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Buhari To Spend $29.96n Loan On East-West Road, Others -Senate
The Senate has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari would expend the request for external loan of $29.96billion on the execution of five legacy Infrastructural projects across the country, just as it said that Nigeria cannot stop borrowing.
Speaking with Journalists in Abuja, at the weekend, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Lagos West), who disclosed that Buhari’s administration has five legacy projects which it planned to spend the money on, however, identified the projects as the Second Niger Bridge, the East-West Road, the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Mambila Power project, and the Kaduna-Abuja Highway.
Adeola, who noted that the loan will not have untold hardship on the people, said that if the need arises, the Senate would organise a public hearing where Nigerians in all strata of the society would come up with suggestions before the final approval by the lawmakers, adding that at the end of the day, the Senate would monitor the utilization of the loan.
The senator also vowed that the Senate would monitor the over 300 revenue generating agencies, with a view to ensuring that revenues that should get to the government coffers get there and used for the overall interest of the country.
He has also threatened that the Senate would probe claims about the Volume of Imported Fuel and those who have cheated Nigerians should be prepared to face the full wrath of the law as they would be prosecuted, adding that the Senate would block all the leakages in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, had on November 28, written to the Senate, again requesting for the approval of 2016-2018 External Borrowing to the tune of $30billion to be spent by the Federal Government to execute key Infrastructural projects across the country.
The letter, which was dated November 26, 2019, was read on the floor of the Red Chamber by the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, during plenary.
In the letter, President Buhari explained that it became imperative to represent the request because the Eighth National Assembly approved only a part of the External Borrowing request forwarded to it in September, 2016.
Adeola said, “The approval of the loan would afford the government, an opportunity to achieve the completion of the projects before the end of the Buhari’s administration.
“The borrowing plan would assist the government to fulfill its promise to Nigerians.
“The plan is not only for one or two years, it is for the next four years. So, the loan would be taken in tranche.
“For instance, what the government desire to borrow in 2020, would be requested in 2020. That is why it is called a plan. The Senate will monitor its utilization as soon as they are coming in.
“The Federal Government is not asking the National Assembly to approve for it, the sum of $29.96billion loan. This is because in the last Senate, about $6billion have been approved for President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow out of the $29.96billion.
“It is the balance of that figure that the government is asking us to approve for it in the borrowing plan, which is about $22.6billion. The Senate Committee on Finance will organise a public he aring on the issue if need be. In the alternative, we would engage the various agencies of the government to give them a clearer view of how the money would be utilized.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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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.
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?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.
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?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.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”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.
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?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.
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?”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.
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?”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.
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