Tuesday, November 19, 2024
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N10Bn Debt: FCTA Seals Works & Housing Ministry, Merit House, Fed Character Comm, Murg Plaza, Others

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

… Says Ministries Of Health, Education, Defence, Others Next

Officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), escorted by highly armed security personnel, sealed the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing’s headquarters building in Mabushi, Abuja, in the early hours of Tuesday.

The popular murg plaza located just opposite the UTC market at Area 10, Garki, Merit House, and the Federal Character Commission were among the places shut down by FCTA officials, who were armed with court orders.

The operation was conducted by Engineer Osilama Braimah, Director of the Abuja Environment Protection Board (AEPB), who is also the Chairman of the Special Debt Taskforce, and Comrade Ikharo Attah, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Speaking to newsmen on the breakdown of debt owed the agency, Braimah said
government Ministries,  Departments and Agencies are owing to the tune of 10 billion Naira and this, he said is not acceptable.

He, however, hinted that some ministries are making frantic efforts to pay while others show signs of on willingness.

According to him, “The board got court orders to seal the premises” he said.

According to him, the exercise which has just begun will cover all public and private offices owing the board.

A senior magistrate court sitting in Wuse II, Abuja had served the defendants with summons to appear before the court on March 30th, 2022 but they failed to honour the court.

“The debtors includes: Federal Ministry of  Works — N9,998,625.00; Federal Ministry  of  Defence  –N17,220,775.00; Federal  Character  Commission—N10,128,906.25; Civil service  Commission–2,451,649.50; and Revenue  Mobilization and Fiscal Commission—21,683,750.00

“In addition, Federal  Ministry of  Health —N14,204,843.75; Federal Ministry of  Trade & Investment—N19,222,287.50; Federal Ministry of Education  Hqtrs –N25,838,275 ; and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Wuse–N16,583,031.25”, he stressed.

The Director, however, warned the public against attempting to bribe AEPB officials as he urged them to pay into government coffers as stated in the bill they received. 

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring,  Inspection and Enforcement said the FCT Minister is committed to the full recovery of all funds owed the Administration, its Secretariats departments and Agencies.

According to him, “We are just starting with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board,  seeing that most offices and persons generate waste and are not willing to pay to the collection and evacuation of such waste. Government establishments are expected to lead by examples. Now that we have started with ourselves,  everyone will be certain that there would be no sacred cow.

” The FCT Administration is starting with the debtors of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).Very soon, we will move to the FCT Waterboard, the Abuja Geographic information system (AGIS) and other FCTA revenue generatiing agencies. No one kobo will be left uncollected.

” The FCT as you know is growing beyond expectation and plan. Government must do all to march infrastructure with population growth and expansions. The FCT Administration needs all the money it can get to bridge the infrastructural gap. Our drive for revenue is at its peak at the moment” , he explained.

Attah , however, called on all those who are owing the FCT in whatever way to immediately hurry and pay up, while adding that more public and privately owned properties would be sealed up in coming days and weeks.

FCTA Taskforce Invade Colonies Arrest 20 Suspects

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

..Suspected Criminals Abandon Children, Wives

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Task Force on City Sanitation invaded criminal hideouts located within undeveloped plots of land in the Central Business District, arrested 20 suspected drug peddlers and other criminal elements and handed over to Wuse Divisional Police Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja. 

The hoodlums were said to have escaped and abandoned their little children and wives in order to evade arrest.

The invaded areas, both in Central Business District and Wuse Zone 3 are said to be dangerous black spots, from where all manner of  criminals hide.

Comrade Ikharo Attah, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, who led the operation alongside Heads of the Military, Police and Paramilitary components of the Task Force, said the criminal colonies have remained a source of concern to the Administration. 

He vowed that while  the criminals continue to defy laws and orders, the Task Force will remain firm in its enforcement. 

Attah hinted that the criminal activities in the areas are thriving,  because the owners of the undeveloped plots of land have left it fallow for over two decades. 

