Connect with us

News

Nigeria’s road construction expenditure rises to N400bn, says Fashola

Published

on

Spread the love

Agency Report

June 20, 2021

The Federal Government’s expenditure on road infrastructure rose from N18 billion in 2015 to about N400 billion this year, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, disclosed in Abuja on Sunday.

Fashola made the disclosure at a forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to explain the activities of the ministry in the past six years of the current administration.

Advertisement

According to him, the Federal Government’s investments in road building and infrastructure development have been impacting various economic activities nationwide.

He said that increased investments in infrastructure by the government had brought profitability to all actors in the economic value-chain.

The minister said that more wealth and job opportunities had been created with 850 contracts awarded and 13, 000 kilometres of roads and bridges under construction and repairs across Nigeria’s federal highways.

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to improving infrastructure sits squarely at the centre of the progressive ideal to improve the human condition.

“This connects many more doors and it is the most legitimate way for distributing money across board.’’

Advertisement

Fashola described the expansion and boosting of infrastructure in the country as part of the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

He pointed out that one of the objectives was to create a globally competitive economy.

“Infrastructure is not an isolated idea, it is for the purpose of improving the human condition, weather it is business, healthcare, airport experience or road travel.

“From the time you begin to sign a contract, you begin to engage professionals.

“They have to produce bank guarantees, prior to that the road has to be designed and cognisance of the road has to be taken before you do a design.

Advertisement

“Also the alignment has to be drawn, so by the time you are getting to the contract so many professionals have played their roles and that’s what infrastructure does.

“It kick-starts a series of positive economic exchanges and by the time you get to construction, you are reaching the bottom of the pyramid.

“You are reaching out to labourers, who earn between N2, 000 and N3, 000 daily, depending on which part of the country.

“So, when you do that on a road that takes five to six years to construct, you are just creating wealth.

“Those people who are working need nutrition, they need nourishment, water, food and that’s another activity and we haven’t even started to talk of the building materials, excavating, mining, laterite, sand, gravel, stone then transporting them.

Advertisement

“This is the ecosystem we are talking about and that’s why I always ask our staff to do research and check if they have ever seen any governor, prime minister or president who will omit infrastructure in his inaugural speech. Nobody does it.

“This is the heart and soul of every economy and this is what the president has done and today we have 13, 000 kilometres of road under construction or rehabilitation across Nigeria’s federal highways.

“That number keeps moving because more are in procurement. The 13,000 kilometer of roads and bridges translate to 850 different contracts so you can see an indication of different contractors employed.’’

According to the minister, some contractors have more than one job, especially the big ones like Julius Berger currently in Odukpani and Calabar.

“The company is also handling the Abuja-Kano and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Advertisement

“The Chinese firm, CCECC is in places like Enugu-Port Harcourt highway, Yenagoa and the Kano-Katsina highway.

“This has made the budgetary commitments to move from 18 billion in 2015 to nearly N400 billion in 2021, so you will see how this is impacting the economy.

“Other economic activities are also being impacted like the petroleum sector as more construction trucks make use of more lubricants, diesel, bitumen and asphalt.

“So, you cannot see our achievements in terms of roads alone. Our achievement is more of an ideology. It is a process and we want to see results,’’ Fashola said.

NAN

Advertisement

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

  • CBN Sells Polaris Bank To SCIL
    Spread the loveThe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the completion of the sale of shares in Polaris Bank to Strategic Capital Investment Limited (SCIL), a new core investor. In a statement signed by its Director, Corporate Communications […]
  • “No Way Back For You In Man United Squad, Spoilt Brat” – Darren Bent Slams Ronaldo
    Spread the loveDarren Bent, a former Charlton, Tottenham and Sunderland striker, has suggested that the end of Cristiano Ronaldo has come at Manchester United. The former England man said he sees no way the former Real Madrid star can […]
  • Gunmen Attack Anambra Police Station, Kill Four Officers
    Spread the loveUnknown 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 […]
  • 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 Yakub 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 […]
  • Media Intelligence agency Marks Six years of Operation in Nigeria
    Spread the loveMedia Intelligence agency Marks Six years of Operation in Nigeria. P+ Measurement Services, Nigeria’s foremost Independent Public Relations measurement and evaluation agency, celebrates its sixth year of effective operation with qualitative offerings for its numerous clients, as it […]

Trending

Enable Notifications OK No thanks