SPEECH BY PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU AS READ BY VP KASHIM SHETTIMA ON THE OCCASION OF 90TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF HRM OBA SIKIRU KAYODE ADETONA, THE AWUJALE OF IJEBULAND ON MAY 10, 2024
Protocols
We are here today to celebrate and rejoice with an outstanding and extraordinary monarch on the occasion of his 90th birthday anniversary.
It also gladdens my heart to see the Awujale in his full glory and majesty attain this important milestone.
I had planned to personally attend this epoch-making event as a mark of honour to our reverred royal father. I returned from my travel abroad to be part of this celebration. However, the exigencies and demands of state duty have both conspired to make it practically impossible to be here.
Earlier, I sent a personally-signed tribute to Kabiyesi Awujale, underscoring his transcendental and preeminent status as a royal father not just in our country, but also as one of the most adored around the world.
Kabiyesi Adetona deserves all the accolades we can accord him because he earned them.
In the last 64 years, Kabiyesi had served the people of Ijebuland with great wisdom and rare dedication. It is not surprising that his kingdom and people have continued to thrive.
While we rejoice with Oba Adetona today, it is important to state that what we are celebrating is much more than this 90th birthday anniversary.
In Oba Adetona, we are celebrating courage, dignity, honour and a life that is wholly committed to duty and service.
In time of adversity, Oba Adetona showed strength and kingly character. He stood his ground and confronted injustice and oppression during our just struggle for the restoration of democratic rule in the land between 1993 and 1999. If democracy is blossoming in our country today, it is because patriarchs like Oba Adetona stood firmly on the side of the people.
Motivated by higher and noble ideal to entrench democratic good governance in our country, Oba Adetona recognized the importance of expanding the frontier of knowledge with his endowment of a professorial chair at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State.
It is appropriate that as part of activities marking this birthday anniversary, we are also inaugurating the Post-Graduate School on Policy and Governance Studies funded by Kabiyesi.
Because Oba Adetona has honoured our country and humanity with his many years of meritorious service, I therefore, on this special occasion of his 90th birthday ceremony, confer on him the second highest National Honour of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).
To ensure that the knowledge production and intellectual output of the Post-Graduate school benefit the entire country, the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos will be asked to take over the running and management of Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance Studies. This will be a fitting compliment to Kabiyesi's educational legacy.
I wish Kabiyesi Awujale more years of service to the people of Ijebuland and robust health on the throne.
Many happy returns Kabiyesi.
Preliminary Report of A 5-Day Search and Rescue Operation Regarding a Man Trapped in Underground Drainage/Tunnel at Onipanu Bus Stop, Inward Fadeyi Between 6th-10th May, 2024
Admin
INCIDENT
The Agency received a distress call from residents and bystanders at Onipanu Bus Stop, Onipanu regarding a drain duck man working for LAMATA that got trapped in the underground drainage/tunnel on Monday 6th May, 2024 at about 3:23pm. This prompted the immediate activation of the Agency’s Response Team to the scene of the incident.
TOT: 3:25pm
CAUSE
Upon the arrival of the Agency’s Team at the incident scene, investigation and information gathered revealed that an adult male, Mr Tajudeen Amololo (59 years), a Drain Duck working for LAMATA while desilting the drainage along the axis in an attempt to clear a blocked portion of the underground drainage/tunnel in order to allow free flow of drainage water got trapped in the process.
SALVAGE
Emergency responders immediately began a rescue operation accessing the heavily silted and flooded tunnel which had lots of storm water from the rains on Sunday, the previous night. In the process of the search and rescue operation on Monday 6th May,2024 a fireman from Lagos State Fire Service who suffocated in the underground drainage/tunnel was revived, stabilised by the Agency’s paramedics and immediately transported to LASUTH for adequate medical attention.
Also on Tuesday 7th May, 2024, a member of the LAMATA Drain Ducks got injured during the ongoing search/rescue operation. He was immediately treated by the Agency’s paramedics.
After five days of painstaking, tedious and energy sapping operation with the team focused on a salvage operation, at 5.53pm on Friday 10th May, 2024 the victim was recovered dead from the underground drainage/tunnel. The recovered body was immediately bagged by the Agency’s officials and handed over to LAMATA Drain Ducks.
