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.

UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN HIJACK CORPSE IN RIVERS STATE, DEMAND N1M RANSOM

Unidentified gunmen on Friday hijacked a corpse at Ahoada in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State and demanded a ransom of N1m before it releasing it.

Eye witness account had it that the corpse, which was being conveyed home for burial by church members, was hijacked along Ahoada road by some bandits, after ordering the driver of the ambulance conveying the corpse to stop.

The witness said the bandits pulled the corpse from the ambulance and fled with it inside the bush while the driver of the ambulance was asked to go.

He said that the news of the tragic drama got to the children of the late woman, which made one of them to visit the scene, saying that the deceased’s son never returned home alive.

He went on further to say that soon after the son of the deceased got to the scene to demand for the release of his mother’s corpse, the armed men shot him dead and dragged his lifeless body into the bush.

Someone from the community later intervened before the corpse was released to the church. “The family had hired an ambulance with which it was conveying the remains of the woman home for burial. On the way, this group of armed men, decked in flowing white robe but armed with  AK-47 riffles, waylaid the ambulance, took the casket hostage, demanding for N1,000,000 from the bereaved’s family for its release.

“They ordered the ambulance driver to “vanish” with his vehicle, and the man gladly fled the scene,” the witness said. He said that soon after the corpse was released and sermon for the burial commenced at the community church, the congregation were informed of impending cultists’ attack which made the entire congregation to flee and abandoned the corpse.

When contacted, the Rivers State Police Command’s Public Relation Officer, Nnamdi Omoni said he was not aware of the incident. He said he would contact the DPO of Ahoada Police Division to get information about the incident.

POPULAR RIVERS VOLUNTEER TRAFFIC WARDEN GETS A NEW ACCOMMODATION FROM PORT-HARCOURT MAYOR (PHOTOS)

Friday Opurum

The Mayor of Port Harcourt Secures a better accommodation for volunteer traffic warden Friday Opurum.
The Mayor, Hon Victor Nyeche Ihunwo, JP, uplifted the welfare of the Port Harcourt Volunteer Traffic Warden, Pa. Friday Opurum, by securing for him a better and befitting apartment in Port Harcourt.

The Mayor, on reading about the news of the eviction of Pa. Friday Opurum from his one-room apartment at Oroworokwo community, on the 11th of April, 2019, over his inability to pay his rent since June 2018, has secured a wonderful apartment for him and his family.
at Rumu_ Kalagbor Community.

Pa. Opurum and the NGO who brought his plight to the attention of the public, met with the mayor on Wednesday, 17th April, 2019 (at the instance of the Mayor) where he (mayor) made necessary provision available to the NGO to enable the NGO get a roof over the head of the veteran volunteer traffic warden who is noticeably seen regularly at the Agudama / Emekuku junction, at the D-Line axis of Port Harcourt managing the traffic situation there.

See Photos below......

It's not clear if this response from the PH Mayor was at the instance of the Governor of Rivers State as relevant comment in that regards was not volunteered by the Phalga Mayor, the Governor or his aids. 

You recall that we earlier brought you a report with headline:

LANDLORD EJECTS FRIDAY OPURUM, TRAFFIC WARDEN AWARDED BY GOVERNOR WIKE

Gov Wike embracing Friday Opurum

Report has it that the voluntary traffic warden who bagged the Rivers State Merit Award last year, has been forced out of his house in Port-Harcourt, the state capital. 

Mr. Friday Opurum was decorated last year by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and was promised several benefits including a house amidst fanfare and in the full glare of the press.

Friday OPURUM brandishing his recognition certificate amidst fanfare and celebration

According to reports, Mr. Oporum is yet to receive any of the promises made to him.

Mr. Friday Opurum was yesterday forced out of his one room apartment at Oroworuko, along Aba Road by the landlord for failing to pay his house rent since June 2018. 

With the big Rivers State government title attached to his short lived media popularity, Mr Opurum is currently homeless. Mr Friday and his wife were pictured evacuating their properties out of their one room apartment after the landlord forced them out.

~ See Current Condition Of Traffic Warden Who Was Awarded By Governor Wike (Photos)

Friday Opurum being ejected from his residence for his inability to pay his rent

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO DISSOLVE CABINET MAY 22 – LAI MOHAMMED

President Muhammadu Buhari will dissolve the current Federal Executive Council on May 22, less than a week to May 29.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, disclosed this at the end of Thursday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

He stated that until May 22, the cabinet remained intact.

“We will be having a valedictory session on 22nd May. The cabinet remains intact”, he told State House correspondents.

KWARA STATE LAWMAKERS PASS BILL BARRING GOV FROM SACKING COUNCIL CHAIRMEN

A Bill for a law to amend the Kwara State Local Government (Amendment) Law No. 3 of 2006, which makes it impossible for the state governor to dissolve elected local government councils at will, has been passed by the State House of Assembly.

The amended law initiated by member representing Oke-Ogun Constituency, Mr. Kamal Fagbemi, now makes it unconstitutional for the state Governor to unilaterally dissolve democratically elected local government councils in the state.

Speaking after the passage of the amendment bill into law, the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Mathew Okedare, who presided over the Tuesday’s sitting, directed the Clerk of the House, Hajia Halimat Jummai Kperogi, to prepare a clean copy for the governor’s assent, pointing out that the third tier of government was strategic to accelerated socio-economic transformation of the state.

Speaking during the consideration of the general principles of the amendment Bill, Fagbemi had, while urging his colleagues to ensure the passage of the bill, said the amendment became imperative in view of the fact that the principal law was consistent with the provision of the 1999 Constitution.