THE Federal Government said it had partnered with some select pharmaceutical firms to improve local manufacturing of drugs in Nigeria.
The Minister of Health and the Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate stated this on October 11, 2023, while featuring on Channels Television’s morning magazine programme, “Sunrise Daily.”
Despite not disclosing the pharmaceutical firms involved, the Minister said drugs manufactured under this partnership would have a branded National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) logo to guarantee quality and affordability.
“We have entered into medical partnerships with some pharmaceutical companies to explore options in some key medicines branded with the NHIS logo to guarantee qualities and cost reduction,” he said.
He stressed that the initiative would lower costs for those covered in health insurance for some high-cost medications.
“This would help to lower out-of-pocket expenditures and pharmaceuticals, which pushes most people into poverty,” Pate said.
He explained that the NHIA Director-General and his counterpart in the Nigeria Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) were working with the firms to improve affordability and quality.
Pate also decried 70 per cent of the importation of medications into the country, which he said created proper monitoring risks for such drugs. “Nigeria doesn’t have full control over such medications and imported,” he said.
He said the Federal Government was working with states to ensure they domesticate health insurance in their respective states and enrol more Nigerians into the insurance pool for universal coverage.
Nigerians, many of whom are not captured in the NHIA and paying out-of-pocket, are being hard hit by Nigeria’s current exchange rate problems.
The rising cost of drugs has been largely attributed to cost-push inflation since Nigeria largely imports most of its medicines, which are not exempted from exchange rate volatility.
In August, The ICIRreported how GlaxoSmithKline(GSK), notable for prescribable medicine like Augmentin and Amoxil, disclosed its strategic intent to stop the commercialisation of its prescription medicine and vaccines in Nigeria and transition to a third-party distribution model for its pharmaceutical products, citing foreign exchange concerns.
Pate said Nigeria would be addressing rising medicine costs by tapping into global vaccine production supported by the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiatives (GAVI) to intensify local production of medicines and improve universal health coverage.
THE candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 governorship election in Lagos State, AbdulAzeez Adeniran, aka Jandor, has appealed the judgment of the election petitions tribunal, which affirmed Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement on Friday, October 13, by the Head of Media and Communications for Jandor4Governor Campaign Organisation, Gbenga Ogunleye.
According to Ogunleye, Jandor expressed dissatisfaction with the tribunal’s ruling in a 34-ground notice of appeal.
His appeal seeks to upturn the “miscarriage of laws that characterised the tribunal judgment.”
He stated, among others, that the tribunal erred in law and its conclusion, which dismissed his petition to challenge the qualifications of Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat, as winners of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
On September 25, The ICIRreported the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal affirming Sanwo-Olu’s victory and dismissing Jandor’s petition.
In a unanimous judgement read by Mikail Abdullahi on behalf of the three-person panel, the tribunal held that the PDP’s petition and its governorship candidate lacked merit.
Ruling on another issue bothering whether Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat had received legitimate nominations to run in the elections from their party, the APC, the tribunal said the matter was a pre-election matter unrelated to the conduct of the disputed polls.
On the matter of the allegedly forged certificate presented by Sanwo-Olu, the tribunal noted, among other things, that the petitioner, who testified in his petition that Sanwo-Olu did not attend the Community Grammar School, Ijebu-Ife, where the certificate originated from, and claimed the school’s principal was still alive, failed to bring the school’s principal or any other staff members to testify about the certificate.
A PUBLIC health physician, Adewumi Babatunde Enoch, has said wearing a bra would not make a woman’s breasts sag or inflict her with breast cancer.
In an exclusive chat with The ICIR on commemorating this year’s No Bra Day, Enoch said several scientific researches showed that wearing bras doesn’t lead to sagging breasts and cancer.
No Bra Day is an annual event that encourages women to avoid wearing a bra for a day to free themselves from a constrictive garment, promote breast cancer awareness and emphasise the importance of breast health.
The event, celebrated every October 13 worldwide, urges women to embrace their bodies and focus on breast health and examination for early detection of breast cancer.
The National Cancer Institute defines cancer as a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other body parts.
A public health physician, Adewumi Babtunde Enoch
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths. The agency, in a report titled ‘Cancer Country Profile’, also highlighted that in 2018, Nigeria recorded an estimated number of 116,000 new cases, as well as 70,327 cancer-related deaths.
