Connect with us

News

FG completes 533 water projects, as 7 states get $700m loan

Published

on

Spread the love

By Gistflash News

Aug 5, 2021

Federal Government says it has successfully completed 533 water projects including 38 irrigation, 458 water supply schemes and 37 dams to boost food production and ensure potable water to citizens.

Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, made this known at the weekly media briefing organised by the Presidential Communication Team led by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Thursday.

Advertisement

According to him, the federal government is working on 116 ongoing and abandoned water projects across the country.

He, however, maintained that the federal government would no longer serve as ‘Father Christmas’ in terms of providing water projects to states, saying the federal government maximum commitment to states henceforth would be 30 percent.

Adamu said this decision was arrived at as government discovered that some states were deliberately unwilling to do their parts in maintaining  projects sited in their states.

The minister cited the case of Bayelsa where the N6  billion Otuoke water project meant to serve 13 communities of 120,000 people was locked up by the state government, because it claimed it could not afford the N2 or N3 million a month to provide diesel, pay for staff and chemicals.

“I know of two places where the federal government built dam and treatment plant and the states didn’t use them.

Advertisement

“And I know a scheme that we commissioned, worth N6 billion, handed over to the state government because the federal ministry of water resources cannot run a water scheme on a daily basis.

“So after completion, we handed over to the state government. A year after we went back, it was not in use. It was for 13 communities of 120,000 people, the state government locked it.

“We asked why, they said they can’t afford N2 or N3 million a month to provide diesel and pay for staff and chemicals. So what can we do?

“And that is why we said the federal government is no longer going to be a Father Christmas by just doing these projects and handing over to them. We have to see their own commitment as well.

“The state that locked  up water project because they could not afford N3 million is Bayelsa state and the project is Otuoke water supply project.”

Advertisement

Adamu also revealed that seven states comprising Bauchi, Delta, Ekiti, Imo, Katsina, Kaduna and Plateau would benefit from the first tier of the World Bank $700 million for specific water projects in their respective states.

According to him, the states will access between 50 or 60 million dollars each after meeting the criteria set by the World Bank.

He said: “Some certain criteria were set by the World Bank and us. And the states had to meet these eligible criteria, and the projects are submitted into tier one and tier two.

“Tier one is for those that will get a substantial amount, maybe 50, 60 million dollars for the urban schemes.

“For the P-WASH (Plan – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Action Plan, is the rural component and it is going to the states, specifically.

Advertisement

“Some are going as grant while some of it is going to some specific projects. And like I said, there are eligible criteria that states ought to have met, and it is not all the 36 states.

“There are conditions attached on which basis that this money is going to be disbursed.

“So the whole thing has not been finalised yet, but what we have is an approval in general from the World Bank specifically for this, there’ll be some realignments here and there and that’s something that we’re going to be working on between our ministry, Ministry of Finance and the World Bank.”

On the National Water Resources Bill currently before the National Assembly, the minister frowned at way and manner misinformation on the bill was deliberately being sent out for selfish and political reasons.

According to him, the federal government has taken a firm decision to regulate the water delivery system, as no data exists to effectively reform the sector.

Advertisement

Adamu said: “Obviously, I have said so much about this bill, people have been deliberately misinformed.

“The bill was deliberately politicised unnecessarily, something that is good for the development of the country. And in any case, 96, 97 percent of the provisions in that bill already exist in four different laws – Water Resources Act 2004, Nigeria Hydrological Services Act, River Basin Development Authorities Act, and the National Water Resources Institute Act.

“We are still working with the National Assembly on this bill. I think probably they were so engrossed with the PIB and the electoral bill, which are of course, serious national priorities, and they were not able to come to talk about it.

“But already, we have done all the things that needed to be done. The issue that was raised, the technical issue about gazetting had been addressed.

“So the bill is still before the National Assembly.’’

Advertisement

NAN

Comments

Spread the love
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Gunmen Attack Anambra Police Station, Kill Four Officers

Published

on

Gunmen Attack Anambra Police Station, Kill Four Officers
Spread the love

Unknown gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday attacked a police station located in Atani, the headquarters of Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

It was gathered that the gunmen launched the attack on the police facility around 1:30 am on Wednesday.

A further report had it that four police officers were killed in the attack.

Since the emergence of Charles Soludo as the Governor of Anambra State there had been series of attacks on police and government facilities in the state.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the state police command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, has confirmed the development.

He said, “The hoodlums came around 1 a.m., and unlucky for us, four police operatives paid the supreme price.”

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng on hearing of the attack immediately mobilized men of the command from various units to the area.

“The hoodlums were still there when the CP personally led men of the command to the affected area, and the timely arrival saved the day and the hoodlums were successfully repelled, and the facility was saved.

“We have commenced intelligence already, and we hope to unravel the persons behind the attack.”

Advertisement
Comments

Spread the love
Continue Reading

Crime

Supreme Court Affirms Six-Year Jail Term For Former Director Of Pensions, John Yakubu

Published

on

Supreme Court Affirms Six-Year Jail Term For Former Director Of Pensions, John Yakubu

Supreme Court Affirms Six-Year Jail Term For Former Director Of Pensions, John YakubSupreme Court Affirms Six-Year Jail Term For Former Director Of Pensions, John Yakubu

The Supreme Court has affirmed the six years imprisonment imposed on a former Federal Director of Pensions, Mister John Yakubu, and also ordered him to refund the sum of N22.9b to the Federal Government.