RESPONSE
The Agency’s LRT, LRU Paramedics, Lagos State Fire Service, LAMATA and NPF (Ilupeju Division) were responders at the incident scene.
ACTION TAKEN
The operatives of the Agency were involved in;
-Recovery of the trapped victim from the underground tunnel/drainage.
-Revive and stabilization of suffocated fireman and transportation to LASUTH
-Treatment of injured LAMATA Drain Duck
-Coordination with all stakeholders at the incident scene to ensure a smooth operation.
-Management of the incident scene to avert a secondary incident.
RECOMMENDATION
-Adequate safety measures should be entrenched in the operations of the Drain Ducks.
⁃ refresher training for the drainage duck operations
No further update
Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu
PS LASEMA
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Says Nigeria Will Continue to Play a Strategic Role in Africa as He Receives Letters of Credence From Ambassadors
Admin![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Says Nigeria Will Continue to Play a Strategic Role in Africa as He Receives Letters of Credence From Ambassadors](/media/k2/items/cache/64d6d95a7ae0913c494076592f25f282_M.jpg?t=20240513_031244)
President Bola Tinubu, on Friday in Abuja, reaffirmed Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa as a bastion of peace, saying the nation will continue to play its role as a stabilizer on the continent.
Receiving a letter of credence from the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohamed Ahmed, President Tinubu emphasized the shared commitment of both countries to promoting global peace and stability through collaboration within international organizations, such as the United Nations.
President Tinubu noted that since establishing diplomatic relations in 1961, Nigeria and Egypt have collaborated on key international priorities, including promoting regional peace, security, and stability.
The discussions at the meeting also touched on the situation in the Sahel and Sudan.
Acknowledging Egypt’s role towards a truce in the crisis in Gaza, President Tinubu said: ''We need to do more. Stability in the region is of paramount importance.''
Ambassador Ahmed conveyed President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's willingness to bolster economic partnership with Nigeria, emphasizing Egypt's interest in increasing trade and investments between the two countries.
''We need to complement each other on investments. Many Egyptian companies are interested in coming to Nigeria to invest,'' the Egyptian Ambassador said.
In discussions with Major-General Sohail Ahmed Khan (retired), High Commissioner of Pakistan, President Tinubu described the Ambassador’s military background as invaluable for exchanging ideas to expand security and defence cooperation.
He underscored the need for global cooperation in combating terrorism and violent extremism.
''We must do more to stop extremists. We need to enhance our collaboration and exchange of ideas and knowledge in these areas.
''As a government, we will keep an open-door policy with countries and development partners on enhancing cooperation on security, economy, education, and the information and communication technology sector where the Minister is doing very well. How can we improve our bilateral relationship? We must do more,'' the President said.
The High Commissioner of Pakistan noted the demographic similarities between the two countries and expressed a desire to elevate the relationship to new heights.
''Pakistan has the fifth largest population in the world while Nigeria is the sixth largest. We have a significant youth population, and our national flags are similar. I would like to take our relationship to a new level, from strength to strength,'' the High Commissioner said.
In a separate meeting with Ambassador Athanasios Kotsionis of Greece, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to an open-door policy that encourages collaboration and progress for the benefit of all.
He restated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Greece and building bridges of cooperation to address common challenges.
The President assured the Greece Ambassador of Nigeria’s commitment to creating an environment conducive to socio-economic growth and development.
''Nigeria and Greece have good historic ties. We have shared priorities, including promoting democracy, and there is room to expand cooperation.
''The economic situation in Africa and Europe is still very unbalanced. We should build on the opportunities from our challenges and strengthen relations between the two countries.
''What I expect is an improvement in the relationship between both countries, and I look forward to us working on that.
''Our government is about renewed hope. Nigeria will continue to play its role as a stabilizer on the continent,’’ the President said.
Ambassador Kotsionis outlined Greece’s efforts to finalize agreements with Nigeria in the areas of tourism, scientific exchange, technology, and maritime.
