NEWS
I Won’t Fail FCT Residents, Wike Assures
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, at the weekend, assured Abuja residents that with the support of President Bola Tinubu, he can’t afford to fail in his duty as FCT Minister.
Wike stated this shortly after inspecting some ongoing road projects within Abuja.
He added that he has no reason to criticise his predecessors in office or give excuses.
The projects are, the provision of Wuye District infrastructure, the FCT Highway 105 (11km six lane dual carriageway) linking the Airport Expressway to Kuje and the official residence of the Vice President.
On his impression about the projects, Barr Wike said he was very happy with the speed and quality of work and commended the contractors.
He said the contractors have also assured that the Wuye/Wuse flyover, which is 85 percent complete and the Vice President’s official residence will be ready by May this year.
The Minister further stated that the FCT Highway 105 (11km six lane dual carriageway) linking the Airport Expressway to Kuje when completed, would open up the area and bring a lot of changes to the FCT.
keeping to faith with their commitment to handover the project by May.
According to the Minister, “I have to commend the various contractors, the Arab Contractors and Julius Berger. The first site we went to is almost 85 percent complete, one of those interchanges in Wuye District. The contractors are keeping to faith with their commitment to handover the project by May.
“And then we also went to the Kuje road which is the six lane road. It’s about 11 kilometers. That road from the airport road down to Kuje will open up that area of the Area Council. The last time when I went to flag off one of the rural roads,
road. It’s about 11 kilometers. That road from the airport road down to Kuje will open up that area of the Area Council. The last time when I went to flag off one of the rural roads, we didn’t see much about the contractors and I did say that the contractors are not serious. But going back there today, one is very impressed with the level of work and the quality of work. I’m quite impressed with what I saw”.
Speaking further on the official residence of the Vice President, the Minister said the contractors were at the stage of electrical installations, which might not be quite visible but assured that a lot of changes would be seen in the next few weeks while, assuring that the project would be ready by May.
He said, “We were at the VP’s residence which is being handled by Julius Berger and like I said, they have made further commitment that by May, they are going to hand over. Why we may not be seeing enough of what we think should be improvements is because they are concentrating on electrical cables. By the next two, three weeks, you will see a lot of changes. They are known for quality and we are really financing them well”.
Barrister Wike also reiterated that no ongoing project in the FCT would be abandoned. He said the projects that are considered as priority have been included in the FCT’s 2024 statutory budget for adequate funding.
According to the Minister, “We have always said that we are not going to allow any project to be abandoned. We have taken our priorities and most of these projects are also being included in our 2024 statutory budget, which will soon be presented to the National Assembly by Mr. President when he returns from Qatar”.
The Minister also addressed the concern of residents over the seeming delay in the road resurfacing exercise, particularly in the Asokoro District. He assured that the project would also be ready by May.
He said, “What we have said is that these things will be completed before or handed over by May. If you look at the AYA road, it’s being handled by Julius Berger and you know their own style of work, they like to scrape and then take all together when they want to asphalt. So, it is not as if it has been abandoned. When they want to asphalt, they take all at the same time. So, there is nothing like abandonment. What is important to us is if they are going to meet up to the date that they have committed themselves.
“Frankly speaking, I’m very happy with the quality and the speed. By May, a lot of Nigerians will see the changes as far as the FCT is concerned”.
14.The Minister was accompanied on the road inspection tour by the Executive Secretary FCDA, Engr. Hadi Shehu Ahmed, the Director Engineering, Engr. Obiora Ezeoha, former Senator representing the FCT, Sen. Phillip Aduda, senior officials of the FCT Administration, among others.
Earlier, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad said the Administration is currently constructing 11 kilometres of the 76-kilometre Kuje-Gwargwada-Rubochi-Abaji-Nasarawa six-lane highway.
The Police in Edo have arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a cache of weapons, luxury vehicles during a raid on a criminal hideout in Benin.The Command’s spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Benin .Yamu said operatives from the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Unit of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) on May 13 stormed a hotel in Benin.
