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FG Orders 37 Contractors To Deliver 260 Emergency Road Projects In 3 Months or…

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…face termination

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal Government has given about 37 contractors handling its 260 emergency road projects across the country three months to deliver, threatening failure to meet the deadline will result in contract termination.

Most of the defaulting contractors are handling emergency road projects in Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Benue, Kogi, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers States.

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It also reiterated it was not obligatory to pay mobilisation fees to contractors for emergency road projects.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, stated these on Monday during a meeting with the contractors in his office.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, the Minister explained that this action became necessary because the Renewed Hope emergency road projects were funded through the 2023 Supplementary Budget to provide immediate intervention on critical, completely failed Federal roads nationwide.

Noting that the goal was to restore the serviceability of these roads, the Minister complained that the 37 contractors have made little to no progress since being awarded the contracts while warning that they must mobilize effectively to the site by Wednesday, July 10, 2024, or face contract termination.

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“If after the deadline for mobilization to the site, any contractor fails to comply, the job shall be terminated by effluxion of time as the contract is for a time limit of 3 months.

“Any contractor whose job has stayed for more than 3 months without completion after the issuance of award letter must seek and obtain approval for extension of time from the Federal Ministry of Works,” he said.

The Minister warned the defaulting contractors that the projects awarded to them must be delivered within three months, adding that no excuse, including security challenges or lack of mobilization funds, will justify the delays causing road users to suffer.

He asserted that contractors that failed to meet the deadline will be blacklisted for hindering the Renewed Hope administration’s efforts to revolutionize road infrastructure for Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

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He said: “The people are suffering, the President is having sleepless nights in his efforts to fix our road infrastructure to help our economy, and people will be given jobs and they are telling us stories.

“There have been jobs awarded by this Ministry in the past and money paid, and the contractors would hold the money, and they would say it’s a security problem

“Didn’t you know about the security situation before you got the job?”

Regarding mobilization fees, the Minister stated that under the Standard Conditions of Contract, mobilization funding is not a prerequisite for contractors to begin work on-site.

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According to him, it is at the Ministry’s discretion and will only be provided to contractors who commit, through an affidavit, to complete the job within three months of mobilization.

“Our new policy is that if you want mobilization and we are happy to give you, you will abide by the conditions. One is that there will be no review of any component of the mobilization given.

“Two, we will give you 30% and you will do 30% of the work before we can give you another money. So please, mobilization is not compulsory. Is that clear? Again, emergency projects are not mobilized.

“The rule is that in emergency projects, you will go and do it 100%, and then you submit your papers.

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“We now pay you 80% and send your documents to BPP. When they approve, we pay you the balance of 20%,” he noted.

The Minister also directed the Federal Controllers of Works to ensure proper supervision of projects in their sites and be abreast with the contract awarded, amount, date of award, timeline, review date, extension of time, argumentation granted and whether the contractor is on site.

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JUST IN: Again, APC loses battle to disqualify PDP candidate, Ighodalo in Edo guber poll

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By Ojomah Austin.

 

The APC suit filed at the federal high court in Abuja seeking to oust Ighodalo from the gubernatorial race was dismissed on Friday evening by Justice Peter Lifu.

An eleventh-hour attempt by the All Progressives Congress, APC to get the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Asue Ighodalo disqualified from the Edo State Governorship election has been dismissed.

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The Judge agreed with Ighodalo’s lawyer, Chief Akinlolu Kehinde that the suit was frivolous, baseless, and unwarranted and was thrown out.

In his judgment in the suit, Justice Lifu rejected the prayer of the APC to use another judgment of the same court that had queried the validity of the primary election that produced Ighodalo to kick him out of the race.

In a suit marked THC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, Justice Inyang Ekwo had on July 4 held that PDP was wrong in excluding 378 delegates from its February 22 primary election that produced Ighodalo.

Although Justice Ekwo did not categorically declare the primary election invalid, the APC cashing in on Ekwo’s finding, filed a fresh suit to disqualify Ighodalo on the strength of the alleged unlawful exclusion.

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However, Justice Lifu upheld the submission of the senior lawyer that the federal high court cannot sit as an appellate court in its own judgment.

The Judge also agreed that APC was a busybody and meddlesome interloper by dabbing into the internal affairs of PDP.

Besides, Justice Lifu also upheld the argument of Kehinde SAN that the high court judgment being used to press for Ighodalo’s disqualification had since been voided and set aside by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The Judge subsequently dismissed the APC’s disqualification request on the ground that it lacked merit and substance.

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The APC had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Asue Ighodalo and PDP as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

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Tight security in Benin as Edo governorship election draws near

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By Ojomah Austin.

 

A large number of officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been mobilized across the city, causing traffic congestion in several areas.

Security personnel were spotted at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin, securing strategic locations, with some awaiting further deployment to other parts of the state.

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This follows the recent deployment of 35,000 police officers to maintain law and order during the elections, With less than 48 hours to the Edo State governorship election.

The NSCDC also deployed 6,433 officers, while the Defence Headquarters has stationed soldiers to ensure a safe environment for voters.

In addition, authorities have implemented a “show of force” with security agents patrolling key areas.

In anticipation of the election, the Edo State Government declared Friday a work-free day to allow voters to travel to their polling units.

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Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) held a prayer session in Benin, calling for peace and the election of a credible leader who will govern with integrity.

INEC has also commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to all 18 local government areas, ensuring readiness for Saturday’s vote.

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New video of Zinoleesky gets tongues wagging

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……“E remain small make breeze blow am away”

By Ojomah Austin.

 

Nigerian singer, Zinoleesky stirs a buzz online due to a recent video of him circulating on social media.

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In the video, Zinoleesky dons a white shirt alongside black trousers as he brags about being worthy to be used as a Valentine’s gift.
Reacting to the video, netizens commented on his skinny appearance.

Famous musician, Oniyide Azeez, better known as Zinoleesky trends online due to a new clip serving the rounds on social media.

In the video, the ‘Element’ hitmaker is spotted wearing a white shirt and a stylish black trouser. While being filmed, Zinoleesky bragged mightily about his looks.

He reiterated that he could be used as a Valentine’s gift to any girl.

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The video generated a buzz online with a large number of netizens commenting on his thin body shape. Some swiftly leveraged it to make fun of the artiste.

One @janicekate_x wrote: “E remain small make breeze blow am away 😂.

soromotoochukwu wrote: “I like how music can take you to another place. For example, this restaurant is playing Zinoleesky so now I’m going to a different restaurant.”

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dave.dexter27 wrote: “Make breeze sha no blow as we wan deliver the valentine gift😂😂😂.”

oluwatamilore_xx wrote: “Bro,drank all the whole slimming tea and nothing is left to slim down.”

isco_west_whil wrote: “Chaii dem don set this Guy up for dragging again😂😂.”

scheargoon wrote: “Try put stone for your pocket guy”

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bouncequotes wrote: “My boy 😂😂😂😂 slim daddy for dem girls.”

just_eniola_olayemisi wrote: “No be your fault zino, u no just get choice that to continue to dey craze 🥺 I feel for u my bro.”

zaza_mula112 wrote: “Zino Dey enjoy, while seyi vibe Dey cry under record label 😂😂.”

jamesmike7837 wrote: “See person be like broom stick😂.”

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sheis_shuga wrote: “Who Dey decive you werey 😢😢see as u slim like who get HIV 😢😔🙄🥺Dooh.”

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