Wearing a bra might not be a cancer risk, but an ill-fitted bra can cause body discomfort and skin issues, said Enoch.
“Wearing a bra that doesn’t fit properly or wearing one for extended periods without a break can potentially lead to health issues. Some concerns include breast discomfort, restricted blood circulation and lymphatic flow, skin issues, and breast fungus.”
Enoch noted that contrary to popular belief, no definitive scientific evidence links bra-wearing with preventing or causing breast sagging.
According to him, breast sagging is a natural part of ageing and is influenced by various factors such as genetics, pregnancy, and weight fluctuations.
Enoch also stated that there is no credible scientific evidence that wearing a bra causes cancer, noting that “breast cancer is a complex disease with many risk factors, including genetics, family history, hormonal factors, and lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise.”
“The notion that wearing a bra, especially underwire bras, might cause breast cancer is a myth that has been debunked by reputable scientific research. Several large-scale studies have found no connection between wearing bras and an increased risk of breast cancer,” he added.
Speaking on the significance of No Bra Day, Enoch, also the founder of Quinta Health, explained that it is a movement that supports women who have been survivors of breast cancer or are currently battling breast cancer, especially women who have had a mastectomy.
Mastectomy is a surgery to remove all breast tissue from a breast to treat or prevent breast cancer.
“The effectiveness of such campaigns in raising awareness about breast cancer is a matter of debate. While events like No Bra Day generate attention and discussions about breast cancer, it’s important to accompany such awareness efforts with accurate information about breast health, risk factors, early detection methods, and the importance of regular screenings.
The health physician explained that the awareness might lead to early cancer detection, reducing fatality chances.
“Regular self-examination helps women (and men) become familiar with their breasts’ normal appearance and detect any changes promptly. Early detection of breast cancer significantly improves the chances of successful treatment and survival. Regular self-examination also allows individuals to become familiar with the normal variations in their breast tissue. This familiarity can help distinguish between regular changes and potential warning signs.”
The doctor also argued that while self-examination is paramount, it should be complemented with medical examinations.
“While self-examination is important, it should not replace regular clinical breast examinations performed by healthcare professionals. Medical examinations, mammograms, and self-examinations work together to provide a comprehensive approach to breast health. Individuals should also be aware of other risk factors and discuss their breast health plan with healthcare professionals. Regular screenings and self-awareness are valuable tools in the fight against.”
THE 12.15km Ikot Akpan Abia-Oboyo-Ikot Ita-Enen Nsit Road in Akwa Ibom state has absorbed billions of naira, yet there has been little progress. Despite substantial budgetary allocations and releases, the road remains virtually impassable, causing profound despair among the affected communities of Nsit Ibom and Ibesikpo Asutan, Imo Etim reports.
In what was anticipated to be a beacon of hope for the residents of Nsit Ibom and Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Areas (LGAs), the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, symbolically flagged off the construction of the 12.15km Ikot Akpan Abia-Oboyo, Ikot Ita-Enen Nsit Road on a promising Wednesday in April 2018. The event spurred hope among the communities, as it signalled an end to their years of enduring dilapidated and impassable roads.
At the flagging off of the road construction on April 18, 2018, the governor said compensation will be paid to property owners affected by the construction. Additionally, he stated that the contractor had already received mobilization funds to kickstart the project promptly.
Fast forward to the present day, five years since that project was commenced, the Akwa Ibom State government appears to have faltered on its commitment to the people of Nsit Ibom and Ibesikpo Asutan. The road that was meant to alleviate their sufferings has, instead, become a stark reminder of unfulfilled promises and growing hardships. The 12.15km road winds through the heart of communities in both local government areas, yet its condition continues to deteriorate, leaving the residents in despair.
The contract, awarded by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Works and Fire Services to Hensek Integrated Services with undisclosed terms for a stipulated 30-month timeframe, has languished in abandonment for a staggering 64 month.
Wastage of public funds
Investigations reveal consistent budget allocation of N1bn per fiscal year by the state government for the road project dating back to 2018, excluding 2020 when N800 million was allocated. Despite these allocations, progress on the project has been stagnant since late 2019.
Upon further examination, it was revealed that only N885 million out of the N1bn budgeted in 2018 was actually disbursed for the project. In 2019, the project enjoyed a full budgetary release of N1bn. An investigation conducted by TheMail Newspaper highlights that the work done on the road is far from being comprehensive. Road construction-related work has only taken place in 6 communities along the corridor of the road.
