COVER
Buhari, Obasanjo, Lawan, Ayade Mourn as Wayas Dies at 80
… Wayas
By Jude Opara and Ubong Ukpong, Abuja and Kunle Idowu, Abeokuta
President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, on the passing of the elder statesman, whose “influence and contributions to Nigeria’s democracy remain indelible.
”The president’s condolence message is contained in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, yesterday in Abuja.
President Buhari noted the sacrifices of Wayas, who started taking up leadership responsibilities at an early age, turning a Senate President at 38, and remaining vibrant and dynamic in mentoring leaders long after he retired from politics.
The president joined the National Assembly, Government and people of Cross River, his friends and associates in mourning Wayas, believing his legacies would be approximated for posterity.
He prayed that his soul would find rest with the Lord.
Similarly, former president Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that the late Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, lived for the welfare and security of the common man.
The late senate president died early hours of yesterday, in United Kingdom after illness at age 80.
Obasanjo, in a statement signed his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, yesterday in Abeokuta noted that Wayas would be sorely missed in view of his giant political strides.
The former president noted that Wayas contributed to the building of the Nigerian nation, starting from his birth place, Bassang, in Cross River to every nook and cranny of the country.
“Dr. Wayas was a special breed who contributed immensely to the development of the country and became a parliamentarian in the second republic.
“He was such a great patriot who had contributed his own quota to the legislative governance and overall development of Nigeria.
“He always pitched its tent with the truth. He maintained a cordial relationship with his colleagues in the Senate and well-groomed in legislative practices and procedures,” Obasanjo said.
His knowledge of practices and procedures of the senate, according to Obasanjo helped him greatly in running the affairs of the upper chamber of the parliament.
Obasanjo explained that Wayas demonstrated high level of maturity and level-headedness, saying his disposition towards effective nation building remained unparalleled.
“He lived for the welfare and security of the common man. His passion about a better and safer society was exceptional.
“His steadfastness, commitment to the cause of one Nigeria and optimistic spirit towards national development will continue to inspire us both now and in the future,” he said.
The former president described the death as painful and commiserated with his family, Gov. Benedict Ayade, the entire people of Cross River and all associates of the late statesman.
Obasanjo prayed the Almighty God to grant the late leader a place among the righteous ones in paradise.
“May God also grant members of his immediate family the people and government of Cross River, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.
Also yesterday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, expressed sadness over the demise of a former President of the Senate, Dr Joseph Wayas.
Wayas, who served as the third President of the Senate from 1979 to 1983 died in a London hospital yesterday at the age of 80.
A statement in Abuja, yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, Gbajabiamila, while condoling the government and people of Cross River State over the loss of the elder statesman, noted that his contributions to the deepening of democracy in the country could not be overemphasized.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the elder statesman, the Speaker enjoined the family, friends and the people of Cross River State to take solace in the fact that the ex-President of the Senate, a founding member of the defunct All People’s Party (APP), contributed his part to the political development of Nigeria.
He Served Nigeria with Dedication, Integrity – Lawan
President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has condoled with the family of former Senate President, Joseph Wayas, who died on Dec. 2.
Lawan in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja yesterday, described the death of Wayas as a great loss for Nigeria.
He commiserated with the family of Wayas, Government and People of Cross River, friends and political associates of the late elder statesman.
“Sen. Joseph Wayas was a great lawmaker and political leader who served his country and people with dedication and integrity.
“As the President of the Senate in the Second Republic, Sen. Wayas led the upper chamber with competence and passion, he was a great symbol of his political era.
“Sen. Wayas continued to contribute to nation-building, democracy and socio-economic development of Nigeria even after he left public office in 1983.
“He played a significant role as Deputy Chairman of the 1994-95 National Constitutional Conference and took part in many other national assignments.
“Nigeria will sorely miss his wealth of experience,” Lawan said
He prayed to God to grant the late Wayas’ gentle soul a sweet repose and to his loved ones, the fortitude to bear his loss.
Also yesterday, Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade of Cross River expressed regret at the death of Second Republic Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas.
He described the death as “a monumental loss” to Cross River in particular and to Nigeria in general.
