FG Flags Off Multi Billion Naira 73km Rehabilitation Of Odukpani-Ikom-Ogoja Road In Cross River The Federal Government once again has reiterated its commitment and effort towards bridging the infrastructural gap across the entire six geo-political zones of the country with the aim of stimulating economic growth ease of doing business as well as providing improved standard of living to its citizenry. Towards the realization of the Ministry’s mandate by Mr President to complete and rehabilitate all exiting road projects in the country,   the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, formally flagged off the Rehabilitation of 73 kilometres single carriage way stretching from Odukpani Junction through Ikom to Ogoja in Cross River State at the contract sum of over 14 billion naira awarded to an indigenous contractor, Messer Sermatech Construction Company. Fashola, who was represented by the Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Mustapha Baba-Shehuri, said that the present administration is investing heavily in the provision of critical infrastructure with at least one on-going road project per State in Nigeria. The Minister stated that the project completion period is within twenty-four months, adding that the federal highway links the industrial and agricultural towns of Akamkpa, Biase and Yakurr. The frequent plying of the 44 year old road by industrialists and haulage of agricultural produce has led to its deterioration with shoulders completely eroded’’. Earlier in his speech, the Chief Host and Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayande appreciated President Buhari for his support and goodwill to the state regardless of political differences, adding that the state is enjoying the dividends of democracy by partnering with the Federal Government. Representing the Governor at the occasion, the Commissioner for Works in the state, Engr. Dane Osim-Asu noted that one of the major policy thrusts of Cross River state government is industrialization, noting that this cannot be achieved without good and motorable roads which will create a nexus between these two to grow the economy of the state. The Director, Highways, Construction and Rehabilitations from the Ministry, Engr. Yemi Oguntominiyi, in his opening address commended President Buhari for his commitment to the project and support to the Ministry in the course of the procurement process and eventual award of the contract by the Federal Executive Council in November, 2018. Oguntominiyi further stated that the completion of the rehabilitation works on the corridor will, no doubt, reduce vehicle operating costs; improve travel time, reduce road accidents and also stimulate the socio-economic growth and general security of towns and cities in the state. The Minister and his entourage also inspected some completed and ongoing rehabilitation projects along the road corridor of Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja federal highway led by the Federal Controller of Works in the state, Mr Bassey Nsentip   ...

FG Commissions The Zik Mausoleum: Says Edifice Will Promote Nationalism, Patriotism And Public Service The President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration has once again made a landmark achievement in his effort to ensure provision of critical infrastructures across the nation. The President was in Onitsha, Anambra State to officially commission the Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum (The Zik Mausoleum), a public building of national and international significance and a monument to honour the late Nigeria’s first President and a nationalist, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.  In his speech, President Buhari noted that the building will serve the purpose of promoting nationalism, patriotism and public service while urging Nigerians to emulate the best values that the foremost nationalist espoused in knowledge, service and leadership. He said the late legend will be remembered for his comradeship, brotherhood and engaging politics. President Buhari also noted that “rather than Zik choosing to be a local, he chose to be a nationalistic, he embraced all the territory of Nigeria”, adding that his legacies will remain evergreen. Earlier in his welcome address, the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, expressed with delight that the completion and commissioning of the Zik Mausoleum was a dream come true and mission accomplished. He said that Mr President’s mandate to the Ministry to complete as many abandoned and uncompleted federal projects is a reality today, but regretted that the national monument and tribute to patriotism was subordinated to private interests that did not benefit the Nigerian economy as a result of corruption. Fashola stated that for the period of 19 years (between 1996 to 2015) when the Zik Mausoleum project was conceived, oil income and proceeds accrued to Nigeria were in the hundreds billions of United States Dollars, yet there was no significant progress on the building until this administration came into power. The Minister however added that the construction period of the project generated economy activities in the state by engaging the services of suppliers, transporters, drivers, food vendors, bricklayers, carpenters, welders and ordinary hardworking Nigerians whose livelihood was taken away by corruption.  Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for delivering the monument which successive governments lacked the political will to complete. Obiano stated that it is indeed remarkable that 23 years after the Great Zik of Africa died, he’s finally given a befitting mausoleum as a resting place, adding that the Great Owelle of Onitsha has now joined leaders like Kwanme Nkrumah of Ghana and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and others whose mausoleum have become a major tourist destinations in Africa. He appealed to President Buhari to declare Zik’s birthday, November 16, a National Day in Nigeria, nothing that this will be in keeping with the honour and dignity conferred on other great and illustrious leaders in Africa. Appreciating the Federal Government on behalf of the Ziks’ family, one of the Sons of Dr Azikiwe, Ambassador Emeka Azikiwe, described the monument as a wonderful legacy initiated in honour and recognition of his father’s immense contributions to the nation’s independence, democracy and national development. ‘’As we celebrate the commissioning of the Zik Mausoleum and Conference centre, the historic legacies left by him are numerous and vital to the revitalization of the development potentials in Africa’’. The Zik Mausoleum is located in the city centre of Onitsha, comprising of the main Mausoleum and the Administrative/Conference building. Construction works commenced in 1997 and was conceived to serve as a national monument and a tourism centre in memory of the late legend and foremost Nationalist globally recognized as the Father of African Nationalism. ...