Specifically, in areas like Ikot Akpan Abia, Ikot Iko, Ikot Akpa Edu, Oboyo Ikot Ita, and Mbiakot, ditches excavated on both sides of the road have been overwhelmed by flooding and heaps of mud. Some parts of the road have been constructed up to the stone base level, yet the final asphalt overlay is lacking. In locations such as Ikot Ikọ, Ikot Akpa Edu, Oboyo Ikot Ita, and Obo Atai, the road remains at the laterite level, with only a small portion containing granite.
Bad state of the road at Ikot Iko
Mbiakot, Ikot Ọbọk, and Ikot Enwene have seen minimal work, where the topsoil has been excavated but left in a deteriorating condition. Notably, work at a bridge under construction at the boundary between Mbiakot and Ikot Obọk has been at a standstill for months. This has severed these communities from vehicular and economic activities, painting a grim picture of the project’s overall progress.
Agony and plight of the people
On the fateful day of June 5, 2023, Amaitem Mbebeng should have been celebrating his 21st birthday, a milestone that could have marked the culmination of his educational journey. With his studies behind him, he might have been on the cusp of eagerly awaiting his call to the National Youth Service Program. However, these bright prospects were tragically cut short on the notorious Enen Nsit Road, a stretch plagued by its deplorable condition.
Four years earlier, at 17, Mbebeng, was not only a diligent student pursuing Building Technology at Heritage Polytechnic, Eket but also a prodigious saxophonist. On Monday, March 25, 2019, He was making the journey back to his academic pursuits in Eket from Ikot Enwene in Nsit Ibom LGA. He chose to travel by commercial minibus due to its efficiency and convenience.
Commercial motorcyclist trying a navigate through the poor road
Tragedy struck as the vehicle, attempting to navigate the treacherous road conditions riddled with potholes, swerved off course. In a desperate bid to avoid the potholes, the minibus careened into an oncoming vehicle, colliding head-on.
Mbebeng died, his life cut short. The dreams he held close—a fervent desire to be an engineer and the harmonious melodies of his saxophone—were abruptly silenced.
While speaking with TheMail Newspaper, the father of the deceased, Ini Mbebeng, expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of his son. He lamented that his untimely demise was a direct result of governmental negligence, and the pain of this loss continues to haunt him.
He also noted that despite his community’s contributions to the state, it has been left wanting in terms of essential infrastructural development by the state government.
“The Ikot Akpan Abia- Enen Nsit Road is important to us in Nsit Ibom and Ibesikpo Asutan, because that is the easiest way to access the Uyo township to sell our agricultural produce, and other goods.
“We produce palm oil, palm kernel, fruits and vegetables which are highly perishable and easily get spoilt if we don’t sell them quickly. The bad state of the road has worsened our fate and made us incur more losses. The state government should quickly step in and complete these roads to prevent such unfortunate and painful occurrences,” he stressed.
Sarah Udofia, a resident of Mbiakot village, has had a fair share of bad experiences on the road. Trapped by impassable routes, she reveals the stifling impact of the road on her daily life. She said local markets, including Etaha, Urua Obot, and Urua Mbiakot, are now a shadow of themselves with little or no economic activity taking place.
She said: “Once thriving markets like Etaha, Urua Obot, and Urua Mbiakot are now distant memories. Every Tuesday, my journey starts at 5:00 am, trekking to Ikot Udo EkopVillage.
“There, I hope to find transportation for my fruits and vegetables to Afaha Market in Ibesikpo Asutan local government area. The cost of this trip is N700 to reach the market and about N800 for the return, totalling N1,500.”
Sarah also said her children’s education has also taken a hit due to the poor state of the road.
“My children were regulars at Migrant Primary School in Mbiakot Village but now they rarely go to school due to the fact that their teachers only show up when they can. When it rains, no teacher would show up due to inaccessible roads.”
More sad tales
Mbiakot, a village in Nsit Ibom, stands as one of the most severely affected areas. It is plagued not only by deteriorating access roads but also by profound gullies stretching over 15 feet wide, cleaving the road into halves. The gullies, aggravated by excavation during construction, mark a worsening state. Also, areas used as borrow pits and left without remediation now obstructs entryways to compounds and amplifies the inconveniences faced by residents. This scenario contrasts starkly with the expectations when Hensek Integrated started work in 2018.
