National News
Approach Guinness for Certification of Your Road As World Most Expensive, Group Asks Rivers Government
Approach Guinness for Certification of Your Road As World Most Expensive, Group Asks Rivers Government
By: Michael Mike
The Network for the Actualization of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) has called on River State Government to approach the Guinness Book of World Records for certification of its 50.15 kilometres Port Harcourt Ring Road Contract awarded at the cost of N195.3 billion standing at approximately N4 billion per kilometre as the most expensive road in the world.
The group accused Rivers State Government of outrageous cost of contract award in the state, insisting that recent contract award was nothing more than a bazaar.
It said the Rivers State Government recently awarded the world’s most expensive contract in the anal of public procurement in Nigeria and globally.
In a statement released at the weekend in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of the Group, Mr Akingunola Omoniyi, quoted River state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to have tweeted a video on July 11 where he revealed that the Port Harcourt ring road project was awarded at the cost of N195.3 billion.
NEFGAD, reacting to the governor’s disclosure, said, ‘’the 50.15 kilometres Port Harcourt Ring Road Contract awarded at the cost of N195.3 billion standing at approximately N4 billion per kilometre shows that the Rivers state government is insensitive to the economic plight of the people and engaging in a show of shame by coming to the public to sign such world’s most flamboyant and luxurious contract.”
The statement further read that: “The Anti-Corruption Group has observed with dismay that the cost of road construction in Nigeria has been consistently outrageous which now calls for serious concern and scrutiny. Going by a World Bank report, the cost of constructing 1km of road is less than half a billion Naira anywhere in the world irrespective of topographic differences. This figure is the benchmark that should not be surpassed regardless of several factors except vested interest that usually characterize public contract in Nigeria,
“The only thing left out of the contract is for the Rivers state government to apply to the Guinness World Record (GWR) for verification and certification as world’s most expensive contract.
“This is barbaric, outrageous and questionable and will not go unchallenged’” Mr Akingunola stated.
He however called on relevant anti-corruption agencies to look into the procurement process and all financial details of the contract for possible remedy, failure which should compel them to engage in serious advocacy against the uneconomic practice of the Rivers state government.
Approach Guinness for Certification of Your Road As World Most Expensive, Group Asks Rivers Government
National News
Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG
Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG
By: Michael Mike
The Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Innocent Barikor has affirmed that investments in the circular economy value chain have the potential to increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Barikor made this statement recently during a meeting with the management of a plastic packaging recycling (rPET) company, Sonnex in Lagos.
He assured the team that the Nigerian government prioritizes circular economy, noting that the draft National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations soon to be gazetted is one of the efforts to strengthen the legal framework for circular economy implementation in Nigeria.
He said: “Circular Economy falls under the Presidential priorities for the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Minister is very keen on the success. Apart from tackling the problem of waste, green jobs have been created .
“The pellets and flakes you produce and export also generate foreign exchange. The Plastic Waste Control Regulations are awaiting official gazette and once gazetted, we would have connected the dots of the framework to implement circular economy in the plastic sector. We are deeply committed to ensuring the success of Circular Economy.”
Earlier, the Managing Director, Anil Mohinani intimated the NESREA boss on the process for the production of recycled PET bottles (rPET), whilst also highlighting the challenges faced by investors in the sector .
He listed some of the setbacks to include lack of a legal instrument to compel manufacturers in the food and beverage sector to embrace food-grade rPET, unfriendly policies by some foreign companies, and insufficient awareness .
“Europe and America create barriers to protect their international recycling business. There is unfair competition. In some countries such as Kenya, there is encouragement to invest in rPET recycling because there is a regulation in place,” he added.
Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG
ISWAP Terrorists Kill Hunters’ Leader in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected ISWAP terrorists have killed the chairman of the hunters’ group in Garjang village, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 5 a.m. on Sunday.
The victim, identified as Habu Dala, 53, was abducted from his home by the terrorists, who took him through Mulharam to Forfot villages in Damboa LGA.
Villagers mobilised in search of Dala and later found his corpse bearing gunshot wounds.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and the hunters’ group visited the scene.
The remains were evacuated to the General Hospital, Damboa, where he was certified dead and later released to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
ISWAP Terrorists Kill Hunters’ Leader in Borno
Nine Injured in Kwali Farmers–Herders Clash
By: Zagazola Makama
Nine persons sustained machete injuries in a clash between Bassa farmers and Fulani herders in Gomoni Village, Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the fight, which broke out on Aug. 9 at about 3:30 p.m., followed alleged destruction of melon and maize farms belonging to the Bassa community by cattle.
It was gathered that the Nigeria army troops
along with joint team of operatives, and vigilantes were deployed to the scene following a distress call.
Six Bassa and three Fulani victims with varying degrees of machete cuts were taken to Rhema Foundation Hospital, Kwali, for treatment.
Authorities confirmed that the situation had been brought under control and normalcy restored, while investigation was ongoing.
Nine Injured in Kwali Farmers–Herders Clash
Investments in circular economy have the potential to increase forex earnings- NESREA DG
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