LAGOS-CALABAR HIGHWAY, A MISPLACED PRIORITY – PETER OBI
LAGOS-CALABAR HIGHWAY, A MISPLACED PRIORITY – PETER OBI The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, took to his verified Twitter handle to lampoon the Federal Government for continuing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. In his tweets, he rued the economic and job losses, asking the government to focus on maintaining existing highways instead of engaging in non-essential projects. Contrary to reason and the necessity for compassion in public policy, the federal government has commenced the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project. The outcry against this project has been overwhelming due to the current situation in the country. However, reports as of yesterday indicate that demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project has commenced from the Lagos end. The sight of this insensitive demolition is heart-wrenching. Livelihoods are being wiped away, lifetime investments are being wasted, and jobs are disappearing as bulldozers roar through. The homes of the elderly are being overturned by the power of bulldozers. This hasty flag-off defies the widespread outcry by the public, especially business and property owners directly affected by the project. Nobody knows the outcry that will accompany this project as it progresses towards poor rural landscapes. Thousands of jobs are about to be lost, with investments above $200 million at risk. Over 100,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector face imminent extinction, along with 80 small businesses and their 4000 mostly youth employees. At a time of rampant unemployment, the government is embarking on a job-losing project. The economic losses currently observed are primarily limited to the initial kilometers in the Lagos area. However, the 700 km stretch of this road will pass through rural regions where affected individuals lack the voice, power, or influence to assert their rights. Significant sections of the public have questioned the process preceding the project’s approval, yet the government remains deaf to reason and caution. While acknowledging the economic value of the road, its conception dating back to Tafewa Balewa’s time, several parameters have changed. Insecurity and poverty are rampant, placing this project lower on today’s national priorities. It’s time to question the rationale and timing of this and similar projects. The nation is in its worst economic state in history, with poverty and hunger spreading. The basic necessities of life are beyond reach for most Nigerians. This is a moment when a committed government cannot embark on non-essential projects. Existing highways urgently need maintenance, and insecurity makes travel unsafe. Just a few days ago, many lives were lost, and over 70 vehicles were burned in a fuel tanker explosion that occurred on the East-West road in Rivers State. This tragic accident was primarily caused by the extremely poor condition of the road, which has been neglected for years and urgently needs attention. Our economy is struggling, and our health institutions are ill-equipped. Why embark on an expensive new highway project when there are close to 50 abandoned federal highway projects across the country? The urgent necessities are nationwide security, poverty eradication, healthcare, and education, especially for the poor and underprivileged. It’s not too late to discontinue the Lagos-Calabar highway project.We cannot afford another expensive abandoned project. Nigeria’s urgent development needs are more real and essential. We do not need landscape decoration escapades. -PO
FEDERAL GOVT APPROVES SALARY INCREASE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS
FEDERAL GOVT APPROVES SALARY INCREASE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved an increase of between 25% and 35% in salary increase for Civil Servants across the Consolidated Salary Structures. In a statement on Tuesday, the Head of Press of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Emmanuel Njoku said the increases take effect from 1st January 2024. Njoku added that the government has also approved increases in pension of between 20% and 28% for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme with respect to the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures with effect from 1st January 2024. He said the increase applies to the six remainig consolidated salary structures, namely the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS). It would be recalled that those in the Tertiary Education and Health Sectors had already received their increases which involved Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) for Universities. For Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, it involved the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS). The Health Sector also benefitted through the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS).