He disclosed that the Minister , Malam Muhammad Musa Bello having made passionate appeals to the owners of land to come and develop it, may have no other option than to revoke it.

According to him; ” What we are seeing here today is very bad for the city. We have cleared these places around September 2021, but the place has been rebuilt because owners of the undeveloped plots have left it fallow for about two to three decades now.

” FCT Minister has called upon them to come and develop these lands, but have not come. The FCTA may have no other option than to think of revoking the plots “.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director,  Enforcement,  Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Kaka Bello , lamented that government has been spending a lot of money mobilising human resources for the clean up of the undeveloped plots. 

He said that the Administration may invoke relevant provisions of Environmental laws, and compel owners of the plots of land to pay the cost of the continuous cleaning.

FCT-ARDS Commits $4.5 Million To FCT FADAMA CARES For Food Security

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has allocated $4.5 million to the FCT FADAMA CARES to improve food security and the safe functioning of the food supply chain.

Hon. Abubakar Ibrahim, Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), stated this at a sensitization workshop on FCT FADAMA CARES held on Thursday in Abuja for top policymakers in FCTA and Area Councils.

He said: “The Administration has allocated the sum of $4.5 Million to the FCT Fadama CARES Project for the implementation of three (3) Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) out of a total allocation of $15 Million from the World Bank. This underlines the significance accorded agricultural development in the Territory, and the need for us to continue to demonstrate our appreciation of this high level of confidence reposed in us, by rededicating ourselves to the diligent discharge of our assigned responsibilities.The World Bank, it is to be noted, has set a target of providing grants support to 12,283 individual farmers as well as the upgrading of 17 Wet Markets for the FCT Fadama CARES Office”.

Ibrahim who is also doubles as the Chairman, FCT Fadama CARES Technical Committee noted that ,”For us in Result Area 2, our objective is to Increase Food Security and Safe Functioning of Food Supply Chain under the FCT CARES programme. With a set of diverse but very critical programme stakeholders in this Result Area, this event becomes imperative in order to carry along these stakeholders from the onset of Programme implementation. The Programme will employ the Community Driven Development approach to deploy investments at the community level. Thus, this workshop will serve as a veritable platform to provide Top Policy Makers the opportunity to further appreciate the critical roles they are expected to play towards ensuring the successful delivery of FCT CARES Programme”.

He added that, the FCT Agriculture & Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) is always ready to provide FCT Fadama CARES with the necessary technical and financial support to ensure it succeeds in delivering this vital Project. We are confident that the FCT-CARES team has what it takes to deliver the Project as planned.

He assured you of the unflinching commitment of the FCT Administration and indeed the Hon. Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, and the Hon. Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, towards ensuring the successful implementation of the FCT CARES Programme.

Ibrahim further stated that, the event, which brings together very important stakeholders who are expected to play critical roles towards facilitating the successful implementation of the FCT CARES Programme Results Area 2, could not have come at a better time. This is due to the fact that the implementation of the FCT CARES Programme is about to fully commence after the declaration of FCT’s Eligibility as well as the granting of a one-off advance by the World Bank following a rigorous assessment process.

The FCT COVID 19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (FCT CARES) Programme is a World Bank Budget support to the Federal Capital Territory Administration for Non-Discretionary expenditure which is targeted at supporting existing and newly emerging vulnerable and poor households, Agricultural Value Chains, and Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs) that have been negatively impacted by the COVID 19 Pandemic.

He said , the project is to be implemented using the World Bank Programme for Result (P for R) financing model which is a relatively new concept of Programmes/Projects financing. This model requires the FCT Administration to invest its own resources first by funding Delivery Platforms to start implementation, while the World Bank reimburses the FCTA after verification of achieved results by Independent Verification Agents (IVAs) in line with agreed prices and targets earlier set for all Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs).

He also opportunity to formally inaugurate the FCT Fadama CARES Technical Committee whose members are seated among you here today. This Committee is charged with the responsibility of providing strategic policy orientation and guidance to the FCT Fadama CARES Office in the implementation of the FCT CARES Programme under Result Area 2. I wish to congratulate members of this Committee and call on them to bring their respective knowledge and experiences to bear towards supporting the successful implementation of Result Area 2 in the FCT.

