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FG backs down on promise to deliver Eastern Railway Corridor project

Sinafi OMANGA
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FG backs down on promise to deliver Eastern Railway Corridor project

THE Federal Government has said it would not be able to complete the Eastern Railway Corridor Project before President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office in May 2023.

This is because the foreign loans needed to fund the project are no longer available.

Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo stated this after Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, December, 21.

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“The truth of the matter is that, if there was a promise to deliver this line before the end of this administration, this promise is no longer feasible because funding has been a major challenge for this project,” the minister said.

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who inspected the commencement of the project, had put the budget at $3 billion.

Amaechi promised that the project will be delivered before the end of Buhari’s administration.

But speaking on Wednesday, Sambo further explained, “When this project was approved, it was approved on the promise that 85 per cent will be funded through foreign loans, while 15 per cent will be the counterpart for the national budget.

“Since that approval, we have not been able to obtain that 85 per cent foreign loans for this project. We have been funding it through the national budget on the basis of the 15 per cent counterpart funding of the Federal Government. Therefore, funding has been a major challenge for this project.”

In April 2022, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation commenced construction of the the 2044.1km Port Harcourt-Maidiguri narrow guage project.

When executed, the rail line will traverse 14 states, linking Southern Nigeria to the North through the Eastern states.

Gunmen attack police team in Kogi, kill two

Ijeoma OPARA
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Gunmen attack police team in Kogi, kill two

GUNMEN attacked a police patrol team in Kogi State on Wednesday, killing two officials in a gun battle.

Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Police Command William Ovie Aya said in a statement that the incident took place along Agbaja road in Lokoja, the state capital.

The security operatives were on a routine patrol when the gunmen emerged from a bush.

“The Command lost two of its personnel during the gun duel with the hoodlums as they fled before the re-enforcement team arrived. The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP Akeem A. Yusuf, immediately deployed a team of tactical operatives to the area while trailing the hoodlums to apprehend and bring them to book,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police also ordered investigations into the incident and urged residents to provide relevant information which could assist in the arrest of the hoodlums.

Security operatives and police stations in Kogi State have been targets for attack in recent times.

At least four incidents of attack against the police have been recorded in 2022.

In February, an attack on the Command headquarters was averted by police operatives in collaboration with members of a local vigilante group.

In April, three policemen died following an attack on the Ogaminana police station, Adavi.

Three other attacks occurred in July and August, resulting in the death of policemen.

Again, Ekweremadu denied bail, to spend Christmas, New Year holidays in jail

Oghenekevwe UCHECHUKWU
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Again, Ekweremadu denied bail, to spend Christmas, New Year holidays in jail

THE Central Criminal Court, London, has again denied bail to a former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is undergoing trial for alleged organ trafficking.

Ekweremadu had been arrested and remanded in custody since June after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation and an investigation was launched.

In a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, December 20, the defence counsel argued that the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) and the Attorney-General of the Federation had written to the court that Ekweremadu was not a flight risk.

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However, the prosecution opposed the motion for bail citing a July 18 letter by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which referred to the assets forfeiture proceedings against the lawmaker in the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The court subsequently denied the bail on the grounds that Ekweremadu remained a flight risk and could jump bail.

“I am entirely satisfied there remains a flight risk,” the presiding judge said, noting that bail would not make much difference “as the trial is just over a month away”.

Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice are charged with conspiracy to facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

It was also gathered that a daughter of the Ekweremadus, Sonia, had been suffering from a kidney disease and recommended for a transplant.

The trial has been adjourned until January 31st, 2023.

Buhari sends N819.5bn supplementary budget to National Assembly

Harrison EDEH
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Buhari sends N819.5bn supplementary budget to National Assembly

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has presented a N819.5 billion supplementary budget to the National Assembly.

The budget is expected to be funded by domestic borrowings amid concerns of rising debt. This will increase the budget deficit to N8.17 trillion.

According to a letter the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, read today in the chamber, the President raised the supplementary budget to address food security, following devastating floods across the country, as well as repair damage to road infrastructure and the water sector.

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The President premised the budget on the need to complete ongoing critical Federal government projects, such as dams and irrigation projects.