''We are ready to sign the agreements with Nigeria as soon as they are ready. There is a lot to be done between the two countries, and we will need the support of your government. We hope to achieve incredible things in Nigeria during my stay,'' the Ambassador said.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
May 10, 2024
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has barred the Speaker of the state Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the other 24 lawmakers from parading as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Charles N. Wali gave this order in a case in suit number PHC/1512/CS/2024, filled by Victor Oko Jumbo (Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly) Sokari Goodboy, Orubienimigha Timothy, members of the Assembly.
The suit is against Martin Amaewhule and 24 others, the Governor of Rivers State, the Attorney General of the state, and the Chief Judge of the state.
Wali, following the motion ex parte, and after hearing from Sammie A. Somiari, SAN with B. N. Owunabo, Esq, and others for the claimants/applicants, entered that Amaewhule should stop acting as lawmakers.
Recall that Amaewhule and the other 24 of his colleagues had defected from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, on which they were elected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Also Read: Rivers Crisis: Fubara has committed impeachable offences, Ganduje’s APC NWC declares
Wali also ordered that Rivers government stop dealing with the said lawmakers as their seats have remained vacant after they defected from the PDP that produced them.
The order
The order read: “An Order of interim injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th Defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of Rivers State House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
“An order of interim injunction is, hereby, made restraining the 26th to 28th Defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or howsoever interacting with the 1st to 25th Defendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant with effect from 13th December, 2023 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
“It is further Ordered that this Order, the Motion on Notice and the writ and other processes, in this case, be served on the 1st to 25th defendants/respondents within seven (7) days from date by substituted means to wit: by pasting at the entrance gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Legislative Quarters, Off Aba Road, Port Harcourt and for such service to be deemed good and proper.”
The court adjourned the Rivers lawmakers case till May 29 for Motion on Notice.
President Bola Tinubu has conferred the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON), on the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona,
for his immeasurable and invaluable contributions to national development.
The President who was represented by his Vice, Alhaji Kashim Shettima Friday at the Olabisi Onabanjo University ,Ago Iwoye, for a book presentation on “Reinventing Governance in Nigeria”, as part of activities marking his 64th coronation as a Paramount ruler and 90th birthday.
The ceremony also featured the inauguration of Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
The President also announced that the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos has been directed to take over the management of Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance which the royal father bequeathed to the university.
He described Awujale as an extraordinary royal father and hero of Nigeria democracy, who is adored all over the country for his sincerity of purpose and courage in the face of any adversity threatening national development.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, says insecurity in Nigeria is as a result of past seeds sowed by the country.
The cleric who spoke on Friday while delivering a lecture at the 42nd Actualisation conference of Rotary International, District 9110, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, noted that the current insecurity in the country will worsen if Nigeria failed to prioritise education.
Kukah bemoaned the poor state of education and urged religious institutions, charities, and other humanitarian organisations to focus their energies on ending illiteracy.
“We are facing the challenges that are the consequences of our children not having education. Now everybody is fearing bandits, everybody is fearing Boko Haram, we are reaping today what we sowed yesterday and it will actually grow worse.
“We have millions of children, at least between 10 to 12 or 15 million children that are on the streets who are begging, each of these children are growing by the day, the Almijiri that is 10 now, in 10 years time he will be 20 years so unless we quickly do something the situation may go worse”, Kukah said.
“We must all try to combat illiteracy because there is no substitute for education and if we who are educated believe that we are secured then we must think again”.
Earlier in his good will message, former President Olusegun Obasanjo charged the Rotary club to step up their efforts to improve the world.
Obasanjo who spoke in a pre-recorded video, called on the club to keep putting the good of humanity above all else.
The former President exhorted participants to use the opportunity of the conference to
rekindle their enthusiasm for improving society and aiding the underprivileged.
The District Governor, Ifeyinwa Ejezie, noted Rotary Club under her watch has done a lot by focusing on basic education and literacy, maternal and child health as well as economic empowerment.
She disclosed that the District has taken the issue of mental health to another level by educating alot of people, adding that drug abuse among the youths was equally addressed by the club.
Ejezie reiterated Rotary Club’s dedication to humanitarian endeavours within the district and internationally.
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George, has called on elders and stakeholders of the party to intervene in the political crisis rocking Rivers State.