Meanwhile, the FCT FADAMA CARES Coordinator, Usman Adangara said the project is targeted at supporting existing and newly emerging vulnerable and poor households on Agricultural Value Chains, most especially those that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that, the workshop will provide participants with relevant information about the programme concept, deliverables and implementation strategy.

He therefore, solicited their for support, advice and mentoring to further strengthen the team, thereby supporting the successful delivery of FCT CARES Result Area 2 and the FCT CARES Programme in general.

FG Directs NRC to Handover Passengers’ Identification to Technology Firm

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

In a bid to reduce crime and security crises on the Abuja-Kaduna rail services, the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to handover tickets and passengers identification to Secure ID, the company incharge of the E-Ticketing platform for the route.

Amaechi made this known when the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) presented the Full Business Case Certificates (FBC) for Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri E-Ticketing service to the Ministry of Transportation.

The minister said that the introduction of the E-Ticketing platform for Abuja-Kaduna had increased the generated revenue from about 100million Naira to 400million Naira monthly, successfully blocking revenue leakages.

“The benefits of the E-Ticketing is that we rose from 100million Naira to 400 million Naira per month, which is an improvement, we have been able to do something that will eliminate leakages.

“On the issue of ticket racketeering, I have spoken to the person in charge of Abuja-Kaduna to take over the identification process from NRC. Because what the National Assembly told me was that NRC doesn’t cross-check the ID of passengers on the tickets, and the ticketing company had wanted to do it, but they have not gotten the approval from NRC.

“So I have told NRC to allow them do it, so that we match faces with the names. It’s not all about crime alone but it’s also security. So if we release it to the technology outfit, even though we cannot eliminate 100 percent crime and corruption, it will reduce the danger of having to run into security crises, so that we know that what we are battling with is not crises in our terminals but on the way and I believe that, that also will be sorted out as we go to cabinet for approval of the security gadgets.”

Speaking earlier, the Acting Director-General of the ICRC Mr. Michael Ohiani, said that the concession is for ten years which will generate over 140 billion Naira during the period and also create over 3000 direct and indirect jobs.

“The concession is for ten years, it is going to generate over 140billion Naira to the Federal Government, most importantly it will also create job opportunities for over 3000, direct and indirect jobs.

“The next phase is for the Honourable Minister to take it to the Federal Executive Council for approval and the Ministry of Justice will now clear it,” Ohiani said.

UNICEF Advocates for Student Safety in Schools in Order to Improve Girls’ Education

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0
Peter Hawkins
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria

UNICEF today urged Nigerian authorities to make schools safe and secure learning environments for all children, particularly girls, in order to increase girls’ enrollment, retention, and completion of school.

This comes on the eighth anniversary of the kidnapping of 276 students from Government Girls’ Secondary School Chibok.

Today marks eight years since the first known attack on a learning institution in Nigeria, on 14 April 2014, when 276 students were abducted by a Non-State Armed Group at Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in north-east Nigeria. Since then, a spate of attacks on schools and abductions of students – sometimes resulting in their deaths has become recurrent in the last two years, especially in the north-west and north-central regions of Nigeria. Since December 2020, 1,436 school children and 17 teachers have been abducted from schools, and 16 school children lost their lives.

UNICEF Representative in Nigeria , Peter Hawkins in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja stated that,
“Unsafe schools, occasioned by attacks on schools and abduction of students, are reprehensible, a brutal violation of the rights of the victims to education, and totally unacceptable. Their occurrences cut short the futures and dreams of the affected students”.
 

“Attacks on learning institutions render the learning environment insecure and discourage parents and caregivers from sending their wards to schools, while the learners themselves become fearful of the legitimate pursuit of learning.”

“The invisible harm school attacks inflict on the victims’ mental health is incalculable and irredeemable”.

