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Reps Query Minister Of Works Over Shameful State Of Nigerian Roads

Published

2 months ago

October 25, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…call for replacement of management of ministry

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has queried the ministry of Works over the deplorable state of the Nigerian roads, calling for a total replacement of the management of the ministry.

Chairman, Commitee on FERMA, Rep. Remi Oseni issued the query during an interactive session with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Minister of Works on Thursday in Abuja.

According to the chairman, the ministry despite been allocated huge amount of money has not utilized the resources in fixing bad roads across the country.

Rep. Oseni express displeasure at the response of the representative of the Minister of Works, who is the Director Bridges and design, Bede Obiora, when he said the roads were bad due to the unavailability of funds by the ministry.

Obiora said: “The Ministry does not know how to address the challenges. But the issue is when you ask for resources, are those resources available? That is the big challenge. Yes, we’ve heard your request, about the 20 percent. We will do what we can. But, Mr. Chairman, you agree with me that it is still the National Assembly that does the appropriation, not the ministry. All we do is to do a proposal. The final result we get is after the appropriation by the National Assembly.

“So, we will still be bringing back the same request you gave us to your committee and urge you to assist us in clear terms about how this problem can be solved. The big challenge is the resources. Whether you go to budget, whether you go to visit the president, anywhere you go, the challenge is I need 1 billion Naira, what is available is N100,000. So, the issue now is how do we manage this little resource to address this enormous challenge”.

In response the Chairman of the Commitee insisted that the ministry has over the years not made repair of roads a priority, rather they award contract on yearly basis without maintaining already constructed roads.

“Where we find ourselves call for serious dedication, it calls for a total replacement of the management of the entire ministry for everyone of course to be identified

with the challenges that we are going through in the area of this road.

“We are not here for business of whether you want to do the job or you don’t want to do the job. How can you be telling us that there is no resources? In less than one minute, from everything that everybody has said, it’s a clue. You have no plan for us as a nation.

“It’s unfair to us as a nation. Tell me specifically where we have good roads. You are not concentrating your attention on fixing existing bad roads.

“Don’t tell me about the issue of resources. I’m sorry, we will not accept this. And if you want us to escalate things, let’s go into debates. What you are wasting on things that are not relevant for now to address other issues are much more important than what you are doing. I put it to you. If we are not honest enough to address some of these issues, you would have solve this problem at once.

“We are wasting our resources than solving our problems. I am not interested in emotion. I am concerned about how to fix Nigerian roads.

“We are not here for apology or asking whether you want to do it or you don’t want to do it. And that is why I feel sad that the Honorable Minister is not here in person. So that we can open our minds and see how we can fix our problem.

“There is no way you can relate the way we are feeling as individuals. We did not invite you because we wanted to see the Minister’s face. We invited you because we wanted to solve the problem. And tell us in a clear and scientific way. For us, you are only telling us you know there is no resources. And that is the end of the essence of your being here.

“It’s simple. Go and tell them that we don’t have resources. So, what is important is go and solve Nigerian road challenges.

“Go and review your job methodology. If you have an existing rule, you are not concentrating on how you want to get them resolved. And you are only concentrating on awarding contracts that you know they are not ready to execute.

“It’s not fair. Now, that brings me back to the issue of these resources that we are talking about. Sir, 60%, I don’t want to exaggerate, of why almost all the roads fail at the same time, has to do with the quality of your work.

“Poor quality delivery. I told them, I saw some of your contractors working across the country. You will be ashamed that you are supervising the jobs. I was at some sites. I was almost calling the minister when they told me that the job was awarded by Minister of Works. So, don’t discuss resources. You will take me out of this place.

“Majority of the roads that they are repairing on a daily basis, or they are maintaining on a regular basis, are roads that will last 2-3 years, they are bad. Sir, that road failed less than a year after it was completed. You are still separating the state contractors to execute major highways in the country. Don’t discuss resources.

The committee however demanded that the ministry go back to the drawing board to put an end to the state of roads across the country.

