THE NEED FOR PEACE-BUILDERS IN THE NIGER DELTA

The dictionary defines a Peacemaker as a person, group, or nation that tries to make peace especially by reconciling parties who disagree, quarrel or fight.

I had the privilege to attend a Conflict Sensitivity and Peace Building workshop organized by the Center for Creative Development Strategies earlier few months back. My whole perspective of how i viewed the concepts of peace and conflict changed.

A peacemaker in all essence recognizes the 8 attributes of good governance (Participation, Transparency, Accountability, Responsiveness, Equity and Inclusiveness, Rule of Law, Consensus orientation and Effectiveness, and Efficiency) as drivers of peace and commits his/herself towards their implementation for the goal of sustainable peace.

We've had peacemakers soliciting for lasting peace in the Niger Delta. The disadvantage of just being a peacemaker alone is that there are no steps taken to stop conflict from escalating. Peacemakers most often appear during the heat of a fight or quarrel.

The Niger Delta has been hit with conflict since 1990's. The crisis between the Urhobo's, Itsekiri's and Ijaw's in Delta state left Warri in rubble. The Niger Deltans began agitating for resource control due to years of neglect and destruction of the environment through oil exploration. In 2003/2004, the agitation went violent. Armed groups sprung up from the creeks of the Niger Delta that waged war against the federal government, blowing up oil facilities and kidnapping Oil expatriates.

The Amnesty program initiated by the Yaradua The amnesty program initiated by the Yaradua administration was to bring peace in the oil rich  region. In my opinion this move was done wrongly, it brought a bit of calm but the underlying issues weren't resolved.- A situation conflict experts call negative peace (absence off direct physical violence, no active organized hostilities yet there is presence of injustice and structural violence).As a matter of fact the root causes weren't addressed it was only matter of time before the conflict grows again.

Since 2013 Rivers State in particular has been in the eye of the storm regarding election related and cult violence. In 2014 the family of Mr. Jude Obi was completely wiped off due to activities of Oil thieves in the Oyigbo/Imo river area. The only surviving son, Stephen Ifeanyi Obi is still unaccounted for. Reports have it that Stephen led local vigilante groups to curtail the activities of the vandals leadin to the attack on his family. The gang swore to hunt him down wherever he goes in the country.

Following the 2015 elections, there was an increase in general insecurity in Rivers State. There was widespread incidences of kidnappings, politically-motivated killings, robberies, cult clashes and shootings and killings. Some communities are more or less ghost-towns due to violent cult clashes leading to the destruction of lives and properties. This year we saw a full scale return to militant activities. Several oil facilities have been destroyed and the cult wars continue.The rising incidents of cultism, kidnapping, ethno-nationalism, and continued agitation by militants may be cause for continued attention by peace actors in the Niger Delta.

What's the way forward?

We need Peacebuilders not just peacemakers to create a lasting solution to the Niger Delta Crisis.

It brings me to the point... What is peace-building? or who is a peace-builder?

Peace-building is the employment of measures to consolidate peaceful relations and create an environment which deters the emergence or escalation of tensions that may lead to violent conflict. Peace-building is about deep, long-term transformations. This requires an integrated approach engaging a diverse range of actors.

This is of two forms

Pre-armed: refers to a strategy which tries to avoid conflict through measures of attitudinal, socio-economic and political nature (emphasis on human security & good governance).

Post-hostilities: refers to the whole aggregate of actions and measures that may be undertaken once the hostilities phase (violent) of a conflict ends. The purpose is to prevent any renewal of the conflict. Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR).

Comprehensive post-conflict reintegration- reconciliation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, resettlement, repatriation, reorientation,  and reforms in the political, economic, military, police, education, and legal institutions).

Sustainable peace is built by a critical mass of citizens and leaders who:

• serve the interests of others and not just their own;
• collaborate to transform the structures and systems of society to make them less violent, more just, more inclusive, and more participatory.

We need to act now so we don't have recurring stories like that of the Stephen Obi's family.

Read More →

We won't negotiate with Niger Delta Avengers says Presidency

Presidential Adviser on Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta, Brig. General Paul Boroh (rtd) has said the federal government will not hold talks with militant group, Niger Delta Avengers.