He said the operation led to the arrest of 22-year-old Endurance Oviojie, while four other suspects identified as Clinton, Jeff, Mike, and Emmanuel alias Slim Khalifa fled the scene by scaling the fence into neighbouring compounds. “The police recovered a significant haul of items including one English Beretta pistol, one locally fabricated pistol, one round of ammunition, 18 live cartridges, multiple mobile phones, a tablet device, charms, and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.“In a follow-up operation, the police also seized four unregistered Mercedes-Benz vehicles- a black C350, a grey C300, a grey GLA 250, and a red GLE 350 suspected to have been used for criminal activities,” he said.The police spokesperson said the arrested suspect had already been charged to court, while a manhunt was ongoing to apprehend the fleeing gang members.The Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr Monday Agbonika, has warned all criminal elements to either leave the state or face the full wrath of the law.“We are resolute in our mission to rid Edo of criminal elements.“This command will sustain this offensive until law-abiding citizens can feel safe and secure in every corner of the state,” the commissioner assured.He urged the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely information to help clamp down on crime across the state. (NAN)
The Federal Government has begun evacuation and demolition of illegal structures beneath the Iddo Bridge in Lagos, citing serious safety concerns and risk of imminent collapse. The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, gave the order while inspecting the bridge alongside structural engineers and officials of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
, on Sunday. Umahi expressed concern over the condition of the bridge which, he said, had been severely compromised by illegal human activities. He said: “We are here with bridge experts to examine the Iddo Bridge, which was burnt down due to unlawful occupation and activities beneath it. “People have converted the underpass into shops, warehouses, and even residential areas. “These activities have caused significant damage, to the extent that Julius Berger has advised that the bridge must be completely demolished and reconstructed.” He said that the Cowry Bridge and the Independence Bridge had also been affected by similar activities. According to the minister, attempts by the Federal Government to engage with the illegal occupants have met resistance, with some of them saying that the matter is before the court. “They have refused to vacate the premises. They wrote to us, claiming the matter is in court. “It appears that what they are selling is more important to them than the lives of Lagosians, but we cannot allow that,” Umahi said. Umahi directed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos state, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, to ensure that all illegal structures beneath the bridge would be demolished before the close of business on Monday. “This is about saving lives. We must act to prevent the collapse of the bridge.“Beams have already been hit by vehicles, and some have been burnt. The structural integrity of the bridge is compromised,” he said. He also said that policemen should be deployed to the site to secure any valuables that might be found during the demolition. “If we find even a pin, it should be recorded and returned but I can tell you that what I have seen so far are mostly iron doors and partitions.“There are no significant goods inside,” Umahi said. The minister emphasised that there would be no going back on the decision to demolish and conduct a thorough examination of the bridge. “We are not trying to punish anyone, we are trying to save lives. Every illegal structure under this bridge must go before Monday ends,” he said. Report says that the contract for the rehabilitation of the Iddo Bridge was awarded in 2024 to Julius Berger Plc. In April, Umahi, explained that one of the major problems with the bridge was low headroom clearance. He noted that a section of the bridge had a headroom of about 3.0 metres, far below the required minimum of 5.6 metres. According to the minister, the situation has resulted in frequent collisions by trucks, which hit the underside of the bridge deck and caused structural damage. Umahi also raised concerns about shops near the bridge which were selling chemicals, warning that such activities posed serious safety risks. He noted that a chemical once caught fire near the bridge and caused extensive damage to the structure. He said that the bridge’s structural elements had been significantly compromised and required urgent attention. (NAN)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, has between January and May, destroyed more than 100 illegal refining sites through airstrikes in the Niger Delta.The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, made this known in a statement on Sunday, in Abuja.
Ejodame said the NAF executed over 173 missions and 265 sorties, accumulating approximately 270 flying hours in support of joint military operations and independent strikes across key oil-producing states. He said the airstrikes also destroyed 53 boats, 74 cooking tanks, two reservoirs and several transport vehicles.According to him, these actions significantly degraded the capacity of oil thieves and vandals operating along critical corridors such as Buguma, Imo River, Port Harcourt, Okrika, Egbema/Ohaji and the Trans Niger Pipeline Right of Way.“The operations are aligned with national efforts to curb militancy, stop environmental degradation caused by illegal refining, and protect strategic oil and gas infrastructure, the backbone of Nigeria’s economy,” he said.NAF spokesman said the NAF had intensified air operations in the Niger Delta, recording significant successes in the ongoing fight against crude oil theft and the protection of vital national assets.He said the NAF 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG), which hosts the air component had maintained a high tempo of aerial missions across the region, dismantling illegal refining sites and disrupting the logistics of criminal networks.“While the NAF continues to promote civil-military cooperation and community development in the region, it emphasises that the kinetic component of its campaign remains essential to uprooting entrenched criminal networks.“These sustained air operations underscore NAF’s commitment to national security and economic stability by ensuring that Nigeria’s oil heartland remains secure and productive,” he added. (NAN)
Edo: Police Nab Robbery Suspect, Recover Guns, Cars in Anti-crime Raid
Share The Police in Edo have arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a cache of weapons, luxury vehicles during...
FG Begins Demolition of Structures Under Iddo Bridge, Cites Collapse Risk
ShareThe Federal Government has begun evacuation and demolition of illegal structures beneath the Iddo Bridge in Lagos, citing serious safety...
NAF Airstrikes Destroy 100 Illegal Refining Sites in 5 Months
Share The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, has between January and May, destroyed...
Supreme Court Chief Registrar Tasks Judiciary on Balanced, Fair Objective Reporting
Share The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mr Kabir Akanbi has called on members of the National...
Food Insecurity: Ayatse urges FG to Address Attacks on Famers in Benue
ShareProf. Felicia Ayatse, wife of the Paramount Ruler of the Tiv nation (Tor Tiv), Prof. James Ayatse, has urged the...
Alausa Condemns Incident in Viral Asaba Exam Video
ShareThe Federal Ministry of Education has condemned the incident involving candidates sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)...
Zulum Announces Scholarship for Female Indigenous with 250, Above in UTME
ShareGov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has announced a full scholarship for all female indigenes of the state who scored 250...
PCRC Gets New Leadership in Imo
ShareThe Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Owerri has elected and inaugurated a new set of executive officers led by...
Chinese Envoy says Tea Trade with Nigeria Thriving, Strengthening Ties
ShareChinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said on Saturday that tea trade between China and Nigeria is thriving and enhancing...
Fate of Nigerian Medical Students from Sudan Hangs in Balance
Share A group of 47 Nigerian medical students who escaped war-torn Sudan in May 2023 are now struggling to register...
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish