FEC APPROVES N169.74 BILLION FOR 10 ROAD PROJECTS

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N169.74 billion for award of contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of 10 roads across the country.

Mr Hakeem Bello, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing on Communication disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

He said that the projects are to improve transportation infrastructure and restore the nation’s road network as part of implementation of the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

Bello said that the approval was sequel to a memorandum presented to FEC on May 2 by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

He said the projects include the rehabilitation of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road, Calabar-Oban-Ekang road, Ado-Ekiti –Igede-Aramoko-Itawure road, Funtua-Dandume-Kaduna State border road and Makurdi-Gboko-Katsina-Ala road.

Others are rehabilitation of old Enugu-Onitsha road, dualisation of the 74KM Aba-Ikot Ekpene road, Billiri-Filiya-Taraba State border road as well as construction of Yola-Fufore-Gurin road, four kilometre Township road in Gaya Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano State.

“To ensure the realisation of Federal Government’s objectives of restoring growth and investing in the people, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing decided to initiate the road construction and rehabilitation,” Bello said.

He said that the idea is to open up settlements, provide access for evacuation of goods and services as well as improve the socioeconomic lives of the people within the stretch of the different communities in the project areas.

The Minister’s aide added that the projects are also targeted at creating employment for Nigerians.

TENSION IN DELTA AS YAKUBU GOWON SLUMPS DURING FINAL MILITARY SALUTE TO MAJ GEN EJOOR

Tension heightened as Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Nigerian Head of State, slumped mid way during the oration at the grave side of late Maj Gen David Akpodiete Ejoor, in Ovwor-Olomu Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.From left: James Ibori, Yakubu Gowon, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, Godwin Obaseki and Ifeanyi Okowa.

This is coming just as military personnel made efforts to bar visual coverage of the ugly incident.

Ambulance stationed in front of the special tent

The former Head of State was promptly rushed by some top echelons of the military into the special tenth for emergency resuscitation, just as Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa and Chief James Onanefe Ibori, former Governor of the Delta State dashed into the tenth to ensure he recovers.

Military, as well as the Delta State ambulances, were immediately moved closed to the tent, in case the former Head of State’s health deteriorates further.

After a moment of suspense, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa were seen coming from the special tent, an indication that the former Army General has recovered.

SENATE PRESIDENT, BUKOLA SARAKI GETS INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENT

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has been appointed as an “Ambassador-at-Large” of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

In a letter dated March 16, 2019, Ambassador Friday Sani, the Diplomatic Head of the Commission to Nigeria and other African Countries, stated that sequel to the approval of the World Secretary General of the IHRC, Dr. Saraki has been appointed as one of the revered Ambassadors-at-Large of the multinational body.

A copy of the letter was made available on Sunday by Saraki’s media office.

It reads, “While our role as a regional body is to promote and encourage institutions and persons to uphold human dignity across the world, we must not fail to mention the commendation of our Nigerian team over your resolute efforts in the stability of your country and your firm leadership of the Nigerian Senate which is adjudged to be among the most proactive parliaments across the world.

“Besides, the Commission is not unmindful of the maturity that you recently displayed in the face of an obvious provocation in your constituency during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections,” Ambassador Sani said in the letter.

In the new capacity, Dr. Saraki is expected to lead the diplomatic team of the IHRC in various diplomatic missions across the world.

The Senate President has accepted the nomination of the Commission, while also expressing his appreciation to the IHRC for his nomination.