A cleave in middle of the road in Mbiakot
During this reporter’s visit to the community on July 8, 2023, it was observed that only bicycles and, occasionally, motorcycles could navigate the narrow pathway connecting the community. This limited means of transportation further highlights the challenges residents face when traveling to neighbouring communities for economic activities.
At Oboyo Ikot Ita community, the Divisional Police Station can only be accessed by foot due to the dilapidated nature of the road. During the visit, a police officer on duty who craved anonymity for fear of being victimized said conducting surveillance or effecting arrests becomes an arduous endeavour due to the bad road.
“On the long run, this significantly impedes our crime-fighting efforts within the communities,” he said.
“If I must be sincere with you, a lot of people do not know that there’s still a police station here due to bad roads. A lot of people no longer believe it’s still a functional police station because of how the entrance is. Sometimes, when we go to effect an arrest, we have to park far away, and somehow information gets out to the people beforehand. They scamper for safety, only to return to perpetrate more crimes. We are helpless due to this situation. We are calling on the government to come to our aid,” he said.
The entrance of the police station
A vulcanizer in Obo Atai village, Christopher Joshua, shared his experience of returning from Uyo after purchasing some work materials only to find that flood had swept away some of the motorcycle tires he was supposed to work on. He had to embark on a search to recover them before his client returned to discover the unfortunate incident.
Ndifreke Akpan, a patent medicine dealer in the community, shared his personal account, highlighting the adverse impact of the road project’s abandonment. He lamented the decline in patronage his business has experienced since the road project halted. He also expressed grave concerns about his children’s ability to attend school during rainy days.
“This road used to be just sandy, and we used to manage our movement before the commencement of work. After that, they brought machines to work on the road. Today, it has been abandoned, and there is no road for school children to pass to school. On two occasions, my kids fell into stagnant water on the road while going to school, and their books and uniforms were wet,” he stated.
Opacity surrounding the contract
Contract signboards, commonly displayed at project sites to convey essential information, were conspicuously absent in this instance, contrary to established global norms and that of the Akwa Ibom State Procurement Laws Guiding Principles clearly indicating that; “all procurement carried out by all procurement entities in the State; shall in all cases be executed in a transparent, timely, equitable manner that shall ensure value for money, fitness for purpose and conform with the provisions of this Law and regulations deriving from it.”
These signboards typically offer crucial details such as the contractor’s identity, project duration, contract supervisor, and the awarding authority, fostering transparency. The absence of such information raises an initial concern, signalling a potential lack of transparency in the project.
The glaring absence of transparency on this project violates the State Procurement Law as enacted and duly signed by former governor Udom Emmanuel on Thursday, July 23, 2020.
Although the state works and fire services ministry claimed Hensek Integrated as the contractor for the project awarded in 2018, a subsequent investigation conducted by TheMail Newspaper revealed that the road contract was initially awarded to HP Constructing Company Limited. A government published magazine titled; “Superior Performance Digest—Pictorial facts of Udom’s Superlative Performance”, a compendium of the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Works (Vol.3 No 12) published in May 2019 indicated HP Constructing Company as the contractor in charge of the road project.
Corroborating the fact, Akparawa Ephraim Inyaneyen, the former Commissioner for Works in Akwa Ibom State from 2015-2020, told this reporter that HP Constructing Company Limited, a Lagos-based firm, won the bid but later subcontracted the project to Hensek Integrated Services, citing challenges in mobilizing logistics and personnel.
Several attempts to establish contact with HP Constructing Company Limited, proved abortive, as the legitimacy of the company’s existence could not be definitively ascertained. A search for the company on the Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria’s official companies registration agency, showed that HP Constructing Company is not a registered entity.
This breaches the Public Procurement Act2007. Section 16 subsection 6(d) which states that “All bidders, in addition to requirements contained in any solicitation documents, shall have fulfilled all their obligations to pay taxes, pensions, and social security contributions.”
The award of a contract to a non-existent contracting company also contravenes Sections 417–424 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, which state, among other things, that “every company must make and deliver their annual returns to the CAC every year”.
