News
N10m Allocation For Aviation Staff Angers Reps
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, yesterday, questioned the allocation of N10million for sensitisation of staff of the Federal Ministry of Aviation to Independent Corruption Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act.
The committee also raised objection to the allocation of N200million for consultancy fee on the concession of four international airports in the ministry’s 2021 budget.
Speaking during the 2021 budget defence in Abuja, yesterday, a member of the committee, Rep. Akin Alabi (APC-Oyo), said that N5million was budgeted for the ministry for the ICPC Act sensitisation in the 2020 budget.
“ICPC Act sensitisation, you want to sensitise your members of staff about (to) ICPC, last year (2020) N5million was budgeted for it, this year, (2021) N10million.
“This is to sensitise them to the ICPC Act, I do not get that. Can you explain that?
“A lot of Nigerians are not impressed about the National Carrier project, the working capital for the national carrier in the 2020 budget, N2.2billion allocated and this year 2021, you are asking for N1billion.
“Can you explain what you mean by working capital because I know it is definitely not to buy planes so can you explain what these billions, year-in-year-out is meant for as regards working capital.
“For the concession of four international airport, Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, last year, N297million was budgeted for it, and this year, you are asking for N200million.
“What type of consultancy is this that will cost half a billion? For the national carrier, you are still requesting for N250million for consultancy,” he said.
Responding, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said that it was important that members of staff were in the ministry and agencies under it were sensitised on the Act.
He said it was extremely important to sensitise and make everybody follow the rule and ensure they ran on the narrow path of peace and justice.
Sirika said that the ministry was out to establish a strong national carrier that was commensurate with the population size, market, manpower of Nigeria, and would add value to the economy.
He said that the ministry had grown the number of passengers from eight million to 18 million since 2015 and airplane management had significantly improved.
According to him, this can be made much better if we have a well established, well structured private sector-led national carrier.
“The fact that the money is there in the budget, does not mean it was released or utilised; since we began this project, the amount spent on the activities of carriers so far if I am not mistaken, is N350million.
“By the grace if God, I want to assure this committee, and indeed, all Nigerians that this national carrier will come to be, and it will be for the benefit of our people,” he said.
On the 2020 budget performance, Sirika said that N40.2billion was allocated for capital expenditures but was reviewed downward to N33.3billion because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The minister, however, said that only N19.4billion, representing 58.3 per cent had been so far released to the ministry.
Sirika said that N250million was budgeted for overhead expenditures but was reviewed to N171million, adding that N132.8 million, representing 77 per cent, had been so far released.
The minister said that for the 2021 budget N78.9billion was earmarked for capital expenditures.
He said that N250million is proposed for overhead cost while the personnel cost is N397million, making a total of N647.1million for recurrent expenditures.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
?
?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
?
?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
?
?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
?
?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
?
?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
?
?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
?
?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
?