Boroh who spoke to journalists in Port Harcourt in the early hours of Thursday on the sidelines of the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to flag-off the clean up of Ogoniland and the implementation of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report said “All ex-agitators captured in the Amnesty Programme have all dissociated themselves from the criminal activities of the Niger Delta Avengers.

Amnesty office has dissociated itself from them as well. We are going to work with the security agencies to fish them to face the law.”

Read More →

Buhari cancels trip to Rivers for Ogoniland cleanup

President Muhamamdu Buhari has cancelled his expected trip to the Ogoniland in the Niger Delta.

Buhari was expected to launch a much-delayed programme to clean up areas heavily polluted by oil exploration and production.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will now represent the President at the event.

The clean up of the heavily polluted Ogoni land was recommended by the United Nation Environmental Programme, UNEP, in its report in 2011.

Residents in the southern swamp areas, where oil giants such as Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron operate, have for years complained about the oil industry's pollution and about economic marginalisation by the government.

Some have taken up arms, and a surge in attacks on energy installations has cut Nigeria's oil output to a 20-year low.

Read More →

#May29: Top seven Buhari Quote in His First Year As President

From the day President Buhari was inaugurated as president, that is May, 29, till date the president have given us mind blowing quotes that  will not be forgotten in a hurry. starting from his inaugural speech where he made the famous, ‘I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody’ speech.

Mr president did not stop there as he has given us different thought provoking quotes in the last 365 days.

Here are our top seven quotes of the president in the last 365 days.

1. I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. I am a former military ruler and a converted democrat’ – July 2015.

2. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody’ – Inauguration ceremony, May 29, 2015.

3. We cannot build an economy where corruption is the working capital” – March 2016

4. Living in the State House does not in any way alienate me from your daily struggles. I read the newspapers and listen to the TV and radio news. I hear your cries. I share your pains.

5. You are all my people; I will treat you all as mine. I will work for those who voted for me, voted against me and those who didn’t vote at all.

6. I am not going to demand any apology… What I am demanding is the return of assets’ -After UK PM David Cameron said Nigeria was ‘fantastically corrupt’

7.We will stop corruption and make the ordinary people, the weak and the vulnerable our top priority
.

Read More →

Fuel price hike: ASUU begins indefinite strike

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have been directed to join the NLC in the strike action over the increased pump price of petrol, Thisday reports.

This was contained in a letter dispatched to the members of the ASUU congress nationwide. The letter was read at the University of Ibadan Chapter yesterday, May 17.

Ogunyemi, explaining the reason for this action, said, “ASUU members are called upon to according to our Union’s principles, fully respect Article 2 of the Constitution of ASUU; that our Union and members shall work for the protection and advancement of the socio-economic interests of the nation. Branch Chairpersons are to conduct emergency congress meetings on Tuesday 17 May 2016 to mobilize our members for the action commencing on Wednesday. All branches of ASUU nationwide are to comply.”

The ASUU boss who said according to Pulse that the common denominator to all Nigerians is poverty added that the same APC government that failed to pay civil servants for months is now celebrating budget signing with the legalization of black market.

Omole who noted that many state governors who now align with the removal of subsidy ran their states aground through wasteful spending‎ added that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should beam search lights on state governors.

Read More →

Divided NLC defies court, embarks on strike

According to the government, a benchmark of N145 per litre, has been recommended as pump price. The announcement was made by Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, who however promised the price will not stay for so long. This however didn’t go down well with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), who vowed to go on strike to force the federal government to revert to the former pump price of petrol (now pegged at N145). But just as both labour unions planned an industrial action to force the federal government to revert to the former pump price of petrol, the government filed a suit at the Industrial court to restrain the NLC and TUC from embarking on strike. And in the early hours of Wednesday, May 18, the court read an injunction against NLC and TUC not to go on strike.

The court order shows that should the NLC and TUC go ahead with the industrial action, then they are going against the law. Just before the court order, a meeting into the night of Tuesday, May 17, between the federal government and the labour workers to reach a compromise over the proposed action, ended in a deadlock. Although it was gathered that the federal government has agreed to set up a committee that will review the new fuel pump price as well as the minimum wage issue which the workers have been agitating over.

