News

Anambra Assembly Committee to expose Construction Companies executing shoddy road projects

Published

1 year ago

May 7, 2023

By Raymond Ozoji, Awka

The Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Works has expressed reservations over the type of road projects some contractors are executing in the state after being mobilised with tax payers’ money.

The Committee’s oversight functions revealed that while some other contractors obeyed the contractual obligations as it concerned specifications and texture of the roads, others indulged in sharp practices as evident in the jobs they are carrying out.

Chairman of the Committee on Works and lawmaker representing Njikoka 1 state constituency Rt. Hon. Barr. Timothy Ifedioramma, who spoke with our correspondent exclusively said the Committee will expose every contractor that will contravene the 20 years agreement on roads being constructed across Anambra state.

Ifedioramma disclosed that the Committee has made some findings which he noted were not palatable even though he said they have made their report and sent to the Ministry of Works for corresponding actions.

He explained that there was need for such reports especially as some of the contractors indulged in sharp practices, stressing that as a responsible Committee, it is incumbent on them to ensure that every tax payer’s Kobo being spent on road construction yielded the expected results.

The Works Committee chairman maintained that it’s a good intention that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo is trying to reconstruct and give a facelift to roads in Anambra; that to that extent contractors must account for every penny given to them to construct roads for Ndi-Anambra.

Ifedioramma said, “We have visited so many construction sites to see if the contractual agreements are being followed strictly. Although the good thing about the contracts entered into with these construction companies is that they are giving 20 years guarantee.

“However we will not just rely on the 20 years guarantee that they have committed themselves to; they must ensure that what they are doing is in consonance with specifications.”

He said some of the roads are not in agreement with the 20 years guarantee but he has spoken to the Works Commissioner and he has noted such areas, adding that the Works Commissioner was furious about such reports. That the Commissioner promised to conduct on the spot assessment of the areas discovered by the Committee and proffer sanctions where necessary.

The lawmaker said, “I had promised Ndi-Anambra to blacklist contractors who are engaged in sharp practices and I am not going back from it. However as a responsible lawmaker and as a lawyer, I want to follow due process to ensure that the erring contractors are given ample opportunity to correct themselves or better still defend themselves as to why they did what they did.

“So I want to give that benefit of doubt to the contractors and the Ministry of Works to see that those observations are corrected but where the contractors have been confronted and they still did not do what they are supposed to do, then I will let Ndi-Anambra know what has happened and the contractors involved.

“I also owe it to Ndi-Anambra to mention contractors that have done well. I will not mention the roads these shoddy jobs are for now but I assure the citizens that they will be mentioned and it is up to government to know what to do with the contractors.”

News

Nigeria’s money supply dropped to N92.3trn in March – CBN

Published

9 hours ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

Nigeria’s money supply dropped marginally to N92.3 trillion in March 2024 from N93.9 trillion in February.

This is according to recent data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Experts have linked the development to CBN’s hike in interest rates.

Demand deposits increased from N26.8 trillion to N28.8 trillion, suggesting a preference among depositors for more liquid forms of money.

Similarly, currency outside banks surged from N3.4 trillion to N3.6 trillion as more Nigerians moved towards cash following the end of the apex bank’s controversial new naira note policy.

The naira has continued to depreciate against the dollar despite the CBN’s policy intervention. On Thursday, it further dipped to N1533.99 per dollar.

News

Naira appreciates against dollar, ends week on good note

Published

9 hours ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

The Naira appreciated against the dollar at the foreign exchange market barely 24 hours after depreciation.

FMDQ data showed that the N1497.33 appreciated against the dollar on Friday

This represents an N33.66 gain against the dollar compared to N1497.33 traded on Thursday.

Similarly, at the parallel market, the Naira appreciated to N1475 per dollar on Friday from N1555 on Thursday.

This showed that the Naira ended the week well after days of depreciation.

The country’s currency continued to experience instability since mid-April when it recorded months of appreciation.

Meanwhile, the Bureau De Change Operators had blamed forex scarcity for the continued depreciation of Naira.

News

Police dismiss inspector for N29.8m theft, kidnapping

Published

9 hours ago

May 17, 2024

NewsDirect

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed one of its officers identified as Adabo Mohammed for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, among others.

Mohammed, who was an Inspector, alongside five others was said to be a member of an armed robbery gang allegedly responsible for the stealing of N29.8 million from a victim in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory.

This was disclosed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

The statement, titled, ‘Police speak tough on indiscipline, misconduct,’ noted that in a move to uphold professional standards within the Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, stressed the Force’s intolerance to any form of indiscipline.

The statement read partly, “In a decisive move to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity within the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has emphasised his administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards any form of indiscipline. He stressed that the mandate of the police is to serve and protect with honour and integrity, and as such all breaches of the core values of the NPF will be met with decisive action to maintain public trust and ensure justice.

“In line with this policy, all cases reported against personnel have been creditably attended to, and justice has been done appropriately. Many of the erring officers have been sanctioned, while some cases are still at the orderly room trial level, and will soon be concluded.

“For instance, a police inspector has been dismissed from service while three others were demoted to their previous ranks following thorough investigations which confirmed their involvement in various acts of indiscipline/crime.”

Adejobi added, “One Inspector Adabo Mohammed was dismissed for the offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery/kidnapping, and corrupt practice. The dismissed officer, along with five others were members of an armed robbery gang responsible for the robbery of the sum of N29.8 million from a victim in Gwagwalada, FCT as well as the kidnap of one Ikechukwu Emmanuel Okafor in Tunga Manje, and the collection of ransom sum of N4.4m. The ex-officer has been charged to court accordingly.

“Similarly, the trio of Inspectors Osagie Efford, Semiu Agbekin, and Francis Ahuen, attached to the Special Tactical Squad (STS), have been demoted to their previous rank of Sergeant for the extortion of some motorists in Abuja. The trio intercepted an unregistered Mercedes Benz at Gwarinpa, Abuja, and forced the occupants to part with the total sum of N29.4m.

“The matter when reported by one Harrison Gwamnishu (#HarrisonBBi18) via the social media platform ‘X’, was taken up and properly investigated. While the monies have been returned to the complainants, the officers were subjected to orderly room trial in line with extant laws, and have been demoted.”

The FPRO noted that some senior officers have “been subjected to the Force Disciplinary Committee hearings” to “scrutinise and address allegations of misconduct against higher-ranking officers of the Force.”

He assured the public that “these measures are taken with the utmost seriousness and are integral to restoring and maintaining their trust. He re-emphasised that the NPF is dedicated to fostering a culture of accountability and respect within all ranks to ensure that police officers serve with integrity.”