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Slain 17 Soldiers Will Receive National Honours, Befitting Burial – Tinubu

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday promised that the 17 military men who lost their lives while on a peace mission in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, would get a befitting burial and national honours.

He disclosed this at the breaking of the Ramadan fast on Wednesday in Abuja with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the leadership of the House, the President said while oversight is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability in governance, excessive summoning of officials can disrupt operations and hinder service delivery to citizens.

Addressing the gathering, the Commander-in-Chief commiserated with the military and the families of the deceased, assuring that the dead victims would also get what he described as a befitting burial.

He, therefore, urged lawmakers to show discretion in the exercise of their oversight functions.

“The baby step being taken by our country is doing well. The sacrifices we have made and we ask the people to continue to make, assuring them that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel.

“All you have to do is to have faith. Pls don’t forget your constituencies, remember what they are going through. We salute all our men and women in uniform and we sympathise with them.

“I will soon make further pronouncements. They must have a befitting burial and they must have national honour.”

He expressed confidence in the ability of the National Assembly to uphold good governance, lauding the existing cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature.

According to Tinubu, the harmonious working relationship had resulted in the expeditious passage of several bills to improve the welfare of Nigerians.

The President also urged the legislators not to forget their constituencies and to take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan to show compassion and support the less privileged in society.

Delta Gov Meets Tinubu

Worried by possible fear of reprisal by the military, coupled with the mounting tension since the gruesome killing, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, on the same day met President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Oborevwori says military authorities have assured him of the safety of residents of the community.

“I decided to come here to brief Mr President of all the things we have been doing to maintain peace. Mr President has assured me that he is in support of peace and we both condemn the killing of the officers and the soldiers because they were there on a peace mission,” he said after the meeting.

“What is happening now is something that we did not bargain for. But we want to assure everybody that there will be no more attacks on the villages.

“If there’s anyone that will that has happened in the past, there will be no attack. But we know that those who are culpable will be brought a book but innocent citizens will not be will not be attacked.”

Tinubu Pledges Punishment

President Tinubu who earlier condemned the killing, said the perpetrators, whom he described as “cowardly” must not go unpunished.

In a message he released Sunday evening, said the killing is “unprovoked” and “dreadful”.

“As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers,” Tinubu said.

“I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.”

 

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Video: Court Strikes Out Suit Against #EndBadGovernance Protesters

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The Nigerian government has moved EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters from the Abuja Federal High Court premises.

This followed Justice Obiora Egwuatu’s decision to strike out the suit after an application by M. D. Abubakar, counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, to take over and discontinue the case.

Representing the Attorney General of the Federation, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Mohammed Abubakar announced his exercise of powers under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to assume control of the case from the Inspector General of Police.

Upon granting this request, Justice Egwuatu also accepted the Attorney General’s invocation of the same section to discontinue the trial of the 119 accused persons.

DAILY POST reports that 76 people were arrested in Kano and Kaduna states and detained for hoisting the Russian flag during the EndBadGovernance protest.

Those arrested were charged with attempting to overthrow President Tinubu.

During last week’s court appearance, there was drama when 29 minors among those arrested fainted during arraignment, reportedly due to malnutrition.

 

 

 

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FG Terminates ₦740bn Abuja-Kaduna Road Contract With Julius Berger Over Non-Performance

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FG has terminated the ₦740bn Abuja-Kaduna road contract with Julius Berger over non-performance.

The Federal Government has terminated the ₦740bn contract for the rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna dual carriageway with Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc over non-performance, JomogNews reports.

This online news platform recalls that last month, the Minister of Works, David Umahi issued a seven-day ultimatum to the company to accept FG’s offer of N740.79bn for the completion of the 82km section II of the road.

Umahi lamented that the delay in mobilising to the site despite the approved funds by the Federal Executive Council was causing untold hardship to the road users and that FG was at the receiving end of the situation.

In an updated statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammed Ahmed on Monday said the contract was terminated after the notice of termination to the company for the completion of the project elapsed on Monday.

The ministry also said it had held different discussions with the company over several months; however, the discussions failed to yield results.