Read more: https://www.naij.com/833585-live-update-amid-labour-impending-strike-read-happening-across-nigeria.html?source=notification

Read More →

2 Fulani Herdsmen jailed for 20 years over illegal possession of firearms

A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba on Monday sentenced two Fulani herdsmen, Hassan Abidu and Yakubu Salem, suspected to be members of a group of armed nomads terrorizing indigenes of the state  especially farmers, to 20 years in jail with hard labour.

The court pronounced the verdict on the two Fulani nomads on a two count charge of unlawful possession of firearms preferred against them by the Attorney-General of Delta State, Peter Mrakpor and punishable under section 3(1) of the robbery and firearms (Special Provisions) Act Laws of the Federation Republic of Nigeria 2010.

Two convicts were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each with hard labour and without an option of fine.

According to the prosecution, on or about the 23rd day of February, 2015 at about 0600 hours, the Ibusa Police Division, in Oshimili North council area of the state, received a distress call that a group of suspected Fulani boys numbering about six were sighted around Power Line, in the community armed with dangerous weapons including firearms.

A team of Anti-Robbery Squad which responded to the distress call later arrested Hassan Abidu and Yakubu Salem in possession of two single barrel guns without license which they claimed they used for hunting. They also claimed that they did not know that it was an offense to carry arms without license.

Read More →

Nigerian army arrests 'Avengers' oil militants

The Nigerian army has arrested several suspected members of a militant group called the "Niger Delta Avengers", thought to be behind recent attacks on oil pipelines in the south.

The country's oil production has been severely disrupted by the attacks.
US oil giant Chevron shut down an offshore platform this month after an attack claimed by the Avengers group.

Many militants joined an amnesty programme in 2009 after an insurgency in the oil-rich delta region.
Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer, but its economy is currently facing difficulties due to the recent drop in global oil prices.

Read More →

President Buhari signs 2016 budget into law

President Mohammadu Buhari has assented to the 2016 Appropriation Bill, giving way for full implementation of the budget. The signing took place just a moment ago at the presidential Villa, Abuja.

The record 6.06 trillion naira ($30.6 billion) budget triples capital expenditure in Africa's top oil exporter from 2015 and aims to stimulate an economy hit hard by the fall in global crude prices.

Nigeria is facing its biggest economic crisis for years after oil revenues, which make up about 70 percent of national income, slumped along with global crude prices.

Read More →

Your economic policies are archaic, opaque, former minister tells Buhari

Former minister of education and social critic, Oby Ezekwesili has taken a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari, describing his economic policies as “archaic” and “opaque”.

According to Premium Times, Ezekwesili said Buhari’s current economic policies were similar to those he used during the military regime he led in the 1980s.

She said this at the annual public policy forum, The Platform, that is currently under way in Abuja.

“During the first coming of this our new president, a command and control economic system was adopted.

“During that era, inflation spiralled. During that era, jobs were lost. During that era, the economic growth level dipped. That era wasn’t the best of eras in economic progress.

“What did not work in 1984 cannot possibly be a solution in a global economy that’s much more integrated,” she was quoted as saying.

Read More →

“WE ARE DYING OF STARVATION”: Rivers State students on scholarship write Gov. Wike from London

Rivers state students who are studying in several universities abroad under the scholarship scheme of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency RSSDA have again cried out for help from the Chief Nyesom Wike led Government.

One of the students who sent Feel Rivers a mail from London said things have really gone bad with them. He said “Things have really gone bad with us. Its now unbearable and we can no longer cope and most of us don’t have a place to lay our head”

“its up to one  year and six months now since we last received  money from the government”

“Please help us beg the governor and the general public to come to our aid”

Governor Nyesom Wike on resumption of office declared that he was not not going to continue with the overseas scholarship initiated by his predecessor due to declining revenues.

The Governor said that while those in their final years would be allowed to complete the studies overseas, others would be relocated back to Nigeria to complete their studies.

Though the policy had generated hue and cry from the citizenry with many calling on the governor to allow all beneficiaries conclude their studies before winding up the program, it appears that even though Rivers state government is not prepared to blink on the matter, the lot of those approved to stay behind still leaves much to be desired.

Here is the letter from one of the RSSDA beneficiary which was sent to Feel Rivres by mail:

Paul Babbeye Adden

Kingstown,

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

18th April,2016



His Excellency,

Hon. Barr. Nyesom E. Wike

The Executive Governor,

Rivers State Government House,

Port Harcourt,

Rivers State,

Nigeria.



Dear Sir,



CRITICAL FINANCIAL SITUATION OF RSSDA-SPONSORED STUDENTS ABROAD



On behalf of the Rivers State overseas students under the arm of Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), we would like to thank you for your continued developments and ongoing projects in the state. We wish you all the best as you lead us to progressive and sustainable development.


As final year students graduating this year, we would like to bring to your notice our present financial situation as a result of non-payment from December 2014 (1 year and 5 months) to date. However, with our current financial position, there is no option left for us to ponder other than cry out for help for survival. We cannot bear it any longer because it is beyond us. We would not make a mountain out of our present situations but rather will declare it as fair as it is.


Most importantly, we are financially broke to the point that even food can no longer be found on our table, this is alarming but it is what we face day after day. Sadly, we

Cannot remember the last time any of us visited the market to buy food. It is embarrassing for us to inform you that, we now rely on our foreign friends for even food. It is believed that, food is one of the fundamentals of existence, so how do we survive in strange land without food and roof to cover our heads? Transportation to school is now a forgotten story because we have not been able to pay for bus fares; we cannot even go to school because of non-payment of tuition fees. Everyday our problems are compounding and the challenges are overwhelming.


More so, we have arranged with the landlords to give us some time to crack a means to pay them their rents but all our efforts were declined, as we owe more than 12 month’s rent. The landlords have told us that they will use legal actions against us in a bit to get back their money.  As a matter of fact, some students have been served with court notice and are expected to appear in court in the following weeks. Most of the students have been evacuated from their apartments because of the non-payment of rents; now more than five students are living in one room just to stay under a roof, some are living on the street, while others look for means of survival.


The situation is unbelievable and unbearable; not getting better and if things are not put right, we will soon find ourselves all in the street. It is shameful and mind bugging to inform you that most of the students have been forced to engage in illegal activities just to make ends meet as a result of Government inability to release funds for them. We really do not know what else to do to help our situations.


Also, In addition to non-payment of students’ upkeep and accommodation allowances, tuitions have not been paid for couple of years. As a reaction to that, most universities have stopped the RSSDA scholars from attending classes and sitting for exams. In our Institution, the final year medical students have been stopped from attending clinical rotations, meaning they will not be allowed to write their final examination and may not be able to graduate this year. This trend have continued for so long that we are scared of been evicted from the School.  The situation we find ourselves is very critical as our future and education is in jeopardy.


As students, it is difficult for us to concentrate and study in harsh financial conditions, we do hope for a positive change as we face so many uncertainties. Our condition is now so pitiful that we are becoming hopeless in a foreign land. Also, we would not be able to leave the country, as we are obliged to settle all debts owed and clear every financial commitment.


We are asking for the government to come to our aid as we are totally stranded, hopeless and frustrated. We do not know what will become of us in the next few days without the government resolving this situation as we are facing uncertainties in a foreign land.



Thank you.

Paul Babeye Adden,

For RSSDA overseas sponsored students.

Read More →

Man arrested for rape of a 9 year old girl in Bayelsa State

 Police in Bayelsa State has arrested a 40-year-old man  for the serial rape of a 9-year-old girl.

According to a Punch report, the suspect, Chinedu Eze, was arrested after the incident was reported to officials by the girl's mother.

The victim, a Primary Four pupil, has reported that Eze raped her multiple times and had given her N100 to keep her quiet. The child has also complained of abdominal pains as a result of the crime

Princess Egbe, Coordinator of Operation Rescue, a child rights advocacy group, has confirmed Eze's arrest, further stating that a medical test is to be conducted on the victim.

Egbe has since expressed concern over the rising number of child-rape cases in Bayelsa State, explaining that 10 cases have been reported since January.

Read More →

UNIPORT Students protest over the increase of tuition fee

On Monday, April 11, students of the University of Port Harcourt, staged a protest to express their displeasure over increase in tuition as they also accused the school management of deliberately ignoring the problems confronting them.

The students said they are against the school’s new policy of ‘no fee, no examination.'
The protest which started around 4:30am had caused the students to stop vehicle and human traffic on the East-West road.

The students said they would continue until they were addressed by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Sunday Lale.

The school was scheduled to commence examinations today.
A student spoke to DailyPost, expressing the reason for the protest.