“Girls have particularly been targeted, exacerbating the figures of out-of-school children in Nigeria, 60 percent of whom are girls. It is a trajectory which must be halted, and every hand in Nigeria must be on deck to ensure that learning in Nigeria is not a dangerous enterprise for any child, particularly for girls,” said Hawkins.

In Nigeria, a total of 11, 536 schools were closed since December 2020 due to abductions and security issues. These school closures have impacted the education of approximately 1.3 million children in the 2020/21 academic year. This interruption of their learning contributes to gaps in children’s knowledge and skills and may lead to the loss of approximately 3.4 billion USD in these children’s lifetime earnings. This, risks to further perpetuate cycles of poverty and inequality.

UNICEF, with generous funding from donors, is collaborating with the government of Nigeria to protect children’s right to education in a safe and inclusive learning environment. This involves building the capacity of School-based management committees (SBMCs) on school safety and security and strengthening community resilience.

In Katsina State,300 SBMC members have been trained, and schools, supported through the Girls’ Education Project (GEP3) funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK, have developed Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans to mitigate the impact of potential and actual threats.

Multi-sectoral task teams on school safety have also been established across all the 34 LGAs of Katsina state to provide timely and efficient networking among actors on school security, with particular focus on the safety of girls. Additionally, 60 Junior Secondary Schools have developed emergency plans and tested the plans in evacuation drills.

“In Katsina State, government and communities have fenced some schools, and this is encouraging girls to attend school, underscoring the reality that collaboration is required in addressing insecurity in schools and making schools safe, especially for girls,” said Hawkins.

Although Nigeria has ratified the Safe Schools Declaration, schools and learners are not sufficiently protected. Unless greater attention is given to protecting children, teachers and schools, they will continue to come under attack. Urgent, coordinated action is needed to safeguard the right to learn for every child in Nigeria.

Osinachi: Revocation Of Enenche, Wife’s Medical Licenses Out of Pure Bitterness

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

Group under the auspices of Equal Right and Value Gender Advocacy Forum said a call by Nollywood actress Georgina Onuoha for the revocation of Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis International Gospel Center and his wife, Becky, after the death of gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been described as preposterous and begotten from pure bitterness.

A statement by its National Coordinator Mr Johnson Obiora, which a copy was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday described Onuoha’s statement as misplaced priority, un genuine, un patriotism and baseless call.

Adding that recent issue on ground has nothing to do with medical license of the Dunamis pastor and his wife, saying that both Dr Enenche and his wife are qualified medical practitioner in Nigeria, legally registered to practice medicine in Nigeria and the Nigerian Medical Council has a constitution, explicit provisions of what disqualifies a medical doctor in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and if need be, not by a mere call of a Nollywood actress.

The group said, revocation of licenses can only be contemplated when the practitioner is unable to carry out his duties as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution on the ground misconduct, unprofessionalism, insanity or ill health.

The statement reads: “It is regrettable and despicable that despite these clear provisions of the constitution, some persons lurking under the cloak of quasi celebrity personal and looking for cheap popularity chooses to amplified calls for revocation of license of a medical doctors turned great man and woman of God.

“These pseudo Nollywood personality have taken her act theatrics to another level with calls on Enenche’s licence to be revoked. Like one dancing naked in the market square, these pestle-wielding critics premised her contention on the prevailing revelation of a killer husband of late gospel singer Osinachi.
Anybody that follows the ministry of Dr Enenche and his wife will testify that they both preaches against abusive marriage and has always condemned it in totality.

“The call for revocation of his license is preposterous and begotten from sheer bitterness. The Senior pastor of Dunamis is a strong man of God that has also paid his dues both in medical professional and ministry and both the service of the nation at large.

“What then is the justification for these calls? Deductions from her irrational presentation betray the fact that she is amongst the same people sponsored by ‘deep pocket’ enemies within to overheat the polity.

“We all know that such disgruntled elements and her sponsors will find it difficult not to support any evil against the man of God .