ENUGU WATER CORPORATION DEPUTY DIRECTOR ARRAIGNED OVER ALLEGED ATTEMPTED FRAUD
ENUGU WATER CORPORATION DEPUTY DIRECTOR ARRAIGNED OVER ALLEGED ATTEMPTED FRAUD A serving Deputy Director in the Enugu State Water Cooperation, Mr. Emeka Edoh, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Enugu North Magisterial District over alleged false pretence with intent to defraud some residents of Enugu the sum of N150,000. Mr. Edoh was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Joseph Agu, Tuesday. The charge sheet marked MEN/240/C/2024 was read out to the 56-year old defendant and level 15 civil servant, who, however, pleaded not guilty. This was even as the Police arraigned four persons, namely Onyeka Nicholas, male, aged 27/ Okechukwu Umeh, male, aged 40; Monday Udeh, male, aged 37, and Tochukwu Eze, male, aged 28, and others at large for alleged illegal roadblock, intimidation, and extortion of money from Enugu residents and motorists. The Water Corporation’s Deputy Director one-count charge read: “That you Edoh Emeka ‘M’ on the 23rd day of April, 2024, at No 144 Banks Avenue, in Enugu North Magisterial District, did by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtain the total sum of one hundred and fifty (150, 000) thousand naira from Chinyere Ogbonna, Onyinye Ugwu and other members of the neighborhood with the pretence to rectify their Enugu State Water Corporation bill, which you know to be false, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 386 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30 Vol 11, reversed Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria” A bail application for the Defendant made by his counsel, Barr. E.E. Ezekwe, who argued that it was a bailable offence was opposed by a Senior Legal Officer from the Office of the Attorney-General of Enugu State, Barr. Onyinye Ugwu,. Ugwu argued that the offence for which Mr. Emeka Edoh was charged was a serious one. After hearing the arguments of both parties, Magistrate Agu granted Mr. Edoh bail in the sum of N500,000. He is also to provide a surety, who must be a Staff of the Enugu Sate Water Corporation of Grade Level 14 or above. The matter was thereafter adjourned to 22nd of May, 2024 for hearing. However, Onyeka Nicholas, Okechukwu Umeh, Monday Udeh, and Tochukwu Ezeh, who had been arraigned earlier were not as lucky, as Magistrate Agu refused their bail following their arraignment on three count charges bothering on felony, intent to intimidate and collect money from unsuspecting members of the public, and breach of peace. Their charges read: “That you Onyeka Nicholas ‘m’, Okechukwu Umeh ‘m’, Monday Udeh ‘m’, Tochukwu Eze ‘m’ and others now at large on the 11th day of April 2024 at about 0010hours at Oshimiri Bus Stop, Akegbe Junction, Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire among yourself to commit felony, to wit: Demanding with menace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II Reversed Laws of Enugu State 2004. “That you Onyeka Nicholas ‘m’, Okechukwu Umeh ‘m’, Monday Udeh ‘m’, Tochukwu Eze ‘m’ and others now at large on the same day, time, and place in the aforementioned Magistrate District did with intent to intimidate, demand, and collect money from unsuspecting members of the public and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 371 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II Reversed Laws of Enugu State 2004. “That you Onyeka Nicholas ‘m’, Okechukwu Umeh ‘m’, Monday Udeh ‘m’, Tochukwu Eze ‘m’ and others now at large on the same day, time, and place in the aforementioned Magistrate District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by creating illegal roadblock and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 247 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II Reversed Laws of Enugu State 2004. The matter was…
FG MAY DUMP N16TRN RAILWAY PROJECTS FOR N2.6 TRN LAGOS-CALABAR COASTAL ROAD