George, who made this call on Friday, said the Rivers crisis may become a national conflagration, warning President Bola Tinubu not to treat with levity the threat by some lawmakers in the state House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He, however, advised that nobody should sit on the fence and pretend as if everything is okay, insisting that the state belongs to PDP.
Quoting Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution which states that a member of the House of Assembly shall vacate his seat if he defects to another party, George maintained that all the PDP lawmakers who moved to the All Progressives Congress, APC, have automatically lost their seats “and they are in no position to threaten Governor Fubara”.
“So their plot to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor is already in vain,” he stressed.
George added, “Rivers people belong to PDP. Those threatening to impeach the governor are being remote-controlled by some forces. This must stop because if Rivers is set on fire today, that may end this democracy.
“We should remember ‘Operation Wetie’ which started in the defunct Western Region and eventually consumed the nation and ended the First Republic in 1966.
“All the actors in this crisis in Rivers should avoid actions likely to cause breach of peace and breakdown of law and order in our country.
“Members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of our party should be the elders in the room, act swiftly and nip this crisis in the bud before it consumes everybody.
“All the gladiators should also think of the collective interests of Nigerians.
“Whether we are members of PDP, APC or other parties, we should stop issuing provocative statements to increase the tension in Rivers.
“Any move that can truncate this democracy must be stopped immediately. Enough is enough.”
The United Kingdom’s economy has overcome recession earlier than expected in the first quarter of 2023.
The economy grew by 0.6 per cent between January and March, the fastest rate for two years, official figures showed.
Recall that last year, the UK economy slipped into recession after shrinking for two three-month periods in a row.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the economy had “turned a corner”, but Labour said this was no time for a “victory lap”.
On Thursday, the governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, told the BBC that the UK was seeing a recovery, although it was not a strong one.
Interest rates have been at their highest for 16 years, meaning people are paying more to borrow money for things such as mortgages and loans, but savers have also received better returns.
The Bank on Thursday said that inflation, which measures the rate of prices rise, would fall close to its target level in the next couple of months. That had boosted expectations of a rate cut in June. However, the growth figures that were stronger than expected dampened those expectations.
29 Generals of the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army have retired from active military service.
They were pulled out of active service at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State on Friday.
Naija News reports that out of the 29 retired infantry officers pulled out of active service at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State, 19 were Major Generals and 10 Brigadiers General.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Maj.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, vowed that they would always be committed to the military profession.
He urged those still in active service to sustain the modest strategic, operational and tactical achievements made, and also to surpass them.
”The frontline is expanding and the Nigerian Army is becoming increasingly committed with the eyes of the nation and the world on it.
”Our Infantry Corps must therefore not relent or rest on her oars as the entire Nigerian Army depend largely on the Infantry Corps to achieve its core mandate and mission.
”I admonish the Infantry that as the threats to Nigeria sovereignty is becoming asymmetric in time and space, you must be proactively way ahead of our adversaries in all aspects of the unfolding combat scenarios,” he added.
Ezugwu also called on the Infantry Corps to review some of its tactical and operational strategies in the areas of night fighting capabilities, and frontline intelligence gathering on enemy activities.
He further advised the corps to strengthen basic field crafts training in the areas of aggressive fighting patrols to dominate at least 5 km radius of their locations, Ambushes, listening and observation posts as well as all levels of battle drills.
Ezugwu advocated for employment of modern technology and ICT enablers, and deliberate efforts to develop the leadership skills of junior commanders.
He described military career as the most priceless, honourable and sacrificial call to duty globally, and thanked God for allowing them to end their careers alive after serving the nation for between 30 -38 years.
The General described the day as full of emotional feelings, nostalgic memories, wholesome gratitude, unending joy and unwavering fulfilment.
“For every service personnel, retirement from active service remains a natural and inevitable end which begins to count from the day we passed out from NDA as officers in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
”Our joy and that of our families, colleagues and friends gathered here today knows no bounds as we take a final bow from the Infantry Corps.
“On behalf of my retired colleague Generals, I most respectfully and dutifully appreciate the incumbent Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja for organising this benefitting and memorable pulling out parade in our honour,” he added.
Sonny Echono, executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), has proposed the implementation of tuition fees at federal universities for sustainability.