News

Jubilation as Senator Manu links Gunduma to national grid, commissions, power project (Photos/Video)

Published

37 minutes ago

December 29, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

…provides another transformer for Emir’s Palace and environs

Finally, after 15years of blackout, Senator Manu Haruna of Taraba Central Senatorial District has officially commissioned the Gunduma Ward Electricity Power Project.

Senator Manu during the electioneering period had promised to link Gunduma to the national grid.

It’s indeed a promise well fulfilled as his constituents Jubilate.

This marks a historic moment for the community, which has been without electricity for the past 15 years. This transformative initiative underscores Senator Manu’s commitment to addressing critical infrastructure challenges and improving the lives of his constituents.

During the commissioning ceremony, former Federal Lawmaker of Taraba Central, Senator Dahiru Bako, commended Senator Manu for his dedication and vision in delivering this essential project.

Hon. Musa Chul Member House of Assembly Gassol II,Constituency TRHA described the achievement as a monumental milestone, emphasizing its potential to significantly enhance economic activities and improve the standard of living for the residents of Gunduma Ward.

The Gunduma Ward Electricity Power Project represents a significant step towards infrastructural development in Taraba Central and reflects Senator Manu’s proactive approach to governance and service delivery.

Manu also presented a new Transformer with specifications of 300KVA Valtage CL: 35KV and standard TS:EN60076-1 to the His Royal Highness Alhaji Justice Sani Sulaiman Duna the Emir of Mutum-Biyu for the Mutum-Biyu Environs.

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Allegations by Niger Republic attempt to incite northerners against Tinubu – Presidency

Published

1 hour ago

December 29, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, says claims by the military leader of Niger Republic, Abdourahamane Tchiani that Nigeria is colluding with France to destabilise his county are despicable propaganda.

He declared that the claims were aimed at inciting Northern Nigeria against President Bola Tinubu.

Bwala said the military leader deliberately chose a local language in the North.

The media recalls that Abdourahamane Tchiani, military leader of Niger Republic, made the claims in an interview on Wednesday.

Tchiani, who spoke in Hausa, alleged that France is negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilise his country.

According to him, France made a substantial payment to President Bola Tinubu to establish a military base in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, shortly afterwards, dismissed the allegations and described them as baseless.

Reacting to the allegations in a video posted on his X page on Friday, Bwala said the claims are baseless propaganda, designed to create chaos and incite bad blood in northern Nigeria against Tinubu.

“Yesterday I came across a video, a despicable propaganda piece by the military head of state of the Niger Republic against the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and this is what you often see with military interregnum,” he said.

“The honeymoon is over; he has not been able to address economic situations in his country; everything is turning against him, and in the desperate gasp for breath, he decided to resort to cheap false lies and propaganda against Nigeria.

“The choice of words used by the military leader is quite insultive for what his intentions are; probably in cohoot with politicians in Nigerians; you never know.

“But the whole idea is to create chaos and bad blood in Northern Nigeria against the President,” he added.

Bwala explained Nigeria’s longstanding leadership role in West Africa and its commitment to fostering bilateral relations with neighbouring countries.

News

Police deny investigating VeryDarkMan’s missing N180m NGO funds

Published

1 hour ago

December 29, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command has said it is not investigating the claim by online personality, Vincent Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan’s that N180 million meant for his non-governmental organisation, NGO, has gone missing.

Vanguard reported, Friday, that VDM had alleged that over N180 million was stolen from his NGO’s account after it was hacked.

In October, Otse launched the Martins Vincent Osei Initiative, raising over N35 million in donations within hours. Shortly after, he announced receiving a N100 million contribution from music producer Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy.

Otse further explained that he had to shut down the NGO’s app for maintenance to prevent further breaches and promised to provide updates on the situation.

VDM has in the video claimed that he had reported the matter to the police and he was also travelling to Jos because one of the hackers had been found.

According to reports, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, clarified that the command was not involved in the matter.

She said, “The FCT Police Command has no information regarding any missing funds involving VDM, nor is there any ongoing investigation into the matter. The individual concerned should be contacted directly for details on where the case was reported, as we have no record of such a case with our command.”