Wayas died in the early hours of Tuesday at a London hospital at the age of 80 years. He was born on May 21, 1941.
He was Nigeria’s senate president in the Second Republic between 1979 and 1983.
Gov. Ayade’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita, said in a statement that the governor remarked that Wayas left indelible footprints on the sands of time.
“As a state, Cross River is in pains as we mourn the passing of our illustrious son. He was a rare gem. The demise of Dr Wayas is indeed a monumental loss to our dear state and Nigeria.
“As Senate President, Dr Wayas contributed to the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic ethos through his robust and vibrant leadership.
“Since his retirement from active politics, the former senate president had been playing a fatherly and stabilising role in the politics and affairs of our state,’’ the statement read.
Ayade condoled with the Wayas family, assuring that his demise was a collective loss and the pains a shared one.
“We are with you in this moment of grief. We have you in our hearts and prayers,’’ the government assured the deceased family.
Wayas Was Bridge Builder, Lover of Masses – Group
A civil liberty group, Peace Action Transformation (PACT), yesterday, described the late former Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas, as a bridge builder and lover of masses.
Wayas, who was senate president between 1979 and 1983, died in the early hours of yesterday at a London hospital, at the age of 80.
National Coordination of PACT, Mr Adegboyega Adeniji, the told NAN that Wayas would be remembered for standing on the side of the people when he led the senate.
Adeniji said: “We thank God for his life. He lived a fulfilled life as a Nigerian, being able to occupy the number three position in the Second Republic.
“He was a gentle man and very accommodating during his time. He was a bridge builder and throughout his tenure as senate president, there was peace.
“He was always on the side of the people and never pampered the executive.”
The national coordinator added that the office of the leader of the legislature was properly handled and distinct from the position of the executive during Wayas’ leadership.
This, according to him, is lacking nowadays.
“The greatest disservice to this nation is the inability of our legislature to represent the interest of the people.
“The executive arm can decide to do as it likes but the lawmakers, who are carrying the mandates of a particular segment of the nation before coming to the National Assembly collectively to aggregate our views, should stand by the people.
“The legislators nowadays are doing lots of disservice to the Nigerian people by hobnobbing with the executives at the detriment of the people,” he added.
Adeniji called on the present crop of political leaders to always strive to serve the people and bequeath a sustainable development for the humanity.
He said called on those aspiring to be in the legislature in the next dispensation to learn from the late senate president.
The national coordinator said that the legislature should always stand on the side of the people and shun any tendency to neglect those they were supposed to represent.
“The lesson is for in-coming legislators to appreciate that the essence is life is service to humanity and they must be able to conquer selfishness in order to achieve this.
Wayas, who was also the Deputy Chairman of the 1994 National Constitutional Conference, was a multi-linguistic, as he could speak Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages fluently.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria has disclosed plans to source from the private sector, part of the $10 billion required to provide regular electricity across Nigeria within the next five to 10 years.
This formed the crux of the deliberation when the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Power Chief Adebayo A.
Adelabu yesterday in Abuja.The duo agreed that in view of the funding and technical requirement needed to advance the power sector in Nigeria, it had become imperative to seek private sector input through Public Private Partnership (PPP) in co-financing and providing expertise that will ensure optimal performance of power infrastructure.
The Director General of the PPP regulatory body said that in view of the importance of power to the economic development of Nigeria, optimizing performance of existing infrastructure as well as funding new ones was imperative.
He acknowledged the challenges in the sector was hydra-headed and went beyond funding alone, adding that with such inter-agency collaboration and partnership with the private sector, the limitations can be addressed.
Reacting to a comment by the Minister, the DG said that through its regulatory processes, the ICRC can midwife private sector investment of part of the $10bn in the power sector to provide regular electricity, attract more foreign direct investment to other sectors and ultimately grow the economy.
“Revamping the power sector requires planning, it involves investments and it takes time. So, we need to collaborate to solve the issues in this sector.
“The investment required in power is very huge and government cannot fund it alone, so we have to leverage on the financing capacity of the private sector. That is why the ICRC was set up to regulate this leverage.