Buhari had on December 31, 2021 signed the 2022 Appropriation Bill of N17.126 trillion into law after it was presented to him by his Senior Special Assistant (Senate) on National Assembly, Senator Babajide Omoworare, at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said he would revert to the National Assembly with a request for an amendment to ensure that critical ongoing projects cardinal to his administration did not suffer a setback as a result of reduced funding.

He recounted that during the presentation of the 2022 Appropriation Bill, he had stated that the 2022 fiscal year would be very crucial in his administration’s efforts at completing and putting to use critical agenda projects, as well as improving the general living conditions of Nigerians.

Buhari argued that the cuts by the lawmakers could render the implementation of the budget impossible.

Airline operators warn on flight cancellation over aviation fuel scarcity

Harrison EDEH
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Airline operators warn on flight cancellation over aviation fuel scarcity

THE Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), as a body, has warned passengers of impending disruptions in scheduled flight operations due to the scarcity of aviation fuel, otherwise known as Jet-A1.

AON spokesman, Obiora Okonkwo, said in a statement today that the scarcity of the product during the Christmas and new year period would force airlines to reschedule flights, “leading to late operations and, or, cancellations.”

With growing concerns of insecurity on major highways, many Nigerians have been opting for inter-state trips by air.

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Commercial airlines usually experience a surge in passenger traffic at this time of the year as families visit their home states from major cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt for communal gatherings.

However, AON members feared that air passengers might not have it so easy this year-end due to the scarcity of JET-A1.

It stated, “This unintended development is a pain on airline operators and a stain on the industry, especially at this time of mass movement of people for the Christmas and New Year festivities.

“While we do our utmost best to manage the situation and ensure safe flight operations, we plead the understanding of the travelling public in the circumstance.”

The operators further called on the concerned authorities, including product importers and marketers, to address the situation quickly with a view to easing the stress it would inflict on the travelling public.

Buhari launches project monitoring app, wants citizens to track progress

Harrison EDEH
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Buhari launches project monitoring app, wants citizens to track progress

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has launched the National Monitoring and Evaluation platform, named EYEMARK.

Buhari, launching the app today, urged Nigerians to utilise it in making constructive suggestions to Federal government’s projects.

The President launched the project monitoring website,   www.eyemark.ng, with its accompanying mobile app shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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He noted that the app would enable proper monitoring and evaluation of government projects.

Saying the federal government could no longer depend on its handful of monitoring and evaluation teams to oversee the vast number of infrastructure projects spread nationwide, Buhari pointed out that tracking of progress reported by citizens would lessen corruption and project delays.

He added that given that his administration had invested in infrastructure projects more than any other before it, it was only fitting to create adequate avenues for close monitoring by citizens.

According to him, this would close the existing gaps and promote citizens’ participation in governance.

Buhari also blamed the spate of corruption on the poor implementation of infrastructure projects across the country.

With EYEMARK, the President said, “the status of projects, and the total amount appropriated and dispensed so far are now available in the public space.”

He urged ministries, departments and agencies to cooperate with the coordinating ministry, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, to avail the required information to be captured on the platform.

Earlier in his address, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, said EYEMARK would empower citizens and civil society organisations to monitor capital projects in real time to promote accountability.

Agba noted that the platform leveraged a large network of citizens who can monitor projects in their localities.

He cautioned, however, that relying on the public comes with the risk of misinformation.

He pointed out that EYEMARK had been equipped with spatial technology to track images and to ascertain their origins.

“If a user is in Kaduna, we can determine the authenticity of the reviews. And we can know if the image was uploaded from the location the user claimed it was sent from,” he explained.

Agba also revealed that the website and its accompanying app were developed by Nigerians of the average age of 24 years, with inputs from stakeholders and industry experts.

Labour Party, Peter Obi react to Okupe’s conviction, resignation

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Labour Party, Peter Obi react to Okupe’s conviction, resignation

THE Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has described the conviction of its former Director General, Doyin Okupe as a political ambush.

The spokesperson of the Council Kenneth Okonkwo made the assertion while reacting to Okupe’s conviction for money laundering and subsequent resignation from the party’s presidential campaign team.

Okonkwo spoke in an interview with Arise Television on Wednesday, December 21.