“The call to revoke his license and that of his wife is not only unfortunate but irresponsible and myopic. How else can one explain the call by mundane Nollywood actress for the revocation of medical professional license without any fault in a sane society. These persons and their sponsors should know that Nigeria is bigger than their pedestal and parochial interests of myopic Onuoha” the stated.

FCTA Issues Apo-Dutse Pantera Traders a 7-Day Quit Notice

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0
Ikharo Attah
Chairman FCT covid-19 enforcement task force

…As Traders Ask for More Time After Ramadan

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) issued a seven-day notice to Apo-Dutse panteka traders on Tuesday, ahead of the planned demolition.

Comrade Ikharo Attah, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement to the Minister of FCT, gave this notice when he visited the market to remind them of the need to follow the directive.

Attah, who was accompanied by security operatives and other senior administration officials, stated that the demolition deadline had been extended due to the traders’ appeal in the spirit of Ramadan.

He stated that a series of notices have been issued to the traders requiring them to vacate the premises.

The SSA who also revealed that most of the criminals hide in the market, said there are also few good individuals in the area.

According to him,”The market is the largest place for scrap and is illegal, it has been harbouring high degree of criminals, though there are still good ones.

“We had received series of complains and the minister of FCT has directed that the market should be removed because is illegal.We gave them one week, we have given them another five days notice and it has elapsed about 15 days, for them to quit.

“They have appealed that, they are humans so they should be allowed to finish the Holy month of Ramadan and Sallah before pulling down the place, but they have already started removing their things.

“We told them that is not in our powers to decide until the minister is properly briefed on the development, if he agrees then they will have two weeks to leave”

Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the market, Aminu Mohammed said they would not opposes the position of the government.

He said, “We would not oppose government directives, already we have started removing our things, but as humans we appeal for more time because of the Holy month of Ramadan, at least after the Sallah celebration we will leave finally”.

Adegbite Clears Air On The Ajaokuta Steel Plant Renovation

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0
Minister for Mines & Steel, Arch. Olamilekan Adegbite
Minister for Mines & Steel, Arch. Olamilekan Adegbite

To correct some media outlets’ inaccurate narratives about the Ajaokuta Steel Plant’s alleged handover to a British entity, Minister of Mines and Steel Development Arc Olamilekan Adegbite stated that the federal government never indicated it was handing it over to a British firm for rehabilitation.

The minister emphasized that a local Nigerian company with a British partner had expressed interest in performing the TECHNICAL AUDIT for free and without conditions.

The federal government is in talks with a Russian firm called Messrs TPE (chosen by the Russian government) to do the technical audit, according to Adegbite in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by his S.A Media, Ayodeji Adeyemi.

The statement reads: “The war between Ukraine and Russia has caused a setback to the proposed plan. The minister noted that it was difficult to move forward with the Russian firm due to international sanctions placed on Russia, which has also impacted Russian firms and businesses.

“Meanwhile, a local company in partnership with a British company has offered to execute the technical audit at no cost to Nigeria and with no preconditions. This was what I said at the media parley at the state house and not that Ajaokuta would be handed over to a British company for rehabilitation.

” When the technical audit is completed, the result would be shared with all interested investors and potential partners interested in Ajaokuta Steel Plant resuscitation, which they would use to enter their submission bids.

“To ensure that the entire process is transparent, a firm was appointed in 2018 as Transaction Advisor. This firm has been revalidated by the BPP (Bureau of Public Procurement) and will guide and ensure a transparent due process in the selection of the eventual firm for Ajaokuta Steel restoration.

“The T.A will carry out all financial, environmental and technical due process to establish the successful firm and the mode of engagement. The various bids would then be ranked by the transaction advisor according to merits. “

“Adegbite noted that the outcome of the transaction advisors work would be taken to the Federal Executive Council for a robust discussion and eventual decision”, the statement further stated.

FCTA Clears N150B Liabilities Owned Contractors

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The Federal Capital Territory Government (FCTA) has intimated that the current administration has cleared about N150 billion in liabilities inherited from past administrations.

This was one of the outcomes of the FCTA Executive Committee meeting in Lifecamp, Abuja, which was headed by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu.

