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.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Sector-wide Coordinating Office-Programme Management Unit (SCO-PMU) domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.A statement on Friday by his spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, said the unit would ensure efficient, transparent and accountable management of external grants mobilised towards the implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Ngelale said SCO-PMU would report to a Steering Committee/Ministerial Oversight Committee chaired by the Minister, including the Minister of State, Permanent Secretary; Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and relevant development partners. “The SCO-PMU will serve as the secretariat and delivery unit for the NHSRII and is to be headed by a national coordinator (NC).“The functions of the SCO-PMU include programme management, monitoring and evaluation, engagement and supervision of Independent Verification Agents (IVAs) for NHSRII programmes and fiduciary management, among others.“Consequently, the President has approved the appointment of Dr. Muntaqa Umar Sadiq as the National Coordinator of SCO-PMU,” he said.Report says that Sadiq has over 17 years of experience in public health, impact investing, investment banking, energy, and climate financing across the health, finance, climate and energy sectors.He had served as Head of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria.He also served as Head of the Nigeria Energy Transition Office and Private Sector Engagement Adviser at the World Bank. (NAN)
The Federal Government says it has no plan to slash scholarship students’ allowances as recently projected in the media.The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated this during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Abuja on Friday.
Report says that there was a report that the ministry, through the Federal Scholarship Board, announced a slash in allowances of foreign scholars stranded in Russia, Morocco, and Algeria among others.
The slash in scholars’ allowances under the federal government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship (BEA) was attributed to the economic crises.Mamman said that there was no slash in scholars` allowances but rather an adjustment due to Foreign Exchange fluctuations (FOREX).“We want to clarify what has been in the media on allowances paid to scholars under the Bilateral Scholarship Agreement.“We want to place it on record that the ministry and the Federal Government for that matter have not slashed the allowances due to students.“What happened is some adjustments in the amount due to them because of FOREX fluctuations, and as soon as we get the balance we have applied for, we will pay them.“But for now, what is in the budget is what we can pay. So, there is no slash, we will even be happy to increase, so this is what has led to the adjustments,” he said.(NAN)
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, on Friday, has urged Nigerians to calm and patient with Federal Government and should give the the government more time to address these pressing concerns.In a statement issued by CAN and signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh ,President, CAN and made available to journalists in Abuja.
CAN also urged all Nigerians to consider alternative means of expressing their grievances. He however said CAN stands in solidarity with the citizens of nation during these challenging times of economic hardship and pervasive hunger. The statement reads in part, “As we navigate this period of crisis, it is imperative to uphold the constitutional rights of every Nigerian to peacefully protest and express their grievances. The right to assemble and voice discontent is a cornerstone of our democracy and must be protected and respected by all. Peaceful protests are a powerful tool for civic engagement, allowing the populace to communicate their concerns and hold leaders accountable. However, the anxiety related to the impending protests is heightening, especially given the volatile experiences in countries like Kenya and Pakistan.”We must also draw from our recent history. The #ENDSARS and #RevolutionNow protests, though rooted in genuine grievances, were marred by tragic incidents where miscreants hijacked the process. This led to widespread looting, destruction of properties, and unfortunate loss of lives. These experiences have shown us that mass demonstrations can quickly degenerate into chaos if not properly managed and coordinated.” In light of the planned protests scheduled to commence on 1st of August, CAN urges all Nigerians to consider alternative means of expressing their grievances. We recommend giving the government more time to address these pressing concerns. This period should be used to explore other legal avenues that will not easily give hoodlums the opportunity to hijack the exercise to destroy our national assets or endanger lives and properties. Dialogue, petitions, and town hall meetings are viable options that can yield positive results without the risk of disorder.”We call on the government to cut the cost of governance and expedite its efforts to alleviate the hardships in the land. The opulent lifestyle of political office holders must be addressed to demonstrate the sincerity of those in government to improve the living conditions of the people. Likewise, it is imperative that the government implements the newly approved national minimum wage to provide immediate relief to struggling families.”Furthermore, specific measures must be taken to put an end to kidnappings, banditry, and mass killings that have plagued various parts of our country. The security and well-being of every Nigerian should be paramount, and urgent action is required to restore peace and order.”We also call on the government to expedite its efforts to alleviate the hardships in the land. There is an urgent need for more refined and effective policies that address the root causes of the economic challenges we face. The government must deepen its consultations with stakeholders, including religious leaders, to create a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to problem-solving. By working together, we can devise sustainable solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of the people.”In these trying times, let us all remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). As we seek to bring about positive change, let us do so with a spirit of peace, love, and unity. Our strength lies in our ability to come together, support one another, and work collectively toward a better Nigeria.”We pray for wisdom and discernment for our leaders, resilience and hope for our citizens, and divine intervention to guide us through these difficult times”.
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