The N22.9b was part of the police pension fund he admitted before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to have been misappropriate

Justice Tijjani Abubakar in a judgment in an appeal filed by Yusuf upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal which in 2018 sent him to six years imprisonment in addition to the refund of the sum.

The apex court held that Yusuf and others engaging in fraudulent practices must be told through court judgments that it is no longer business as usual.

Advertisement

Also Read:

Media Intelligence agency Marks Six years of Operation in Nigeria

Taliban leader says not less than 200 people in panjshir surrendered weapons

Sept 26, 2021A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mallam Yusuf Ali, says it is not to late for members of the  National Assembly to revisit the issue of  electronic transmission of election results to ensure credibility.Ali, who made the remarks while speaking in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, said the more credible elections were, the less litigations they will attract.The  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports  that the Nigerian Senate had on July 16, passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, after division among its members on the electronic transmission of results.

The clause 52(2) of the bill gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the discretion to determine when, where and how voting and transmission of results will be done.

Advertisement

The Senate had ruled out the possibility of having results transmitted electronically when it voted that the NCC, with the National Assembly’s approval, would determine whether INEC could transmit results electronically or not.

Similarly, the House of Representatives, on July 16, passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, maintaining the controversial Clause 52(2) as presented amidst protests, especially by members of the minority caucus.

iNEC insists have adequate structures to successfully e-transmit election results

Electoral Bill: PDP governors urge NASS to set up conference committee

PDP expresses shock over Senate rejection of e-transmission of election results

Justice Abubakar said that the appeal of the former federal pension director seeking to set aside the six years jail term against him was frivolous and devoid of merit.

He further held that victims of the convicted director deserve restitution which can only be achieved through justice.

Yusuf had dragged the Federal Government before the apex court seeking to overturn the six years imprisonment slammed on by the Court of Appeal.

Advertisement

The former pensions director, who is serving the six years jail term at the Kuje correctional facility, also asked the Supreme Court to set aside a whopping sum of N22.9 billion he was ordered to refund to the government treasury by the Court of Appeal in a 2018 judgment.

He was sent to prison in 2018 by the Court of Appeal in Abuja upon being found guilty of defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N22.9 billion through police pensions.

Comments
Continue Reading

News

Stakeholders task Nigerian youths on good governance, leadership advocacy

Spread the love

Dr Odiakpo Obire, the founder of Good leadership for Africa, an Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) said the aim of the awards were to encourage African leaders to take their place as leaders among world leaders.
He said the youths of Africa had what it takes to elect the right leaders into offices as this was fundamental to their future and the success of the country.


Spread the love

Published

on

Stakeholders task Nigerian youths on good governance, leadership advocacy
Spread the love

Abuja Nov 5, 2021 (NAN) Stakeholders in governance have urged Nigerian youths to be advocates of good governance and leadership in order to make Nigeria a better place.

They gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the second global good governance awards and summit held in Abuja on Friday.

The theme for the award is “ Good governance mentality for global impact.

Dr Odiakpo Obire, the founder of Good leadership for Africa, an Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) said the aim of the awards were to encourage African leaders to take their place as leaders among world leaders.

He said the youths of Africa had what it takes to elect the right leaders into offices as this was fundamental to their future and the success of the country.

According to him, good governance and leadership are achievable and controllable by the youths.
“ Good governance and leadership make strong institutions.

“ The Africa and Nigeria of our dreams cannot be achieved if youths neglect accountability and advocacy of good leadership’, he said.

Obire stated that everyone appointed into a leadership position could help achieve a great Nigeria if they put the needs of the masses first and do what was expected of them.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK THIS ARTICLES;

“ From the Federal Government to the local government, to the appointees to the least held office, everyone has the responsibility to do the right thing, ” he said.

He said democracy in Nigeria is over 22 years and youths had to rise to the responsibility of advocating for good leadership and accountability.

“ Good governance starts from selecting good leaders by the youths, ” he said.

Amb. Louis Temisan, Mayorking Ultimate International Magazine said a lot of people, institutions and NGOs are worthy of celebration because they advocate good governance.

“ People, institutions and NGOs who are staff minded, support youth empowerment, community development deserve all the celebration and recognition, ” he said.

According to him, advocating for and publicising good governance will challenge other lacking leaders to do better in their respective communities.

Amb. Anthony Nwangwu disclosed that good governance should be measured by good directions and steps taken by a leader to ensure life was easy for people.

ALSO READ:

He said good governance is not measured by the number of cars a leader has or how much cash they throw around.

Nwangwu said good governance affects every facets of life.

NAN reports that about 30 people from the private and public sectors were recipients of different awards.

Some category of these awards include, award of Excellence in Human resource, award of best security outfit and award of best youth empowerment. (NAN)

Comments


Spread the love
Continue Reading
Enhance your Brand Visibility

LET’S REVAMP YOUR BUSINESS

Let’s keep you updated

Advertisement

HOW TO BUY FOLLOWERS FOR ALL YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

Gorgeous Bride rocking one of Beyonce’s Hit song

Most Viewed Posts

Trending

Enable Notifications OK No thanks