In response to the security assessment, the minister stated that the administration is considering the possibility of “operation know your neighbor” as part of its attempts to address the nation’s capital’s recurring security concerns.

Aliyu stated that this was required in light of recent security issues in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as the fact that the Executive meeting was intended to x-ray some of the Administration’s challenges.

She said the Executive Committee also noted the presentation of the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, on the milestone achievements of the Authority.  

She, however, tasked the FCDA to come up with policies that would address the development of the human component, even as she also charged the Authority to initiate policies that would outlived the present administration.    

In his presentation, the FCDA Executive Secretary, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, revealed that the current FCT Administration has cleared all the liabilities inherited from the previous administrations, which has led to the completion of some major infrastructural projects within the city centre,

The FCDA boss noted that before now, most contractors have abandoned their sites because of accrued liabilities from the previous administrations worth over N150billion.  

According to him, “The minister took the bull by the horn and cleared all the liabilities of these and other contractors, including those developing the Airport Expressway. So all the liabilities were cleared.  

“So all the none completed segments of the works along this axis were completed. Now you can operate in dual mode on the Constitution Avenue and we are making efforts now to also finalize the development of the dual carriage of the Independence road.  

“So this is what has actually eased the traffic right from the City Centre, from Three Arm Zone through to World Trade Centre, and to the National Hospital. And the travel time for most commuters, passengers to the airport has drastically reduced. You can almost plan your travel time now from your home to the airport”.  

While enumerating some of the challenges, which include inadequate funding, uncontrolled population influx and resettlement of original inhabitants, the Executive Secretary, advocated for the review of the Master Plan to address some of these challenges.  

Ahmad, also called for a coordinated development strategy to be pursued by the Administration with its contiguous states that would ensure the development of the satellite areas between the states and the FCT, as viable economic areas.  

Those present at the meeting include the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, Chief of Staff to FCT Minister, Mallam Bashir Mai-Borno, Executive Secretary FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, Director Human Resource Management, Mallam Mohammad Bashir, the six Mandate Secretaries, Coordinators and other top management staff.  

2023: Amaechi Begins Full Consultation, Visits Kano, Daura Emirates

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

The Minister of Transportation, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, has given assurance that the Daura Transport University in Katsina State would be ready for use by September, 2022.

Amaechi gave the assurance during his routine tour at the construction works being done by the Transport Ministry in that area.

He addee that the contractors has assured him that the remaining seven buildings will be ready before September.

“I have asked the permanent secretary to invite them for a meeting so that this school can start functioning from September.

The minister while inspecting the Dala dry port in Kano State commended the contractors for their efforts.

He however urged them to do more so that President Muhammadu Buhari can commission it at the targeted time.

“If you say I’m not impressed that will be wrong, they promised me that they will complete the project by today.

”Have they completed the structures? Yes, but I didn’t see the landscaping. So, I said until they complete the landscaping, I will not be able to bring the president here.

”If they complete the landscaping, we can then bring the president to come and inaugurate the project, but it appears they have finished the structures,” he said.

The minister lamented that the Kano-Kaduna rail project, was encountering a huge setbacks, but he expressed hope that it would be addressed by the governor of the state.

Amaechi later visited the Emirs of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero and lastly, the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk to pay homage to them, and also used the opportunity to formally inform them of his intentions to contest as President in the 2023 general election.

It could be recalled that, Amaechi on Saturday declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

While welcoming him to the palace, the Emir of Kano thanked the minister for the visit and consultation. He also promised to give him full support on his presidential ambition.

The Emir said “I know him since when he was speaker to the time he became governor and now a minister. People are also aware of the roles he played then and now. All these make him to qualify to contest the seat of president of Nigeria”.

The Emir of Bichi disclosed that he has had a long-standing relationship with the minister and prayed for good leadership in the country.

He urged all contestants and the present leaders to always put the country first in any situation.

“We welcome the honorable minister to Bichi emirate and we wish him the best of luck. We are always praying for good leadership and also for the coming elections to be peaceful in the country”.

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