Business
Reps to probe illegal sales of helicopters by NCAT
By Seun Ibiyemi
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has resolved to probe alleged sales of two training helicopters by the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State.
Rep. Ademorin Kuye, the Chairman of the committee, said in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
The chairman said the committee attention was drawn to the development through media reports on July 30, 2023, on the purported sale of 2 Bell 206L-3 helicopters.
He said the helicopters were public assets acquired for training pilots by the NCAT for N1.2 billion.
“The Sale of the helicopters under the pretext of underutilisation by the authorities of the College of Aviation in March 2023 has now become a symptom of the worrying trend of asset stripping.”
This according to him cut across all sectors of the economy by all MDAs toward the twilight of the last administration.
“This is in spite the offer of Nigerian Navy to acquire same and possibly use to address the security challenge facing the country in the area of oil pipeline vandalisation and crude oil theft.”
He said the committee equally felt the assets could have been converted to the use of Nigerian Police to fight banditry and insurgency in the country.
He said the urgency in the sales and concession of public assets at the twilight of the last administration called for suspicion since the supposed approval was gotten from that administration.
He said it was only right that the new administration is allowed to be part of the completion of the sale process if there were no hidden agenda.
He said the committee would investigate the sale of those important training national assets to ensure that due process was followed and that the country was not shortchanged in the deal.
By Opeyemi Abdulsalam
The NDIC has identified a issue with former Heritage Bank customers’ account names not matching their BVN records, leading to delays in refunding their deposits.
According to the NDIC, discrepancies in account names associated with former Heritage Bank customers’ BVN numbers are hindering the timely reimbursement of their deposits.
Recall that the NDIC has undertaken to begin payment of the 2.3 million depositors following the withdrawal of Heritage Bank’s operational licence.
The commission noted that 99% of the bank’s total customers had deposits less than N5 million.
The NDIC Managing Director, Mr. Bello Hassan, told the newsmen in Abuja on Sunday that a substantial amount has been paid to depositors without BVN-related issues.
He urged those that are not receiving their payments to visit the NDIC website to complete verification forms, including those without BVN-linked accounts.
He said, “We have already commenced the payment of customers since June 6. We have paid a substantial amount to the customers. What we leverage in making the payment is the BVN of customers. We trace alternate accounts in other banks and pay them their insured amounts.
“There are some that we have challenges linking up because of some discrepancies between the names and others. We are calling on customers who have not received their alerts in their alternate accounts to come forward and complete their verification forms so that we can pay them.”
Hassan stated that depositors with more than five million naira would receive a liquidation dividend.
He mentioned that the NDIC has begun selling the bank’s physical assets and is working to recover loans and advances previously granted by the bank.
According to him, “That is what we use in paying those liquidation dividends. We are not going to wait until we recover everything, no. As we recover, we will also advertise to say that we will pay liquidation dividends so that concerned depositors will be on the lookout for alerts in their accounts.”
By Esther Agbo
The Director of Consultancy & Executive Services at the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Makava David, has revealed that using alternative building materials like bricks and laterite can reduce housing construction costs by 25 to 30 percent, making homeownership more attainable for Nigerians.
He announced this over the weekend in Calabar following a presentation at the Cross River State Ministry of Housing. The presentation detailed NBRRI’s partnership with the Regional Sustainable Energy Centre of Excellence for Sub-Saharan Africa to initiate a 3,000-unit low-cost housing scheme across the state’s three senatorial districts, with backing from international agencies and local banks.
Speaking to journalists after the presentation, Mr. David stated that the use of alternative building materials would make houses much more affordable for the average person.
He said, “The cost of materials now is on the high side, the technology that NBRRI is bringing is mainly the use of locally sourced material used in building houses .
“We will use clay for the blocks, fibre for the roofing sheets and this will practically bring down the cost of the building up to 25 to 30 percent compared to conventional building material.
“The aesthetics is next to none, when it’s cold outside it’s warm inside and when it is hot outside it’s cool inside, that is why we are bringing this technology to the good people of Cross River with a payment period of 30 years, so that our people can have affordable houses they can call their home.
“Our target and the mandate of the consultant is to provide 3,000 units of low cost housing units in the three Senatorial districts of the state, and it takes less time to build once the materials are in place.”
Cross Rivers Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Beatrice Igwe, expressed government support for the initiative, highlighting Governor Bassey Otu’s commitment to projects that improve living standards. She lauded the tripartite meeting as a significant step towards reducing the state’s housing challenges by providing affordable, quality housing.
She noted, “The tripartite meeting you just witnessed is the birthing of a project that can reduce the housing challenges of the people of Cross River with a view to giving them modest and affordable housing.
“Alternative building materials are the future and the way forward. The presentation we have witnessed has shown that if properly executed there will be progress as well as a boost in the availability of low cost housing in the state.
“I can assure the partners , and other stakeholders that our Governor who has always put the people first , will key into any programme that will alleviate the suffering of the people and improve their living standard.
“I believe he will surely key into any good program that will make life comfortable for the common CrossRiverian.”
Project facilitator Sir Clay Ogeh Ekpong noted the state’s housing deficit, which prompted the outreach to both foreign and local partners to initiate low-cost housing estates.
He praised Governor Bassey Otu, describing him as a people-friendly leader, for his full support and commitment to the housing scheme.
Ekpong emphasised that the project aligns with the governor’s vision of providing homes for Cross River residents, significantly reducing housing challenges. He stated that plans are underway to construct 1,000 bungalows each in Odukpani, Ikom, and Ogoja/Yala local government areas.
Additionally, the CEO of RSECESSA, Dr. Ibrahim Aminu, expressed enthusiasm and anticipation for the project’s start.
CEO of RSECESSA, Dr. Ibrahim Aminu, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s commencement, noting that it aims to deliver affordable, high-quality housing without financial strain on buyers. The broader program targets building one million houses across Nigeria and the FCT, in partnership with NBRRI.
Aminu stated, “The partners have already put plans in motion to make the project a reality, the idea of reducing the challenges of housing is one aspect and then using alternative materials to build is another major aspect with a view of giving the people quality for their money without breaking the bank.
“We want to ensure that we bring affordable housing to our people and make sure they can also pay for these houses with ease and no pressures, and after retirement they can own good houses at the end of the day.”
By Esther Agbo
Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has issued a warning that the Federal Government is prepared to terminate contracts with Julius Berger, CCECC, and RCC firms involved in two major South South road projects if they fail to demonstrate commitment within one week.
Speaking in Uyo, the Minister addressed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other stakeholders from Akwa Ibom, emphasising President Bola Tinubu’s intention to launch the Calabar-Akwa Ibom sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway by August.
Umahi specifically identified the Eleme-Onne Section of the East-West Road in Rivers State under RCC, and the Calabar-Itu Road sections managed by Julius Berger and CCECC as projects of concern.
He criticised the contractors for prolonged delays and incomplete work, accusing some of lobbying government officials to avoid penalties from the Works Ministry.
Umahi stated, “By end of this coming week, if Julius Berger fails to re-mobilise to site and CCECC fails to re-mobilise to at least 3 Sessions, their jobs will be terminated.”
Regarding the Eleme-Onne section of the East-West Road, Umahi stated, “The worse of the roads in the entire South South is that Section on the East West Road. RCC has collected over N40 billion. 15km of Road, N156 billion inherited from the past administration.
“We’ve been on them to change their ways. And by the end of next week the 14 days notice of termination will elapse and we will terminate the contract.”
Senate President Akpabio and Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno urged Umahi to address other neglected federal road projects in the state and ensure contractors fulfil their obligations to benefit residents and travellers.
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