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Keyamo Rejects N532bn Abuja Airport Runway Contract Variation, Opts for Fresh Bidding
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
Minister of Aviation and Aero Space Development, Festus Keyamo yesterday said that his ministry has rejected the outrageous contract variation of N532billion 2nd runway of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The initial contract sum was N90 billion, of which a third of the sum was released to the contractor in 2023 after government paid N3.
4billion post contract consultancy fee in May 2023.Keyamo who stated this while responding to questions from parliamentarians during budget defence session with the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation pointed out that the contract had been revoked for fresh bidding by interested contractors.
“After N3.4billion post contract consultancy fee paid to contractor handling the project in May 2023, N90billion was later paid in the same year for the whole contract out of which N30billion was released.
“The contractor after receiving the N30billion and joined the federal capital territory Administration to compensate some settlers on the affected land, left the site.
“All efforts made thereafter to get the contractor back to site proved abortive on the grounds of unacceptable contract variation being demanded for.
“The contractor in question, is however demanding for contract variation of N532billion from the original sum of N90billion which the contract was awarded.
“To us in the ministry, the said variation is nothing but fraud. That leaves us with no option than to cancel the contract and call for fresh bids”, he said.
Members of the committee also asked the minister why the N36billion owed workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways was not reflected in the ministry’s 2025 budget for payment.
The minister in his response, said payment for the N36billion had been shifted to the Ministry of Finance since the money was not meant for capital projects.
“The affected pensioners would soon get their dues from the Ministry of Finance and not from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. I met with leaders of the joint unions on this in November last year and they agreed to arrangement put on ground,” the minister explained.
He however disagreed with suggestion made by some members of the committee that establishment of Aerospace University across the six geo-political zones should be discontinued since there is one in Zaira, Kaduna State already .
According to him as the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) was established in 1964 so also was the Nigeria Law School established in Lagos.
“While the Nigeria Law School has been decentralized, the Aviation College in Zaria has not been properly followed suit, which the Aerospace Universities are aimed at,” he said.
He thereafter presented the 2025 budgetary proposal of the ministry to the committee which according to him, is N71.13billion, out of which N69.2billion is earmarked for capital projects, N1.147billion for personnel cost and N745.7million for overhead .
However the joint committee through its Chairman, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC Oyo North) told the minister that approval would be given the budgetary proposal after submission of full details on state of 124 projects being executed by the ministry.“Historical background and current status of all the ongoing projects being executed by the ministry are needed as requested for by this committee, latest by next week for approval of the presented budget proposals,” he said.
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28 Passengers Burnt beyond Recognition in Ondo
From Mike Odiakose
Twenty-eight passengers were burnt beyond recognition in an auto crash that occurred at Onipetsi, along the Ore-Lagos highway, Odigbo Local Government Area, Ondo State, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said.
The Ondo State FRSC Commander, Samuel Ibitoye said speed and traffic violation led to a head-on collision by the two vehicles, resulting in 28 passengers out of 30 passengers losing their lives tragically.
According to him, only two persons survived the crash and are receiving treatment in the General Hospital in Ore.
He said, “It’s unfortunate that 28 lives were burnt beyond recognition in the fatal accident caused by excessive speeding and traffic violations.
“The contract between drivers and passengers is to take them safely to their destinations after they have paid not to drive them to their graves.
“This is why everyone must participate in road safety; the passengers too have a role to play by cautioning drivers or reporting them to FRSC personnel on the highway.
“We appeal to our drivers to always exercise patience on the highway in order to reduce crashes to safe lives and property.”
The sector commander assured that investigations would unravel more details on the incident.
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Mining Site Explosion: Niger Govt Ban Storage of Explosives in Residential Buildings
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Following the recent dynamite explosion in Sabon- Pegi in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, the Niger State Government has banned storage of explosives in residential buildings.
The tragedy had resulted in the loss of lives and property worth millions of Naira.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago announced the ban when he led both State and Federal Government officials on a sympathy visit to the community yesterday.
He announced a donation of the sum of N174 million to victims.
He was accompanied by the Minister of Information and National Orientation Agency, Mohammed Idris; the Senator representing Niger North Senatorial District and immediate past governor of the state, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello; the Speaker Niger State House of Assembly, AbdulMalik Sarkin Daji; federal and state lawmakers from the Niger State; some State Executive Council members; APC stalwarts; and the Emir of Borgu, Mohammed Sani Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV among other dignitaries.
Bago directed that N5 million be given to each of those whose houses were totally destroyed, N2 million to those partially damaged, N1 million to the injured, N2 million to the families of the deceased and N1 million each to those whose vehicles were affected.
He said the cash donation is to provide succour to the victims, adding that a committee will be set up to ensure the judicious sharing of the money.
The Niger State Governor acknowledged that the area has large deposit of gold and lithium, thereby attracting artisanal miners, resulting in insecurity in the area as they have explosives and guns in their possessions.
He called on the people to surrender their explosives and other dangerous weapons they use to the committee made up of security agencies, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), traditional institutions and other relevant stakeholders for safe storage instead of keeping them in their houses.
While sympathising with the victims of the incident, the governor called on the people to embrace the responsible mining policy of the state government for their safety.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation Agency, Idris said the president is deeply saddened by the incident, describing it as man-made tragedy and should not be allowed to recur.