“The Commission is poised to regulating the processes of attracting investment to the power sector”.
He commended the Minister for his vast knowledge of the sector, pointing out that Mr. President’s choice of him was commendable.
Dr Ewalefoh said that in a bid to accelerate PPP investment as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commission had issued a 6-point policy direction which has ultimately streamlined the process of PPP service delivery.
The DG stressed that whereas the processes have been streamlined to accelerate project delivery and encourage investors to adopt PPP, the Commission was not relenting or compromising on its stringent regulatory function so as to forestall contingent liabilities or unnecessary delays by companies that lack the requisite capacity.
In view of the above the ICRC’s helmsman added that the Commission was now insisting on inserting conditions precedent to all PPP agreements such that any preferred bidder that defaults will have their agreement automatically nullified by reason of their default.
In his response the minister commended the DG for the initiative to visit the ministry with the proposal of advancing investment in power sector through PPPs.
He said, “For us to achieve 24 hours power supply across Nigeria in the next 5 to 10 years, there is a minimum funding requirement of about N10 billion in the next 10 years.
“The government cannot afford that, when there are other critical sectors in need of funding.
“Can government do it alone? No! which is why we have to look for or marshal private sector fund while still retaining government interest and ownership. That is where ICRC comes in.“We need to do this in collaboration with the private sector and the best way is through concession.”
By David Torough, Abuja
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has announced reduction in price of petrol by N50 per litre when purchasing directly from Dangote Refinery.
This is coming after Monday’s deal where Dangote Refinery agreed to sell petrol directly to IPMAN members, ending the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)’s role as the exclusive buyer of Dangote’s petrol.
Currently, motorists pay between N1,060 and N1,200 per litre at NNPCL retail outlets and other filling stations.
IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Maigandi, shared this news during a press interview yesterday.
According to him, Dangote Refinery had agreed to supply petrol to IPMAN members at a rate of N940 per litre for depots and N990 per litre for trucks.
With this arrangement, Maigandi said, IPMAN members who currently sell petrol between N1,150 and N1,200 per litre would adjust their prices down by N50, depending on location.
Maigandi said, “Presently, we have been given two different arrangements on how to buy fuel from the refinery.
“There’s one where we can load the vessels and carry them to our various depots at the rate of N940 per litre. Then, for the depots, it is at the rate of N990 per litre.”He stated that in Maiduguri (Borno State) for instance, “the current price is N1,200 per litre. With these changes, it may likely reduce to N1,150, which is a reduction of N50. So that’s N1,150; it may even be below that.”
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Federal Government has assured that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to positively impact the lives of Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi emphasized this at a town hall meeting in Minna yesterday where he discussed the development of road infrastructure in the region.
Umahi highlighted the importance of the meeting, which focused on the proposed construction of the 125km, three-lane, single-carriageway Niger State segment of the larger 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.
According to the minister, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway is a federal road that will pass through several states, including Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos, with 125 kilometers of the highway to be constructed in Niger State.
The minister underscored the project’s potential to enhance infrastructure and stimulate economic activities along the route, bringing direct benefits to local residents and businesses.
Niger State, with its extensive network of federal roads, faces challenges due to poor road conditions.
“Many of these federal projects, some dating back to 2010, remain incomplete. For example, the Suleja-Minna Road is only 85% complete, and the Bida-Lapai-Lambata Road is at 64%, despite contracts being awarded over a decade ago.
“Quality infrastructure and timely project completion are priorities for both state and federal stakeholders,” Umahi said.
The Niger State Governor, Umar Muhammad Bago thanked the president and federal officials for prioritizing the state’s infrastructure needs.
The governor acknowledged the Senate Committees on Works and Finance, and the respective House committees for recognizing Niger State’s challenges.
Bago called for urgent intervention to improve road quality and suggested that contracts held by underperforming companies, such as Salini, be awarded instead to reliable firms like Hi-Tech and CCECC.He disclosed that Niger State has potential for cement production, citing the state’s rich limestone deposits and announced plans to attract investors to further support infrastructure and economic growth in the region.
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