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FEC Approves Additional N79.3bn For Bodo-Bonny Road

The Federal Executive Council has approved the sum of N79.3billion as variation for the successful completion of the all-important Bodo-Bonny Road in Rivers State.
The approval comes about 19 years after the initial contract was awarded in 2002 by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, and barely two years after the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government kick-started the construction work.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, said this at the end of the council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last Wednesday.
The minister said that he presented three memos to the council, with two on approvals and one as a report on the meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, held in Jos, Plateau.
Fashola said that one of the memos included a request for variation of the contract value for the Bodo-Bonny Road in Rivers State.
He said, “Then there was also the contract for the Bodo Bonny road and bridge. That contract was previously awarded at N120.6billion.
“We sought approval from council to augment it by N79.305billion, bringing it to a total sum of N199billion. N199.923billion is now the total revised contract sum and council approved.
“Major highlight of the augmentation was to revise the prices, which were based on 2002 prices when it was awarded, and also to change some of the scope of works and design. Instead of approach roads, we’re constructing more approach bridges.”
“There were also provisions for additional mini bridges. There were also provisional bridges over pipelines that were discovered, instead of relocating the pipelines, which was meant to cause much more money,” he added.
Meanwhile, the contractor handling the road project, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has confirmed that it has completed some major milestones as part of the construction of the Bodo-Bonny Road, and was already delivering positive results for communities in the Niger Delta.
In a statement, It said, “The company has successfully completed works on the 4.9km Bodo Road leading to the Afa Creek Bridge, which has also been completed.
“Achievement of these two major scope components highlights Julius Berger’s commitment towards the timely commissioning of the first road to connect Bonny Island to the mainland.
“With the completion of the Bodo Road, Julius Berger has delivered a world-class road infrastructure with necessary drainage systems and stone pitched shoulders to ensure a long-lasting and high-performance infrastructure.
“The road has transformed the local infrastructure network, enabling progress by providing neighbouring communities’ much-needed, reliable access to Bodo Town, improving social and economic connectivity and commercial opportunities.
“In line with its planning, the company has commenced works on nine mini bridges as part of the on-going construction of monumental project, with construction of major bridges in Okpobo and Nanabie in view.
“Despite the challenging terrain and environmental factors related to the project location, including low lying marshy land with tidal movements, Julius Berger continues to reliably deliver leading solutions, leveraging on its technical capabilities,” the company added.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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