While the Kaduna-Zaria section has been completed and the Zaria-Kano section is almost done, the Abuja-Kaduna section has recorded 27 per cent progress in six years.

Umahi at an event penultimate week, also accused the company of playing politics with the highway to make the current administration look bad

The Monday statement read in part, “Based on non-compliance with reviewed cost, scope and terms, stoppage of work and refusal to remobilise to site, as directed, the Federal Ministry of Works has issued a 14-day Notice of Termination to Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc for the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna), today, 4th November, 2024.

“The decision, which is borne out of several months of going back and forth without any meaningful progress was reached at a Management meeting of the Ministry. The Ministry has in the last 13 months been in constant talks with the company, in order to reach an amiable position on the said alignment but to no avail.

“Nigerians may wish to know that the Contract for the Rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, which was divided into three (3) Sections was awarded to the company on 20th December, 2017 and flagged off by the then Minister of Power, Works and Housing, H:E. Babatunde Raji Fashola at an initial sum of N155.748,178,425.50billion (One Hundred and Fifty-Five Billion, Seven Hundred Forty-Eight Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-Five naira Fifty Kobo) on 18th June, 2018. Sections II(Kaduna – Zaria) and III (Zaria – Kano)were partially completed and handed over during the twilight of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

“Since then it has been one variation and augmentation or the other, and finally, the present Minister of Works directed for the redesigning and re-scoping of Section I of the contract.

“The alignment was divided into two with one phase redesigned to be on continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), while the remaining with asphaltic pavement. Approval for Section I, Phase 1 for a length of 38 (thirty-eight) kilometres on concrete pavement was given to Messrs Dangote Industries (Nig.) Ltd, while the remaining 127(one hundred and twenty-seven) kilometres remained with the substantive contractor.

“The Phase 1 was flagged off on 17th October, 2024 with a 14-month completion period.

“Due to the stalemate of the contract and, most importantly, the desire of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda infrastructure initiative, to see to the completion of this laudable project, also to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians plying the road, the Ministry re-scoped it and got the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

“The award for the Re-scoping and Downward Review of Contract for the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) in favour of Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc from the sum of N797,263,523,738.87 (seven hundred and ninety-seven billion, two hundred and sixty-three million, five hundred and twenty-three thousand, seven hundred and thirty-eight naira eighty-seven kobo)to N740,797,204,173.25 (seven hundred and forty billion, seven hundred and ninety-seven million, two hundred and four thousand, one hundred and seventy-three naira twenty-five kobo)was granted by FEC on 23rd September, 2024 and conveyed to the company on 3rd October, 2024.

“As due to the socio-economic importance the road as a vital artery connecting Abuja, the FCT to the North, the Ministry conveyed the approval for a Final Offer on the Abuja – Kaduna Dual Carriageway to the company on 23rd October, 2024, stating that it should agree, in writing, to accept the reviewed contract sum of N740,797,204,173.25 (seven hundred and forty billion, seven hundred and ninety-seven million, two hundred and four thousand, one hundred and seventy-three naira twenty-five kobo) within seven (7) days or risk the termination of the said contract.

“It is a sad commentary on the Company that rather than accepting the offer, they tinkered with the Bills of Quantities, as well as that of Engineering Measurements and Evaluation via a letter to the Ministry dated 29th October, 2024.

“The company was summoned for a meeting with the Management of the Ministry today, 4th November, 2024 but refused to show up, hence the termination of the contract based on effluxion of time and non-performance.”

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Just In: Ekiti Chief Judge, Adeyeye Dies At 64

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The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Oyewole Adeyeye, died at a tertiary health institution in Ekiti on Monday November 4, 2024 after a brief illness.

Although details of his death have not been made known officially, sources told our reporter that he passed on after a brief stay at the hospital.

He was sworn in as a Chief Judge on October 11 2021 by former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The Chief Judge was born in 1960 in Araromi Ugbesi in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State and called to bar in 1986.

He started his career as a State counsel in the Civil service of the old Ondo State before joining the Ekiti State Judiciary Service Commission shortly after the creation of the State in 1996.

He got elevated to the position of a judge in the Ekiti State High Court in 2002 and has served at different times in the election petition tribunals.

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