Niger Delta
Clark Tasks FG On Niger Delta Roads
Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged the Federal Government to take an urgent step toward rehabilitating roads in Niger Delta.
Clark said this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said that the hope of addressing the decline in oil revenue accruing to the government would be a mirage if the infrastructure in the areas were left in deplorable conditions.
He said that the country’s hope of revamping its economy was being challenged with the unfortunate state of affairs in the South-South.
Clark, a former Federal Commissioner of Information, blamed the recent accident at the Koko Junction on the Warri-Benin highway, which claimed 20 lives on bad roads.
The Ijaw National Leader said that in spite of the fact that the region produced the bulk of the wealth of the country, the impact of its wealth was not being felt by his people.
“We see the impact of the natural resource that is daily taken out of our soil here in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and almost every other part of the country, we are left to wallow in this total neglect, marginalisation and deprivation.
“The East-West Road remains an ugly stain on Nigeria’s political administrative logic, especially for something considered as signature project, because of its economic significance.
“No substantial inch of construction work has been added in the eight years of the Buhari’s Administration.
“Sections of the road supposedly constructed were washed away like whitewash on walls by the 2022 floods, obviously due to the poor standard of work done,” he said.
Clark added: “Meanwhile, four years ago, the former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, while addressing the House of Representatives Committee on Works, disclosed that 524 road projects were ongoing in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“Fashola said there were four multilateral-funded road projects, 81 under the Presidential Infrastructural Development Fund and 45 others being funded under the Sukuk bond.
“Certainly, billions of naira, from the Niger Delta oil and gas resources have been approved and expended on the construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridges across the country, excluding roads and bridges in the South-South zone.”
By: Naomi Sharang
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.
