…says congress still holding as scheduled

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The South-South zonal executives of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has countered the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba over his claim that the weekend zonal congress has been postponed, affirming that he has no power to so direct.

The South-South zonal organising secretary, Arch. Ekom Akonjom in a statement issued on Friday, February 21, 2025 urged party stakeholders and all those supposed to be at the congress to disregard the assertions of Ologunagba on the strength that he or the National Working Committee does not have the power to interfere with the workings of the Zonal Executive.

Even more, Akonjom affirmed that Olgounagba was on a personal errand as he said that there was no meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC where the issue was discussed.

He said:

PDP South South Zonal Congress Will Proceed as Scheduled; NWC Lacks Authority to Postpone

We have noted a statement from our Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, claiming the South South Zonal Congress in Calabar, Cross River State, on February 22, 2025, has been postponed. While it is his duty to convey party information, it must align with our Party’s Constitution.

To clarify, the South South Zonal Congress, which was approved by the zonal executive committee, will take place as scheduled. We urge the public and our delegates to ignore the statement from the National Publicity Secretary. The National Working Committee does not possess the authority to summon zonal Congresses, as specified in Article 27 (2) (c) of the Party’s Constitution.

Furthermore, there has been no convening of the National Working Committee to discuss postponing the South South Zonal Congress. The National Vice Chairman for the South South, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, is a member of the NWC, and he has been unaware of the convening of any such meeting. This raises concerns about the motives behind the false claims regarding the postponement of a Congress that the Publicity Secretary cannot Constitutionally summon.

We wish our delegates safe travels to Calabar, as the zonal Congress is set to go ahead as planned.

The Federal Government has said the delay in the completion of the 98-kilometre Oyo-Ogbomoso road project awarded to Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) necessitated the termination of the contract.

Works Minister Dave Umahi announced this yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at a stakeholders’ meeting on the condition of federal roads in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the engagement was premised on Enhancing Federal Roads in Oyo State: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions.

Umahi noted that the prolonged delay in completing the project had caused hardship among commuters and slowed economic activities in the area.

The minister assured the people that the project would soon be re-awarded to a new contractor.

He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration was committed to delivering the Oyo-Ogbomoso road project in the shortest possible time.

“The Oyo-Ogbomoso road project has dragged on for too long. So, we cannot continue to watch as businesses and means of livelihoods suffer due to its non-completion.

“In view of this, the Federal Government will take a decisive action to ensure the project is completed without further delay,” Umahi said.

Stakeholders at the meeting, which was facilitated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Akin Alabi, frowned at RCC for not completing the road project on time.

They urged the Federal government to accelerate the completion of the project without further delay.

They also urged the government to fast-track the rehabilitation of Ibadan-Ilesa dual carriage way and other federal roads in Oyo State and the Southwest region.

Also, the Federal Government has announced plans to rehabilitate an 18-kilometre section of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway with reinforced concrete pavement.

Umahi announced this yesterday while assessing the condition of the road and the progress so far made in its rehabilitation.

The minister said the government was committed to completing the project.

He said the 78-kilometre expressway, initially awarded to Julius Berger Plc eight years ago, had faced numerous challenges.

According to him, while Julius Berger completed one carriageway, the project remained unfinished.

Umahi said: “We are here to look at the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway. The total kilometer is 78. It was awarded to Julius Berger about eight years ago. Berger has completed one carriageway fully. The Ogun State government has taken off the section that is within Ogun State. That is about 60 kilometres. So, we are left with 18 kilometres.

“What we intend to do is to award this 18 kilometres on reinforced concrete pavements and then wait for the Ogun State government to finish its own.

“Then we take both over and then do it, operate and maintain it through a concession agreement.”

The Federal Government has announced plans to commence screening and examinations for senior cadre officers in the nation’s paramilitary services to address existing vacancies at top management levels.

The Chairman of the Civil Defence, Corrections, Fire and Immigration Service Board and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during a media briefing following the board’s meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

Tunji-Ojo stated that the vacancies exist at senior managerial levels across the four paramilitary agencies: the Federal Fire Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Correctional Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

To fill these gaps, he said officers below the ranks of Deputy Controllers and Assistant Controllers will be considered for promotion to these positions within the next month.

“Most of our services now do not have Deputy Controller-Generals, and if we have, there are not many. Therefore, in line with the federal character principle, these positions have to be filled. It was one of the key decisions taken during our meeting that these positions should be occupied with immediate effect, including that of Assistant Controller-General,” he said.

Represented by the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Engineer Jaji Abdulganiyu, the minister emphasised that a rigorous screening exercise would be conducted, followed by an examination to select eligible officers for these key positions.

Highlighting the significance of these ranks in enhancing service efficiency and management, the minister noted that some agencies currently have officers covering duties without formal appointments, which is not ideal for effective governance.

He said, “As a result of that, the board has decided that this process will commence from Monday, March 9, when the accreditation of officers for the exercise will take place. The accreditation will run from March 9 to March 11.

“By the end of March, the exercise should have been concluded. That is the decision of the board for the positions of Deputy Controller-General and Assistant Controller-General in the four services.”

Tunji-Ojo also revealed that discussions were held on the official handbook for the board, adding that an approval process is underway.

According to him, the handbook, once finalised, will be circulated to all services and made accessible to the public.