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He said the worst of the LP is better than the best of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 

“We do not have anything to worry about, because the best they have gotten is that the man made an honest mistake. But look at PDP, we have President Olusegun Obasanjo, who happened to be the only principal that Atiku Abubakar ever served as a political appointee and he said Atiku is one of the most corrupt human beings on earth.

“The only principal that can appraise him.

“Wike said Ayu is the most corrupt National Chairman on record. He said he collected many billions of naira and that Atiku is aware of it. Has he resigned? 

“So, when you talk about comparison, the worst of Labour Party is still better than the best of the PDP and APC combined,” Okonkwo said.

Okupe resigned his position as the Director General of the Obi-Datti presidential campaign on Tuesday, December 20, following his conviction by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja for money laundering.

He was found guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, in violation of provisions of the Money Laundering Act.

Okupe conveyed his resignation in a letter to his principal, the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, having paid the N13 million fine handed to him by the court.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has accepted Okupe’s resignation.

Reacting to the development on Wednesday, Obi said he respects Okupe’s decision to step aside.

Obi spoke in a letter addressed to Okupe, on Wednesday.

The letter read: “My Dear Elder Brother Doyin, I received your letter offering to step aside in order to avoid any distraction to the good work of trying to forge a new direction for our country, on board of which you have been from inception. It is a decision which I respect.

“The story of this historic effort, which has galvanized millions of our countrymen, particularly our youths, cannot be complete without mentioning your commitment, dedication and the boundless energy that you brought to bear.

“It is my sincere hope that our legal system will afford you an opportunity to eventually clear your name. Your brother, Peter Obi.”

IPOB sit-at-home order delayed 2nd Niger bridge – Fashola

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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IPOB sit-at-home order delayed 2nd Niger bridge – Fashola

THE Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has disclosed that the sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) delayed the completion of the Second Niger Bridge.

Fashola made this known in an interview with Channels Television, on Wednesday, December 21.

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He said the activities of the pro-Biafra group slowed the construction and completion of the project.

“These dates keep shifting and people must remember that on the eastern side, our contractors have not been able to work on Mondays for almost two years and that has affected the completion date.

“While construction workers work on Saturdays, a 52-day loss cannot easily be made up for in construction work,” he stressed.

The minister added that other challenges, like relocating transmission lines connecting the East to the West across the River Niger, also made it difficult to complete the bridge within the stipulated timeframe.

Speaking on plans to complete the last 4 kilometres of the bridge, Fashola emphasised that there is a need for dredging and sand filling.

Fashola, however, assured Nigerians that the bridge will be completed before the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration ends in May 2023.

Yuletide: FRSC to establish mobile courts to prosecute traffic violators

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Yuletide: FRSC to establish mobile courts to prosecute traffic violators

THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said it would establish mobile courts to try traffic offenders during the festive period.

According to News Agency Nigeria (NAN), the Unit Commander of FRSC, Sagamu, Taofiq Iyanda, disclosed this in an interview in Ogun on Wednesday, December 21.

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Iyanda noted that  the development would serve as a deterrent to road users who intend to flout traffic rules and regulations during the yuletide.

He added that any motorist apprehended for route violation, driving against traffic and other traffic offenses would have their vehicles impounded while they will also be prosecuted in the mobile court.

Iyanda said the measure is aimed at checking the excesses of drivers that could lead to the loss of lives through road crashes.

“We are appealing to motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations to stem mishaps on the highway, especially during this coming festive season.”

The commander warned against reckless driving, wrongful overtaking as well as drunk driving, so as to minimize accidents during the festive season.

Mongabay offers conservation reporting fellowship

Blessing OTOIBHI
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Mongabay offers conservation reporting fellowship

MONGABAY is accepting applications for the Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellowship.

The program will provide opportunities for journalists to report on critical environmental issues, gain valuable training, experience and credibility that will help them advance their careers in journalism and communications.

During the six-month fellowship, fellows will work directly with the fellowship editor to produce six stories.

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The program will support up to 12 fellows per year – six at Mongabay’s global English bureau and six at its Spanish-language bureau, Mongabay-Latam. Work is remote.

Aspiring environmental journalists from tropical countries are eligible for a reporting fellowship.

Eligible applicants must be from a low- to an upper-middle-income tropical country, as classified by the World Bank.

Fellows will receive a US$3,000 stipend.

The deadline for submission of the application is February 10, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.

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