The Akwa Ibom State government appears to have a consistent approach of shrouding contract terms in a veil of secrecy when it comes to its procurement practices. Vital details, including the monetary value and timeline of road construction projects, are closely guarded.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Hensek Integrated Services, requesting for project details such as contract approval letter, cost of contract, contract duration, stage of work executed, and location covered, as well as records of payments received from government along with corresponding dates was greeted with silence. Follow up phone calls and text messages to Hensek Integrated went unanswered.
The Executive Director of Hensek Integrated Services Limited, Engr. Uwem Okoko, responsible for overseeing the project, proved equally elusive. Neither he nor his company acknowledged calls or text messages, nor did they respond to the FOI letter dispatched on July 5, 2023. Despite unwavering efforts, a barrage of calls and text messages sent between June 26 and August 14 yielded no substantive engagement. Further efforts to reach him via his social media handles still haven’t yielded result or any response.
Engr. Okoko is one of the known government cronies whose presence at state government events is usually so conspicuous that one would believe he was a government appointee. Notably, on August 20, 2021 he was drafted in to lead the political campaign train as the Local Government Steering Coordinator of the Maintain Peace Movement (MPM), In Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, a campaign team that berthed Pastor Umo Eno as governor in the last general elections. He was also seen being adorned in a political party’s attire with a glaring Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) logo well embossed on his shirt.
His sheer neglect towards critical questions, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests bothering on the crawling nature of work on the 12.15km Ikot Akpan Abia-Oboyo-Ikot Ita-Enen Nsit Road reeks of the impunity exhibited by people with connections in high places. It also inches closer to confirming the alleged ‘romance’ between him and the Akwa Ibom State government going by the continuous patronage his company keeps enjoying from the state government despite shoddy and uncompleted job(s).
Okoko addressing people during a political campaign
Okoko in a photo with Pastor Umo Eno during the later guber campaign in Ikot Abasi
The most recent one is the construction of Ndiya-Akpan Andem Market Road awarded to his company at the dawn of the Umo Eno administration only to be used as a political scoreboard to mark the governor’s 100 days in office without questioning previous jobs left undone.
Analysis of the Accountant General’s Report and Audited Financial Statements of Akwa Ibom State shows that the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019 (page 37)and 2022 (page80) had obtained N13.59bn (N5bn in 2019 and N8.59bn in 2022) loan in the name of Hensek Services from Zenith Bank where he (Governor Emmanuel) served as Executive Director before running for governorship election.
Analysis of the financial statement of 2022 reveals that as at December 31, 2022, the government of Akwa Ibom State is still indebted to Zenith Bank to the tune of N8.21bn specifically for the loan obtained for Hensek Services. These contravenes the guiding principles of Akwa Ibom State Procurement laws under part IV, Section 16 and subsection 7 (ii) which stipulates that all “procuring entities shall possess the required financial capacity to carryout procurement contracts.”
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request sent to the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Works and Fire Service, addressed to the Commissioner, a professor Eno Ibanga, and the Permanent Secretary, Elder Effiong Essien, were acknowledged but no response was received as at the time of filing this report.
Checks revealed that Elder Effiong Essien was the one running the Ministry of Works before Ibanga was recently reappointed as commissioner from Udom’s government into Umo Eno’s to continue, and he was present at the flag-off of the road construction in Nsit Ibom in 2018.
Rt. Hon. Eric Akpan, the current representative for Nsit Ibom State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and former Local Government Council Chairman when the road contract was awarded in 2018, initially responded to a call from the reporter on August 7, 2023. However, once the road project was mentioned, he deferred further discussion, promising to get back to this reporter.
On August 14, 2023, the legislator told this reporter that the contractor, Hensek Integrated Services, decided to pause the road construction and concentrate more on a bridge construction at Ikot Obok Village.
“I am aware that work on that road has been ongoing for a while now, but the contractor decided to pause the work and concentrate more on constructing a bridge at Ikot Obok.
Further questioned about his knowledge of the plight of his people resulting from the impassable state of the road, he said “I cannot tell the depth of pain and how bad the road is, I would need to conduct an on-the-spot assessment to comment further.”
Unfortunately, further multiple attempts through text messages and calls, have yielded no response from him regarding this matter as of the time of filing this report.
