is working to ensure increased production of crude oil.
“The efforts of our Navy is very obvious. It is there for everybody to see and we are seeing the increase in crude oil production. We are ready to work in collaboration with stakeholders to continue to increase oil production. That is what we want.”
Recall that Tompolo had on Monday accused Navy personnel of being a clog in Tantitta’s fight against oil theft in the Niger Delta, calling on Nigerians to join hands in the battle to save the country’s economy.
Also, Major General Buba disclosed that those (IPOB/ESN) members responsible for the killing of three soldiers at a checkpoint in Abia State would be tracked down and made to pay the price for their murderous act.
Urging innocent citizens of the area not to panic, he said: “Our troops were attacked on November 13, and we recorded three casualties in the South East. To those expressing fear that troops will come and start killing everybody, this is not true.
“We are a professional force with rules of engagement. We will not go about killing people, but there will be consequences for those responsible for the attack. Our target will be against the terrorists and we will get them and I will give you the good news.”
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