FG MAY DUMP N16TRN RAILWAY PROJECTS FOR N2.6TRN LAGOS-CALABAR COASTAL ROAD Investigations have revealed that the N2.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal road may lead to the abandonment of about N16 trillion railway projects which were incorporated in the 25-year railway roadmap unveiled during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and which will expire next year, 2025. The projects include the Ibadan-Kano Standard Gauge Railway ($5.3 billion); $11.17 billion Lagos-Calabar coastal railway project; the $3.02 billion rehabilitation project for the Eastern Line (Port Harcourt-Maiduguri) and the $1.9 billion Kano-Maradi Railway project. Checks revealed that approval of the N2.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal road by the Federal Government ought to have come after the completion of the $11.17 billion Lagos-Calabar Coastal railway. Speaking, a source close to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) lamented that the body language of the President Bola Tinubu administration has shown that there is no room for fresh railway project development. According to the source, “Before now, what we keep hearing is that there is no funds, but suddenly there is a whole N2.6 trillion for a road that links Lagos to Calabar. It is shocking. “If you look at many developed countries, their development is hinged on rail connectivity which comes cheap and very affordable. The Lagos-Calabar coastal railway needed $11.17 billion for its completion, but has been stalled due to paucity of funds. Now, we are expending N2.6 trillion on a road along same axis. Between a road and rail connection, which one is better for economic development? Of course, it’s the rail construction. “Many of these railway projects will lapse next year because they were incorporated into the railway roadmap development in year 2000 under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. It is only in this country that every government comes and does its own, and dumps a trajectory that ought to be followed. “The Lagos-Ibadan is just a leg from the Lagos-Kano standard gauge rail line. The Lagos-Ibadan has been completed and works should be ongoing on the Ibadan-Kano axis. Imagine the economic benefits of rail movement of cargoes from the Apapa Port in Lagos straight to Kano? “As we speak, every cargo that leaves the port in Lagos stops at Ibadan because that’s where the rail ends. From Ibadan up North, the cargoes find their way through the use of trucks which has allowed double handling and security concerns into the freight and logistics system. How long are we going to continue with this pattern? “If the government can raise N2.6 trillion for a coastal road, what about the various railway projects that are lying abandoned? It seems these projects have been abandoned and we won’t see any fresh railway construction in this country in the next four years. “The $11.17 billion Lagos-Calabar coastal railway project was in 2021 approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. We expected the Federal Government to have continued with this approval, but it has been sidelined.” Further checks revealed that the Ibadan-Kano Standard Gauge Railway, Lagos-Calabar coastal railway project; Eastern Line (Port Harcourt-Maiduguri) rehabilitation have all not yet began and their time frame will expire next year. Efforts to get the Ministry of Transport’s reaction to the current state of railways development in the country proved abortive as one of the aides of the Minister of Transportation declined comments, stating that the Minister who is in the best position to speak, is not in the country. “I cannot speak on the issue, and the Minister who can, is not in the country,” the Ministry of Transportation official told Nigerian Tribune. Meanwhile, affected owners of structures marked for demolition on the right-of- way of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project have been calling for adequate compensation following the commencement of…
ANGER AS MINISTER TELLS NIGERIANS TO ACCEPT TARIFF HIKE OR FACE BLACKOUT
ANGER AS MINISTER TELLS NIGERIANS TO ACCEPT TARIFF HIKE OR FACE BLACKOUT Strong reactions have trailed comments by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, that there would be total blackout in the country in the next three months if the proposed electricity tariff hike is not implemented. Adelabu said this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Power, which is investigating electricity tariff hike by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). This followed the rejection of the new tariff regime by the Senate committee, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. “The entire sector will be grounded if we don’t increase the tariff. With what we have now in the next three months, the entire country will be in darkness if we don’t increase tariffs. “The increment will catapult us to the next level. We are also Nigerians, we are also feeling the impact,” Adelabu said. Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media have expressed anger with the minister’s comments. Writing via Facebook, one Owuru Odun-Itan Emmanuel said: “A govt that derives pleasure in inflicting pains, hardship and suffering upon her citizens.” Abdulrahman Zubairu: “Tinubu and his ministers are just a disappointment. We have really made a costly mistake in his election. I sincerely hope God give us the wisdom to make amends in the near future.” Oyeyemi Olugbami: “And this one want to govern my State! Why must the price of everything increase under this Government. No mercy for the masses at all!!” Ahmad Shehu: “We’re tired of hearing of investors since the return of democracy in 1999. Electricity Tariff is always on increased and nothing attracted investors rather than suffering by Nigerians. The whole system is collapse. Nigerians are always in blackout. Ihave never seen the worse power minister like this man.” Muhammad Nasir Jabaka: “It’s this kind of minister that will make me pray for coup de tat in this country, this government underrated it’s people and their capabilities.” Tweeting via @mazinwonwu, one Chiagozie Fred Nwonwu: “As I type this, there is no power in my house. A rechargeable standing fan is battling back the stifling heat. Energy bulbs powered by a battery provide luminance. I am so used to the unwieldiness of public power supply that I get worried when it stays on for 24 hours.” @DengeTyro: “These people don’t care about advancing as a society… or providing people with better living conditions. All they care about is putting more money in their pockets. And as long as society rewards greed, those are the kind of leaders we’ll keep having.” @mayorz16_: “All I know is that if this man contest in next governorship election in oyo state and any one vote for him, that person no go make am in life again.” @ometere29: “But we have started paying for light with the new tariff, what is this threat for again. You guys think you won’t lose money too. Clowns.” @Tee_Classiquem1: “I hope people of Oyo state are taking note of this Adelabu guy, do everything in your power to make sure he doesn’t smell that governorship sit.” On Instagram, @sd_sammy.kings, wrote: “They haven’t removed this man already?” @alegrotravels: “Pls Tinubu should sack this fellow. He has no control of his utterances. A public office should manage what he says to the public!” @joegel 109: “de pity your governorship ambitions oga if u enter na ur room for this Oyo state we de wait u Omo Osan.” @smab_bint_bakare: This statement is insensitive! Fuel subsidy, gone! Prices of good and services, skyrocketed! And yet still the power supply…. not so good! We are not here to suffer, anyway.” @olawealth360: “I thought they remove him @officialasiwajubat kindly replace the minister of power he his incompetent enough sir”
Dons Eze
- Spirituality
- April 30, 2024
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POPE FRANCIS: CARDINALS MEET TO DISCUSS SUCCESSOR
POPE FRANCIS: CARDINALS MEET TO DISCUSS SUCCESSOR The cardinals are now meeting to discuss who should be the next pope. Some of the liberal ones, who feel safe because they’re in favour with the ailing Pope Francis, can be seen comparing notes in a bar near the gates of the Vatican. The conservative cardinals are more nervous: they gather at suppers in each other’s apartments or — if they can trust the fawning waiters not to betray them — in a favourite restaurant. Perhaps you can see the flash of a bishop’s ring as he taps a piece of gossip into WhatsApp; the Holy See employs world-class electronic spies, so everyone uses a private phone rather than the Vatican-issued ones. Even the phone-tappers are busy exchanging information, because like everybody in Rome they suspect that the painfully fragile Francis — who is often too short of breath to read out his own sermons — hasn’t got long to go. They are just guessing, of course. The Pope is secretive about his health, and two years ago he bounced back from major surgery on his colon that was assumed to be advanced cancer. Even so, he’s 87, the oldest pope for more than a century, and a conclave can’t be too far off. Ludwig Ring-Eifel of the German news agency KNA said in January that seeing the Pope so short of breath at a press conference at which he was too ill to answer prepared questions was “a difficult moment for me … and you can tell that this situation has also affected many colleagues emotionally”. At the beginning of March, Andrew Napolitano, a retired Superior Court judge from New Jersey, was staying in the papal guest house behind St Peter’s.“The Pope is in poor health, can barely speak or walk; and he radiates sadness,” he reported . “I don’t think he’ll be there much longer.”