"We pay the highest amount of school fees in Nigeria. Among all the Federal Universities in this country, UNIPORT pays highest. They will still ask us to pay faculty dues, departmental dues, exam registration fees and many others.

We are sick and tired of all these payments. They even went ahead to issue a deadline for these payments not considering that things are hard for our parents.

We decided to embark on this protest today because 1st semester exams are supposed to start today and what we have done is to stop it from holding."

God help us...........

Read More →

Recruitment of 10,000 police personnel: Okiro assures of fairness as exercise begins

The  Police Service Commission has  warned the commission's workers who would be involved in the screening of candidates to avoid any act that might compromise the integrity of the exercise as the recruitment of 10, 000 policemen begins nationwide today.

The PSC Chairman, Mike Okiro, said any worker involved in any misconduct during the exercise would be sanctioned in line with the Public Service Rules and might be prosecuted for sabotage.

The recruitment is in fulfillment of the promise made by  President Muhammadu Buhari  at the National Security Summit in Abuja last year that  10,000 personnel would be recruited to  boost  the manpower of the police.

Okiro told the workers that  “the Commission is ready to make a huge success of this presidential assignment in line with its resolution to discharge its duties within the ambit of the law, transparently, and according to laid down rules.”

Okiro also warned the candidates to desist from indulging or inducing the workers of the commission, stressing that anyone caught would be arrested and prosecuted.

He explained that the Nigeria Police Force deserved the best brains in the Nigerian society, stressing that the PSC would ensure that only the best would be engaged as police.

Read More →

2 sons of policemen, 6 others killed for robbery, kidnap

Two sons of two police officers and a kidnapper were among eight armed robbery suspects killed during an exchange of fire with the police at Nsukka on Good Friday, when Christians throughout the world were marking death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

One of the armed robbers was the son of a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police, while the other was the son of a serving police inspector.

Source told South East Voice that the eight suspects were killed at separate operations in the university town in Enugu State by the Police Anti- Robbery Squad, SARS.

South East Voice gathered that one of the sons of the police officers identified simply as Arinze Ossai hailed from Igboeze North Local Government Area, stationed his robbery gang at a hotel in the area from where the gang terrorised the entire local government area and its environs for several months, robbing and kidnapping people in the area.

It was gathered that following information volunteered to the Police and members of the local vigilante group, the dare devil robbers were confronted in their hideouts, leading to exchange of fire between the Police and the suspects and the death of three of the suspects.

The Igboeze North vigilante group working on a tip off had contacted SARS at the Area command, Nsukka which later accosted the gang which had earlier robbed a Toyota Venza vehicle belonging to a returnee from Malaysia.

Four other suspects, two of whom were identified as Ifeanyi Ogbu and Abuchi Ogbaje from Igboeze South Local Government Area were also reportedly killed while trying to rob their victims on Good Friday.

IGP-Solomon-Arase

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/2-sons-policemen-6-others-killed-robbery-kidnap/

Read More →

Senate Passes 2016 Budget

The Senate has passed the 2016 budget.

The Senate Committee on Appropriation presented a budget of 6.06 trillion Naira to the Senate for passage.

In the report, the Committee of Appropriation set recurrent expenditure at 2.6 trillion Naira, capital expenditure at 1.5 trillion Naira and fiscal deficit at 2.2 trillion Naira.

The Committee observed that the executive presented the budget late to the National Assembly and this had subsequently delayed the passage.

The Committee also noted that the budget, as presented by the executive, was fraught with inconsistencies, as some Ministers disowned their budgets.

The Committee is recommending that, going forward, the Budget Office must work with Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in preparing the budget to avoid the problem of inadequate revenue for MDAs.

Read More →

NEC Retreat: 10,000Mw of Electricity Must Be Provided In Three years – Buhari

The President has opened a 2-day National Economic Council (NEC) retreat in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital territory.

In his key note address, President  Muhammadu Buhari took participants through random policy projections in four selected sectors; agriculture, power, manufacturing and housing.

The President told his audience which includes the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, state governors, ministers and CBN officials that decisions reached at the retreat will not be final but only contributions for economic development and subject to review as they progress.

He highlighted the need for Nigeria’s agricultural sector to be able to ensure local food production for food sufficiency, as more funding and appropriate resources must be provided to achieve this.