According to Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, a former Commissioner for Works in the state from 2015 – 2020 who has an in-depth understanding of the contract, Hensek Integrated Services received two payment instalments in 2019 and 2020, before the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown. These claims align with publicly available records, which indicate that a significant sum of N2.885 billion was disbursed for the project in 2018 and 2019, the last fiscal years that capital expenditures can be accessed in the financial statements of Akwa Ibom State.
“That road project was pushed for by two former military officers from the area, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, former Military Governor of the State and General Paul Isang (Rtd), husband to current Surveyor General of the state, Grace Isang. Sadly, the former military governor passed on in December 2020,” he added.
He further emphasized that project abandonment in the state primarily results from insufficient or inadequate funding, rather than issues related to supervision. He clarified that the project had not encountered any contract variations in terms of the amount allocated, which could have hindered its progress.
Corroborating these insights, Abasiama Akpan, a Community Liaison Officer from Oboyo Ikot Ita Village, said the contractor had repeatedly expressed concerns about the lack of sufficient funds to propel the project to completion.
“According to my conversation with the contractor, the Akwa Ibom State Government had ceased funding the contract, leading to the current situation,” Akpan lamented.
Dire impact of the abandonment
From an economic perspective, the condition of the road has resulted in significant financial losses for the communities along the corridor of the road. According to residents, approximately 10 lorries (tippers) used to frequent Obo Atai and Mbiakot communities, purchasing sands at N15,000 per trip and making at least two trips daily. However, the current situation has led to increased costs, with sand now being transported at N30,000 per trip and gravels at N50,000 per trip. This price hike has been necessitated by the need to supply materials to various clients involved in diverse construction projects. Unfortunately, the deteriorating road conditions have forced these economic activities to relocate to alternative areas.
Amid these challenges, the impact on local commerce has been severe. Specifically, three viable markets have ceased operations, and a fourth one is teetering on the brink of closure. Markets like Fionetok, Uruabom, Obot, and Mbiakot markets have all borne the brunt of the road’s deplorable condition.
Among them, Fionetok market in Oboyo Ikot Ita, which once attracted traders from neighbouring communities and local government areas, continues to operate at a reduced capacity. On one the visits by this reporter, Godwin Dan, a trader who deals on wrappers and women attires decried low turnout of customers culminating in low sales.
“The diminished customer turnout is directly attributed to the deteriorating condition of the road, which has had a cascading impact on the economic vitality of these markets,” Dan said.
Expert opinions on depth of losses
In a conversation with this reporter, Liberty Oseni, the Executive Director of MAWA Foundation, emphasized a critical point. He said procurement fraud, particularly in Nigeria, often involves a disturbing collusion between contractors and government officials. This alliance is based on a troubling practice he aptly refers to as “co-creation.” It involves the allocation of contracts not solely for the public good, but as a means to either compensate the Board or government officials involved. This practice not only erodes trust in the system but also raises serious concerns about the allocation of resources meant for the betterment of society.
“In most cases, some contracts are awarded to individuals or companies who already had negotiations with the government officials to re-award such contracts to persons of interest. Every time a road is awarded and abandoned or re-awarded, it is always a case of money exchanging hands. What normally happens when another government comes in is that such contracts are re-awarded to another contractor without questions being asked about the money initially spent,” he said
On what is envisaged to complete such contracts, it was gathered that factors like the level of work done before abandonment, status and credibility of the construction company and most importantly, the exchange rate in the market as at the time of re-awarding such contracts were said to be key factors.
Expanding on the issue, Samuel Dairo, a road construction contractor, underscored several critical factors that play a pivotal role in expediting the completion of road projects. These include the vital considerations of desilting gutters and drainages, the depth of the stone base applied to the road, the extent of work completed in kilometers, and fluctuations in the prices of materials during the course of the project, as well as instances of abandonment.
He elaborated, “Any road that lacks asphalt is essentially a fresh project. When contractors are called upon to resume work on such roads, most often, they must restart unless the road already has a stone base in place, indicating that the initial groundwork, like stumping and grubbing, has been completed. It’s essential to factor in the dynamic exchange rate between the dollar and the naira.”
“Just five years ago, the daily rental rate for an excavator stood at approximately N80,000. Today, that figure has surged to N150,000 per day. Moreover, consider the price of diesel, which now sits at N845 per litre, compared to the range of N250-310 it held five years ago. This substantial price variance translates into a significant financial requirement for the project.