Echono spoke in Abuja during an education sector conference themed: ‘Funding for Tertiary Education in Nigeria’. Federal universities have long maintained a tuition-free policy, guaranteeing tertiary education for the wards of low-income Nigerians.
They receive funding from the government in the form of annual budgetary allocations for salaries, capital expenditure, and running costs. Echono said the federal government should no longer be the only funding source of higher education in the country.
He said the inability of the government to solely finance tertiary education necessitates that the institutions be given the leverage to explore alternative funding. “It is worth repeating that considering the circumstances surrounding the funding of higher education in Nigeria today, the government alone cannot be the sole source of financing for education,” Echono said.
“Cost-sharing, to enable parents and the students who are primary beneficiaries to contribute to the funding of the system through the payment of tuition fees, to complement government subvention to the institution. It is also instructive to state that some institutions owned by state governments have already started implementing this initiative.”
Echono advocated for the implementation of the student loan scheme. “The interest-free loan with a moratorium will provide an avenue for a growing number of students to access loans at affordable rates to pay their fees and support their education."
“The significance of the student loan scheme, which targets the primary beneficiary of education, is that it shifts the burden of payment by the student to after graduation when the graduate is able to earn and repay the loan.”
He added that tertiary institutions should explore partnerships and collaborations with funding agencies and development partners — locally and internationally — to attract support and resources.
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The government of Kogi State has affirmed its determination to rescue the abducted students from Confluence University of Science and Technology, CUSTEC, Osara, Okene, alive and well.
Naija News earlier reported that unknown gunmen suspected to be bandits, on Thursday night, invaded the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC), Osara, Okene in Kogi State.
It was gathered that the bandits stormed the university around 9.00 p.m. and abducted some students who were reading for their upcoming exams
The state government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, assured the public of their effective management of the situation.
The Kogi government stated its commitment to pursuing the kidnappers with the assistance of security agents, including local hunters, and reiterated its resolve to resist terrorism.
The statement read, “Immediately the report was received, Governor Ahmed Ododo activated the security architecture to track the kidnappers and ensure the abducted students are rescued and the abductors apprehended.
“Hundreds of local hunters who understand the terrain, as well as the conventional security agents, are currently combing the area to ensure safe rescue of the abducted students who were kidnapped in the classrooms.
“So far, nine students have been reported missing.
“We wish to assure students, parents and the entire people of Kogi State that the Government is on top of the situation and all the abducted students will be rescued alive.
“Governor Ododo has also directed that security agents be positioned around all tertiary institutions in the State.
“We wish to commend the local hunters and other security agents who rose stoutly to engage the kidnappers.
“Their gallantry and dedication ensured that the kidnappers did not have a field day which would have been more calamitous.
“The state government will spare nothing in ensuring that all the students abducted are safely rescued and reunited with their families.
“We won’t submit to terror. We shall prevail.”
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has rejected the request by the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to halt trial in the hearing of the N80.2bn fraud charges brought against him.
Bello asked the court to stay execution in his trial before Justice Emeka Nwite, on the grounds that there is an appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, before the Court of Appeal, against the contempt application filed by the defendant against the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukayode.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling on Friday, however, rejected the application made by Bello through his lawyer Abdulwahab Mohammed.
Nwite held that “The application cannot be entertained unless the defendant is present in the court. In the absence of the defendant in court, the motion on notice filed by the complainant can only be conducted if the defendant is in court”.
Justice Nwite held that Bello was trying to make rubbish out of a criminal case by choosing to stay in his house and not respect the court orders.
The Lagos State Special Offences Court, presided over by Justice Rahman Oshodi, has admitted a bundle of documents in the ongoing trial of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, charged with abuse of office, and alleged fraud to the tune of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion respectively.
Before the decision of Justice Oshodi, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had tendered the bundle of documents through the 3rd prosecution witness, and a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, Mr Clement Ngolu, while being led in evidence by the counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
The documents were admitted into evidence following no objections from the 1st defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and the 2nd defence counsel, Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN).
Specifically, the judge admitted the original copies of Zenith Bank account opening package, statement of account of Limelight Multidimensional Services Ltd which were sent to the EFCC into evidence.