Mambila Power Project : The Fictional Allegations Of Leno Adesanya  Contradict Logic The attention of the Hon. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN has been drawn to the spurious and unfounded allegations of Leno Adesanya with regards to the ongoing Mambilla Power Project. It has therefore become necessary to debunk the lies and resist the unjustified and malicious attack on the person of the Hon. Minister, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN and save the innocent members of the public from the rather misleading and offensive publication widely circulating in various media platforms, authored and sponsored by Mr Adesanya  in order to damage good name and  reputation of the Minister to  claim   undue  credit and attract unwarranted   attention  and  sympathy. Nothing is more further away from the truth than the claim that the loan negotiations have stalled since 2017 because of an attempt to utilize $600 Million (equivalent of N219 Billion) from the 3,050MW hydropower project for a “pet project” not hitherto considered by the Federal Executive Council. There is currently no budgetary provision or cash provision of $600 million or the N219 Billion in any budget of the Federal Government for the Mambila Project. Therefore you cannot attempt to divert what does not exist. For the avoidance of doubt, the China Exim Bank disburse money to specific projects and on conclusion of negotiations, the loan will be devoted to the construction of the Mambila Power Project, which has been on the drawing board for close to 40 years before the advent of the Buhari administration which is now working assiduously to get the project off the ground. The latest publication of fictional claims by Mr. Leno Adesanya in a national daily and the social media is the desperate attempt by him and his political sympathisers to destabilize a project that they could not bring to fruition. The antics of Leno Adesanya and his ilk would readily explain why the project has taken so many years without lift-off. Since Mr. Adesanya has chosen to go to court, he would be required to prove his baseless allegation in court. The Federal Executive Council which is the highest decision making organ of the Executive Arm of Government never awarded a contract for the project to Mr Adesanya. The allegation with regard to stalling the Mambilla project is  untrue , baseless and a figment of Adesanya's imagination .  The events and relevant facts will show that because Mr. Fashola first presented a memo on the Mambilla Power Project to the Federal Executive Council in August 2017; which was the first ever Federal Executive Council approval given to the Mambilla project in favour of a Chinese Joint venture. The Minister has also accompanied the President twice to China on trips that had the project as one of the headline agenda. The Hon. Minister in June 2018 attended, alongside officials of the Ministry of Finance, a meeting of the China Exim Bank to negotiate the terms of the loan for the project further. And only this week, after the Federal Executive Council meeting, he briefed Nigerians about the approval of contracts for surveyors to demarcate the areas for the project. These are the first contracts to start preparatory work on the project after 40 years delay. These actions are not consistent with delay falsely being alleged against the Minister by Mr Adesanya. Indeed, available evidence does not support the claims of Leno Adesanya and well-meaning Nigerians will be well advised to ignore him. We hereby state, that no amount of negative effort to distract, intimidate or threaten the Hon. Minister in the performance of his duties in line with the pledge of the present Government to the Nigerian people on the provision of adequate infrastructure in all relevant sectors of the economy will succeed. ...