NEWS
Senate Approves N6.7bn as Refund for Kebbi for Road Repairs
The Senate has approved payment of N6.7 billion to Kebbi Government as refund for repairs carried out on Federal Government roads in the state.
This followed the adoption of the report of Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts at Thursday’s plenary.
The report was on “Promissory note and bond issuance as refund to Kebbi State government for projects executed on behalf of the federal government.
”The Chairman of the Committee, Sen.
Clifford Ordia while presenting the report, said that the committee recommended N6.706 billion aspromissory note and bond issuance.
He said that the amount was to settle outstanding claims and liabilities of Kebbi government.
Ordia said that the Senate had on Sept. 21, 2022 considered the report of the President on the “Establishment of a Promissory Note Programme and a Bond Issuance” as refund to Kebbi and Yobe states.
“It was for projects executed on behalf of the federal government.
“The report was referred to the committee for further legislative action,” he said.
Ordia said that promissory note programme and bond issuance was a financial instrument to clear federal government’s debt to other governmental and non-governmental bodies in various sectors of the economy.
“Specifically, this promissory note and bond issuance is designed to make refunds to three state governments for projects executed on behalf of the federal government in the aforementioned states.
“The communication has contained a request for approval of N18.6 billion for Yobe Government, N2.47 billion for Taraba Government and N6.7 billion for Kebbi State Government.
“It will be recalled that the committee noted that it would resume the consideration of the outstanding request in respect of Kebbi as soon as possible.
“Subsequently, on Nov. 23, 2022, the Senate considered the committee’s report on the promissory note programme for Taraba and Yobe for projects executed on behalf of the federal government.
“The upper chamber then mandated the committee to re-invite Kebbi government to defend its claim before the committee within two weeks,” Ordia said.
He said that the committee found out that Kebbi government completed all the projects for which it sought for refund.
They findings he said are:
“That the roads were constructed in line with the contract specifications and can stand the test of time.
“That the projects were executed between 2006 and 2012 and are federal roads.
“That series of inspection visits were carried out by the Ministry of Works and Housing on the federal roads completed in the state and it ascertained that the level of work had met required standard.
“That the state government had paid all the contractors that executed the projects.
“That the promised amount due for reimbursement to Kebbi State Government and reviewed by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is N6,706,835,495.12 for the execution of federal roads.
“That BPP had attained and classified that due process was followed accordingly.”
Meanwhile, the 9th Senate had adjourned until Saturday for valedictory session. (NAN)
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has advised pilgrims to stay in their tents from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. due to soaring daytime temperatures during the pilgrimage.The Chairman of NAHCON, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh, gave the advice while speaking to newsmen in Makkah on Sunday.
Daily Asset reports that Saudi Arabia, through its National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), had on Sunday issued heatwave warnings for Hajj 2025, urging pilgrims to take precautions amid soaring daytime temperatures between 40°C and 47°C. The NCM forecasted challenging weather, including high temperatures, potential thunderstorms, and reduced visibility.Saleh said NAHCON had a stakeholders’ meeting where all the Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Boards were mandated to tell their pilgrims that no pilgrim would be allowed out of their tents in Mina and Arafat due to soaring temperature.“Yesterday we called all the stakeholders. We met with them and mandated them to announce and tell their people that nobody is allowed to be out of the tent from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.“It is not advised to go out because the temperature is not normal this year. We also advised them to continue drinking water.“If it is necessary to be outside, let them go with water in hand. Let them take their umbrellas and use them, just because the temperature is not normal.The NAHCON chairman urged the media to help the commission to disseminate the information to the pilgrims to adhere to the heatwave warnings.“So, media, please you are our eyes, you are our voice to the public. Help us tell our people to regard this instruction.”Report says that approximately 63,000 Nigerian pilgrims are expected for the 2025 Hajj. (NAN)
Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have neutralised three suspected bandits in Wase Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau.Maj. Samson Zhakom, the Media Officer of OPSH, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Jos.Zhakom, who said that the feat followed an intelligence tip, added that the troops also recovered weapons during the operations.
“Yesterday , troops of OPSH, acting on credible intelligence, conducted offensive operations at a criminal hideout along the fringes of Pinau community in Wase LGA of Plateau. “During the operation, troops made contact with criminal elements terrorising the general area, including Pinau – Gimbi road.“During the exchange of fire, troops overwhelmed the criminals with superior firepower and neutralised three of the suspected bandits“While others ran away with wounds from gunshots, troops exploited the general area and recovered one AK-47 rifle and one AK-47 magazine,” he said.Zhakom said that the troops had commenced a follow-up operation to intercept the fleeing criminals. (NAN)
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
A former commissioner in the immediate past administration of Former Governor Ben Ayade, Dr Edem Okokon Effiom has commended the State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu for his development strides in cross river in two yearsEffiom made the commendation recently during an interaction with journalists at his residence in Calabar.
While appraising the performance of the Governor, he said nobody would have done better than what the Governor has done in the State considering the cash inflow to the stateHe stressed further that Governor Otu had performed magic from infrastructure, the health sector up to the Education sectorAccording to him, “look at the remodeling of the State cultural center in Calabar, the State library complex even the ongoing construction works at the 12 km Adiabo- Eseku road that was abandoned since the military regime about 33 years ago and the reconstruction of the State Newspaper Cooperation and many others,” Effiom stated. ”His administrative style and administration, as I have often elaborated in several forums, is a mixture of humility, calmness, and wide recognition”.”His Excellency Governor Bassey Edet Otu is an embodiment of humility. He wears the garment of calmness, and that calmness also radiates within his administration”.He said the Governor has brought in a quiet infrastructural revolution, re-innovation and reconstruction of dilapidated and abandoned infrastructures. Stating that this is seen clearly from both the rural and Oban infrastructure.”We can see this clearly from the hospital and medical infrastructure. We have seen this quiet revolution taking place with very little noise across the State,he’s a man for whom I think his work can speak for him”.”Cross Riverians can naturally assess his administration in the last two years, he is a man who has enjoyed the followership of the large populace”.”So, if the people say that we want him to continue, come 2027, so be it. He merits it. In all ramifications, he merits it”.”In his way of life, his composure in life and the way he touches politics. He brings a lot of Midas touch to politics. He actually merits a second term which is not negotiable””So for me, I will also subscribe to those who say he should come back in 2027″, he concluded.
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