Niger Delta
Minister Assures On Utor Bridge Completion
The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, said last Thursday that the N4.4 billion Utor Bridge project on Asaba-Ebu-Uromi Road in Delta State would be inaugurated in 2014.
The minister gave the assurance in Asaba while inspecting the project site at Utor, Ebu in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Onolememen said that the contract for the bridge was awarded on Nov 16, 2006 to an indigenous contractor but that the project was abandoned in 2009 after the Federal Government had committed N2 billion to it.
He said the initial contract sum was N2.97 billion and the completion date was July 2008 adding that the contract was reviewed to N4.4 billion in December, last year, to be completed in June 2014.
The minister said that the original work plan of the project would not be altered.
“The Federal Government reviewed the project with new contract sum of N4.4billion with plant advance of N962.7 million to Inter Bau, with new commencement date of Dec. 20, 2012.
“I am impressed with what the company is doing.“It is 400m long bridge and with the level of job so far done, the contractor will meet with the completion deadline which is next year,” he said.
Onolememen said when completed, the bridge would connect Delta and Edo and reduce the travelling hours from the Northern to Eastern Nigeria.
He said that Federal Government was committed to constructing all abandoned road projects in the country between now and 2015.
The Chief Executive Officer of Inter Bau, the construction company, Mr Nath Okechukwu, who conducted the minister round the project, told newsmen that the job would be completed on time.
According to him, the company has no major challenge in completing the work on the bridge as promised.
He said that Utor Bridge project was one of about three Federal Government projects being handed by his company.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