Mechanized farming must also be promoted in Nigeria with the provision of feeder roads to transport crops to production plants and mills, while states increase support to community farmers and operators.

Delving into the power sector, President Buhari said that 10,000 megawatts of electricity must be provided in the next three years remaining for his administration, of which 3000 megawatts must be achieved by the end of 2016.

To ensure his administration meets these targets and put a stop to power outage, he said that the process of privatization must be concluded in order for Nigerians to reap its benefits.

He went on to say that more security should be provided for pipelines and encouragement and incentives for power companies to operate.

The National Economic Council Retreat provides a forum for in-depth discussions by members of the policy actions that the states and the Federal Government could consider in order to stimulate the economy.

Forum looks into avenues available to cut costs and enhance public revenues among other measures.

Read More →

FG urged to return Nigeria to farm

The federal and state governments have been encouraged to take the country back to agriculture for foreign currency earning and eradication of poverty.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mainland Oil and Gas Company Ltd, Chris Odinaka Igwe, stated this in Amuda Isuochi in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State on the occasion of the flag-off of a 6.5 kilometre cluster of roads in partnership with the state government.

Speaking during the occasion, Igwe said the Federal Government and state should look inward and go into agriculture to solve the problem of food insecurity and to ensure that food was on the table of an average Nigeria.

Read More →

Ambode Shuts Down mile 12 Market As A Result Of Ethnic Clashes

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the closure of the popular Mile 12 Market and has also imposed curfew on four streets in the area as a result the mayhem that engulfed the area today.

The Yoruba and Hausa community in the area clashed earlier today. The clash led to the burning of houses and churches on Thursday.

Ambode while briefing newsmen on the matter at the State House, Ikeja ordered the closure of Mile 12 Market and imposed curfew on four streets-Oniyanrin, Maidan, Agiliti 1 and 11 streets.

“In order to further restore calm in the community, I have ordered that the Mile 12 market be temporarily shut and urge traders and other stakeholders to eschew violence and be law abiding.”

He also ordered temporary restriction of movement in four streets-Oniyanrin, Maidan, Agiliti 1 and 11 streets.

The governor admitted that there was a dispute between members of Mile 12 community in kosofe Local Government, saying that the police and other security officials were called in to manage the situation.

Read More →

Fashola advocates emergency action on deplorable roads

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, says Nigeria needs emergency action to guarantee a rapid turnaround of the deplorable road network in the country.

Fashola stated this while speaking with newsmen during the assessment of the deplorable condition of the 96-kilometre Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa road on Tuesday evening.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister’s convoy had to use a bush path to traverse the persistent traffic gridlock which often left many articulated vehicles and heavy trucks stranded for days.

NAN also reports that the journey from Jebba to Ilorin, which is less than 100 kilometres, lasted four hours while many of the vehicles suffered malfunction due to the logjam.

Fashola said that urgent action must be taken to rehabilitate the road which he described as one of Nigeria’s “critical, strategic economic roads .’’

“What the nation needs now is an emergency action, not declaration of emergency.

“We have declared too many emergencies. This is the time to take emergent and sensible action.

“The National Assembly should fast track the passage of the budget so that we can address the ugly situation of our roads.

“This is intolerable for the ordinary people because their businesses and sources of livelihood depend on this; so, this can’t continue, ‘’ he said.

Fashola also called for an amendment of the procurement law to increase the percentage of mobilization for road contracts to enable contractors deliver completed projects without delay.

He argued for regular assessment of contracts to check wastage and abuse.

“First, we must change that part of the procurement law that limits mobilization for road contracts to only 15 per cent. It doesn’t make sense.

“Contractors can’t fully mobilize because they need materials on site and anything less than 40 per cent is really a joke for a contractor to start with a vigorous impact.

“While we are focusing on budgets and all of that, it is important to see what have been left undone when we were making money at a hundred dollars per barrel of oil,’’ he added.

Fashola also pledged that the ministry would judiciously deploy human and material resources to creatively restore quality roads in all sections of the country.

NAN reports that the firm handling the rehabilitation of the road had told the minister that it was given 15 per cent of the contract sum of N12 billion as mobilization.

The company also stated that it was still being owed for the two completed sections of the road.

Read More →