TENSION AS TINUBU PLANS TO RESHUFFLE CABINET
TENSION AS TINUBU PLANS TO RESHUFFLE CABINET There is palpable tension as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is said to tinkering about reshuffling his cabinet ahead of his first anniversary on May 29 Some ministers who do not meet up with the president’s expectations will be sacked and others replaced The special adviser to the president on policy coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, will handle the assessment and evaluation of the ministers The shake-up will also involve a reshuffling of offices as he assesses and evaluates the performance of his cabinet members. A team of about 140 officials has been assembled to oversee and evaluate the performance of various federal ministries and agencies (MDAs). They include some permanent secretaries, directors of planning and other officials from the 35 ministries. Recall that Tinubu had during the retreat for the ministers in November last year vowed to drop ministers who did not measure up to his expectations. The special adviser to Tinubu on policy and coordination and head, central delivery and coordination unit, Hadiza Bala Usman, is said to be leading the Central Delivery Coordination Unit saddled with the responsibility of evaluating the ministers. Tinubu might also use the opportunity to review the appointment of some ministers, who are having issues before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other integrity agencies. However, it is not clear if Tinubu will use the report of the assessment agency for the impending sack and reshuffle of ministers. As reported by Arise News, Usman said that the president will drop ministers who do not deliver on their mandates. She said the president was serious about delivering on his promise to make life better and easier for Nigerians. Meanwhile, former Kaduna Governor, El-Rufai has urged Tinubu not to hesitate to sack ministers and other appointees who could not deliver on the assignment given to them. The former governor made the remark while calling on the president to investigate the possibility of amending non-result-oriented policies.El-Rufai sent his message to the president while speaking with journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, on Monday, April 15.
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COURT STOPS INCREMENT IN PRICES OF DSTV, GOTV SUBSCRIPTION
COURT STOPS INCREMENT IN PRICES OF DSTV, GOTV SUBSCRIPTION A Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) sitting in Abuja, on Monday, restrained Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of Dstv and GOtv from increasing their tariffs and cost of products and services scheduled to begin on May 1. The three-member tribunal, presided over by Saratu Shafii, gave the interim order following an ex-parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant, Festus Onifade. The tribunal, in a ruling, restrained Multi-Choice from going ahead with impending price increase schedule to take effect from May 1, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it. “The 1st defendant is hereby restrained from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” Shafii declared. She, therefore, directed all parties in the suit to appear before the tribunal on May 7 at 10am for the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. Onifade, in the suit marked: CCPT/OP/2/2024, had dragged Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) before the tribunal. In the suit filed on April 29, Onifade, also a legal practitioner, sought two orders. These include, “an order of interim injunction of this honourable tribunal restraining the 1st defendant, whether by themselves, her privies, assigns by whatsoever name called from going ahead with impending price increase schedule to take effect from 1st May, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. “An order restraining the 1st defendant from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”Other members of the tribunal include Thomas Okosun and Dr. Umar Duhu.
IMO GOVERNOR, UZODINMA, BEGINS PAYMENT OF GRATUITIES TO RETIRED CIVIL SERVANTS
IMO GOVERNOR, UZODINMA, BEGINS PAYMENT Of GRATUITIES TO RETIRED CIVIL SERVANTS Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, is to begin payment of backlog arrears of gratuities to retired civil servants in the State. In the same vein, the governor said he would establish a power generating plant that wouldn’t serve the interest of the people of the State before he leaves office. Addressing stakeholders on Sunday, at the banquet hall of Imo State Government House to mark the birthday of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie, the governor said he was determined to leave the State much better than he met it. Governor Uzodinma promised to start payment of accumulated pensions and gratuities of retired Imo civil servants which were left unattended for a very long time. According to him, “from Tuesday next week all civil servants that worked for the state will start receiving alerts of their gratuities. “I want to thank the organised labour in Imo State for their support of government activities.” He said, “there is a special account where I put N200 million every month, and the Accountant General of the State had reminded me of the money and I had told him to leave it untouched. “Today, I want to announce that the money has risen to N10 billion. I tried to resist all temptations to make use of that money. But now we are going to use it to pay gratuities.” On the establishment of a power generating plant in the State, Uzodinma, made reference to the first civilian governor of old Imo State, Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe who built the first independent power plant (IPP) in Nigeria to serve his people. “I want to replicate that novel idea because I believe it is doable under me. My prayer is that before I leave here, Imo will get her own power generating plant,” he stated. In his remarks, the birthday ‘celebrant’, Chief Anyaehie expressed surprise for the love the governor and his wife had shown him, adding that he was not privy of the celebration. “I lack words to express myself, but I pray that God will continue to bestow wisdom and blessings to the governor. Therefore, I urge all Imo people to support his noble ideas to continue to better Imo State. Imo has changed for the better,” he said.