According to the judge, “I have read the documents dated March 2024, and I admit the original certified copy of the bundles of documents which include account opening package, statement of accounts into evidence and are marked as exhibit A.” Oshodi said.
In his evidence before Justice Oshodi, Ngolu confirmed that his department responded to regulators and law enforcement agencies in order to ensure that the bank activities were in line with bank’s policies and regulations.
While adding that his department worked with agencies like the EFCC, Nigeria Police, ICPC and NSCDC, the witness explained that sometime in 2014, his department got a request from the EFCC to furnish it with statements of accounts of Limelight and two other accounts and the same was duly furnished the anti-graft agency.
Ngolu said, “The documents we sent to the EFCC was duly signed by staff of the bank.
“The process of generating the statement was through our computer system, which was in good condition as at the time.
“The documents were printed out from the company’s computer which was working well, and the documents are in the bank’s custody.”
However, the defence said they had no question for the witness.
Equally, a former Director of Information Technology of the CBN, John Ayoh, in the continuation of his cross-examination, revealed that he had a confrontation with Emefiele because he had asked him to do something wrong.
The witness who further confirmed that he was sidelined by the embattled governor on the reason that he was not popular with him, added that his being sidelined made him not to have any relationship with him.
According to him: “I was not happy being unpopular with the former CBN governor but on a number of occasions, I signed contract letters to vendors.
“While I was a director with the CBN, my loyalty was to the bank and the Nigerian nation and my relationship with Emefiele was only formal and based on instructions.
“The governor and the four deputy governors of the bank alongside the directors make up the management of the CBN.”
The case has been adjourned until May 17 for the continuation of trial.
Works ministry defends project, House panel gets four weeks to complete probe
The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to probe the ongoing N15tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
As such, the House said it would set up an ad-hoc committee, which would investigate the project and submit a report within four weeks.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved during plenary by the member representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, Benue State, Mr Austin Achado.
The House also resolved to summon the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and his works counterpart, David Umahi, to shed more light on the project.`
But the Ministry of Works defended the project, saying it followed due process. It also said the House of Representatives members had pledged support for the project.
A 700-kilometre turnpike infrastructure, the coastal highway project has attracted commendation and condemnation since the Bola Tinubu administration approved it in February.
The 10-lane coastal road was designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states before culminating in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The project gained traction under the administrations of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari but could not commence.
Under Jonathan, the highway was to cost $12bn, and $11.1bn under Buhari. It was subsequently expanded from a four-lane double carriageway to a 10-lane highway.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed that the construction of the coastal road was expected to span eight years and cost N4bn per kilometre.
FEC approval
So far, the minister disclosed that the Federal Executive Council had approved and released N1.06tn for the contractor for the pilot phase of the construction, which started at the Eko Atlantic City and will terminate at Lekki Deep Seaport.
Although many have lauded the ambitious project, others faulted the process of the award of the contract that led to the emergence of Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited as the preferred contractor.
Umahi had explained that the reason for awarding the contract to Hitech without competitive bidding as laid down by the laws was because of the company’s “track record.”
The minister disclosed that the highway was conceived as an Engineering, Procurement and Construction plus Financing project.
The model, he explained, entails part-funding by the Federal Government between 15 to 30 per cent.
Umahi said the approval process went through the Bureau of Public Procurement after consideration by the Federal Executive Council as prescribed by law.
The minister also said that the contract was awarded on a counterpart-funding basis and not on a public-private partnership, as widely claimed.
“Under this model, the investor provides all designs, part of the financing and construction while the Federal Government provides the counterpart funding. The ministry received such a bid, worked on it and sent it to BPP.
“The BPP worked on it according to the Procurement Act and came up with a price slightly lower than the ministry’s price and even lower than the cost of similar projects awarded five years ago like the Bodo-Bonny project.
Counterpart funding
“So, there’s a marked difference between PPP and EPC plus F (Engineering, Procurement and Construction plus Finance). And in this particular project, there will be a negotiated counterpart funding of between 15 and 30 per cent. We are still negotiating on these terms and will come to a resolution soon,” the minister stated.
Aside from the cost, the demolition of structures along the right of way of the project, particularly the hospitality outlets around the Lagos beaches, had sparked public discourse on the project.
The government has commenced payment of compensation to some of the businesses affected by the demolition.