He said the president had instructed that an advocacy and enlightenment campaigns be stepped up by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), particularly to those involved in illegal mining activities to avert recurrence.
The minister stated that the president had directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NEMA and other relevant MDAs of the Federal Government saddled with responsibilities to complement the efforts of the state government in ameliorating the sufferings of the people.
He commended the efforts of the state government and promised that the Federal Government will consolidate on them to collectively ensure Nigeria is safer, especially from man-made disasters.
Senator Bello, described the incident as unfortunate and stressed the need for education for the people to engage in best practices in mining activities and then announced a cash donation of N50 million to the victims of the explosion.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Daji, Member representing Kontagora/Wushishi/Mariga/Mashegu Federal Constituency, Abdullahi Idris Garba, APC National Vice Chairman North Central and Chairman, Bio-Safety Management Agency, Mu’azu Bawa Rijau, commended the show of love and concern that the governor has for the people.
They unanimously condemned the act of keeping dynamites in their houses, calling on the people to desist from such act for their safety.
Earlier, the Chairman of Mashegu Local Government Area, Umar Jibrin Igade, appreciated the governor for the visit and his continuous support to people.
The council chairman revealed that 17 houses were completely destroyed,35 partly damaged and 9 vehicles affected.
He said the council had banned artisanal mining in the local government area temporary pointing out that it had been discovered that many more people are still having dynamites stored in their houses.
The council chairman called on his counterpart in Magama, which is a border local government area, to also enforce a temporary ban on artisanal mining for effective outcomes, while urging the state government for support to that effect.
COVER
Anyanwu, Ude-Okoye Clash at PDP BoT Meeting
By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, the two men who have been in struggle for the position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), clashed at the commencement of the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting of the party on yesterday.
The PDP is currently entangled in crisis from different fronts.
The meeting had begun with Ambassador Iliya Damagum, Acting National Chairman, and Anyanwu seated before the arrival of Ude-Okoye.
Ude-Okoye came into the hall when Senator Adolphus Wabara, the BoT Chairman, was delivering his speech but Ude-Okoye waited for him to finish before going round to greet those on the high table.
He, however, excluded his rival, Anyanwu.
Ude-Okoye was later forced out of the meeting by suspected thugs, leading to hot exchange of words. As this was going on, journalists were asked to give way for a closed door session.
But Ude-Okoye was seen shouting and urging his supporters to prevent his ejection. He lamented as Anyanwu’s men were allowed into the secretariat, while his supporters were denied access.
As a result of the hot exchange of words between the suspected thugs of Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye, the police were called to restore order for the 79th BoT meeting to continue.
The Chairman, PDP BoT, Wabara urged the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to honour its word and convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for next month.
He said NEC remains the highest decision-making body of the party, and it was crucial that it be convened without further delay to address pressing concerns.
He said it was imperative that the NWC rise above personal interests and place the survival and progress of the party above all other considerations.
The BoT chairman expressed “profound” disappointment over the crisis currently rocking the leadership of the PDP NWC.
“As elder statesmen and women, leaders who hold the trust of the generality of our party members and the public, it is disheartening that these issues have not been resolved. The failure to resolve these internal conflicts undermines the strength and credibility of our party,” he said.
The Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Damagum assured the NWC that “we will do everything possible” to convene NEC in February.
He admitted that there was crisis in the NWC, saying, “I want to say this with the highest sense of responsibility, part of this crisis that you see today within the NWC is propelled by our leaders that are supposed to unite us.”
Damagum lamented a situation where certain members of the NWC were invited to visit certain places without his knowledge as acting chairman of the party. He said, “I want to use this opportunity to caution us, caution our leaders.”
He added, “As the conscience of this party, some of us are also complicit. We should look inwards, search our conscience. This party is dear to all of us, it is the only thing we have.”
At the end of the 79th BoT meeting, the much anticipated NEC meeting was scheduled for Feb, a communique issued at the end of the meeting said.
The BoT Chairman, Wabara, who read the communique, said, “Acting National Chairman assured the Board of Trustees that the NEC meeting as scheduled in February 2025 will hold.”
Wabara explained that the NEC would hold to address all pertinent issues and reaffirm members shared commitment to the unity, discipline and ideals that bind the party together.
On crisis over the position of the National Secretary of the party presently before the court, the communique said the Board of Trustees has set up a committee led by Barrister Tanimu Turaki to interface with the parties, study the situation and report to the board for further action.
On the state of the nation, it expressed concern over the worsening economic and security situation, social dislocation, and total sense of hopelessness in the country due to the ill-conceived and ill-implemented policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
“The Board of Trustees decries the insensitivity of the APC administration towards Nigerians as evident in the unjustified multiple taxes and failure to stem the increase in the pump price of fuel, electricity tariffs, and telecommunication charges with its crippling effect on the productive sector and unbearable rise in cost of living in the country.
“The Board of Trustees insists that the APC administration lacks the required patriotism, competence, as well as a proficient, transparent, and innovative governance team to effectively manage the nation’s abundant human and natural resources to benefit our citizens.”
It demanded that the APC administration immediately rescind all its anti-people policies and take urgent steps to stimulate the productive sector, create jobs, and revamp the ailing economy.