The first phase of the compensation flag-off included 10 property owners who had been paid about N2.75bn.
However, moving the motion on the floor of the chambers, Achado, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, insisted that the guarantees issued to cover the debt financing component of the project did not have the approval of the National Assembly.
He stated, “It is disturbing that the contingent liabilities accruing to the Federal Government of Nigeria on this project violate the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act of 2023, as section 22(3) states that the minister shall not guarantee an external loan unless the terms and conditions of the loan shall have been laid before the National Assembly and approved by its resolution.
“The guarantees issued to cover the debt financing component of this project do not have the approval of this National Assembly.”
The lawmaker noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had executed an engineering procurement construction finance contract in favour of Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited for the delivery of the coastal road and rail project.
He explained that the project was estimated at N4.33bn per kilometre using reinforced concrete technology for a carriage width of 59.7 metres, to include 10 lanes, shoulders and rail with additional designs of service ducts, street lights, drainages and shore protection.
Achado further said the project had the prospect of providing easy access for the movement of goods and services across the nation, and has a financing structure, as announced by the works minister, “Which requires the Federal Government to provide 15 per cent to 30 per cent co-financing, while the private sector counterpart will provide the balance, and toll the road when completed for a minimum period of 15 years, to ensure full recovery of all debts and equity applied for the delivery of the project.”
Procurement process
Regrettably, Achado maintained that the procurement strategy of the project might have violated section 40(2) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
The section, he added, required that where a procuring authority adopts a restrictive tendering approach, “It should be on the basis that the said goods and services are available only from a limited number of suppliers and contractors and as such, tenders shall be invited from all such contractors who can provide such goods and services.”
Furthermore, the lawmaker argued that the procurement strategy adopted by the Federal Ministry of Works for the award of the contract violated the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission Act 2905.
“Section 4 of the Act outlines that all approved infrastructure projects and contracts for financing, construction and maintenance must be advertised for open competitive public bid, in at least three national dailies,” Achado noted, adding that section 5 of the Act further clarified that “Any direct negotiations with only one contractor could be allowed, only after exhausting the provisions of section 4.”
He further raised the alarm of a possible creation of contingent liabilities for Nigeria because, according to him, while promoting the project, the ministry of works provided a rate per kilometre for the planned works but failed to provide the private partners’ financing sources, structure and competitiveness.
However, Uyime Idem (PDP, Akwa-Ibom), moved an amendment for the project to be referred to the Committee on Public Procurement, which he heads.
He explained that his committee already received several petitions on the project. His amendment was subsequently adopted by the House.
Isiaka Ibrahim (APC, Ogun) moved an amendment for the House Committee on Works to be included. The amendment was also adopted.
The committees were then directed to summon Umahi, Edun and Fagbemi, to ensure that all guarantees and credit enhancement instruments for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Project are sent to the National Assembly for approval.
When the motion was put to a vote by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, after the motion was amended, the majority of the members voted in support.
Following the adoption of the motion, Achado said, “The House resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the procurement process of the contract for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project and report to the House within four weeks.
“The House called on the Honourable Minister of Works, the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to ensure that all guarantees and credit enhancement instruments for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Project are sent to the National Assembly for approval.”
In an interview with The PUNCH, the Deputy Spokesman for the House, Philip Agbese, disclosed that the ad hoc committee would be set up soon at the discretion of the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen.
He said, “The House has its rules change concerning the setting up of ad-hoc committees. Very soon, the committee will be constituted at the discretion of the speaker, taking into consideration the prayers of the motion.
“The minority will send a representative and all the various caucuses would be allowed to have a say in the committee,” Agbese clarified.
In his reaction to the House resolution, the works ministry’s spokesperson, Ben Goong, recalled that the National Assembly members conducted a site visit at the beginning of the construction and granted full approval for the project.
He further mentioned that they expressed support for the project and committed to ensuring its timely completion.
He said, “But members of the National Assembly paid a visit to the site at the start of constructing the highway. The minister was accompanied by the leadership of the house committee on works and they pledged to support that project till it was completed.”
The Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Finance, Mr Mohammed Manga, declined to comment on the lawmakers’ demand for guarantees and credit enhancement.