“Considering the extent of neglect and abandonment over the past five years, it’s becoming evident that completing the road would demand a financial commitment that is twice the amount initially invested, especially when taking into account the current economic conditions.”
This report is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).
NIGERIA’s oil production increased to 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) in October 2023, the highest production record since January.
The oil output is 30.8 per cent higher than what was produced in the preceding month, September, which was 1.3 million bpd.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, who gave this information at a media briefing on Friday, October 13, said the government’s agenda was to increase crude oil production, which would scale up revenue for the country.
He said, “Nigeria is very dependent on oil; even our budget is always predicated on how many barrels of oil we produce. Although the non-oil sector is thriving, for us to solve our problems, we need to earn enough forex.
“And a substantial part of our forex comes from the oil sector. So my ambition is to see how I can lead the sector to increase production and how we can get more revenue to be able to fund strategic national projects.”
The ICIR checked through the data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and learnt that the country pumped its highest volume of crude oil in October.
See the sheet below for the breakdown
Month
Oil production (bpd)
January
1.3 million
February
1.3 million
March
1.3 million
April
1.0 million
May
1.2 million
June
1.3 million
July
1.1 million
August
1.2 million
September
1.3 million
October
1.7 million
However, despite this output increase, the country is yet to meet the production threshold of 1.8 million bpd set by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
In an agreement signed with OPEC, Nigeria’s expected oil output is between 1.826 million bpd to 1.747 million bpd from August to November, while from January to December 2024, it is expected to reduce its production quota to 1.380 million bpd.
Also, data from the National Bureau of Statistics Gross Domestic Product report showed that the real growth of the oil sector was 13.43 per cent (year-on-year) as of the second quarter of 2023.
By this, the oil sector contributed 5.34 per cent to the total real GDP in Q2 2023, down from the figure recorded in the corresponding period of 2022 and down from the preceding quarter, where it contributed 6.33 per cent and 6.21 per cent, respectively.
Despite the immense contributions the sector makes to Nigeria’s forex, it has been enmeshed in high-scale corruption.
The ICIRreported how the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) asked President Bola Tinubu to investigate the missing $15 billion and N200 billion from Nigeria’s oil revenues.
SAUDI Arabia’s Mohammed Kanno’s late deflected free-kick forced Nigeria to a 2-2 draw in an International friendly played by the two oil-rich nations on Friday at Estadio Municipal de Albufeira, Portugal.
At the death of the 9th minute, additional time in the second half, Kanno restored parity after his deflected free-kick found the back of the net.
Before his goal, Nigeria’s left-footed attack Kelechi Iheanancho had given the Super Eagle the lead after he powered a superb shot out of the edge of the box to double the lead in the 81 minutes.
Ihenancho came in 66 minutes alongside Moses Simon and Bright Samuel-Osayi after the Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro made three substitutions, taking out Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Tyronne Ebuehi.
The substitutions changed the dynamics of the Super Eagles’ tactics after they increased their resilience to get a comeback after a goal by Saudi Arabia’s player Salman Al-Faraj in the 61 minutes.
Al-faraj’s curled-free kick goal unsettled the lethargy of the Super Eagles to level the scoreline after Moses Simon’s square pass was tapped into the net by Victor Boniface in the 73 minutes.
Before resuming the second half, Nigeria’s attackers, Victor Osimhen, Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze, wasted several opportunities to convert their chances.
During the additional time of the first half, Lookman had a one-on-one opportunity with the Saudi Arabia goalkeeper, but his effort went wide to the side of the net.
Despite having possession in the first half, the Super Eagles ended the session goalless.
The 2-2 draw is the second between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia since 2010 when they faced each other in an International friendly played in Abuja.
FANS of afrobeat singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, have taken to social media to celebrate him as he welcomed a set of twins.
In a video that went viral on Friday, October 13, Davido and his partner, Chioma, were seen leaving a hospital in the United States of America (USA) with the wife sitting in a wheelchair while cradling their newborns.
A voice in the video, which was identified to be Davido’s dad, Adedeji Adeleke, exclaimed, “Hello Atlanta, hello world. We are having our first car ride. Our first ride is in Grandpa’s Bentley. Come on in.”
Speculations about the children’s birth initially surfaced online on October 10 but remained unconfirmed.
On Wednesday, October 11, Davido, in a post on X(formerly known as Twitter), said, “Stop circulating old pictures thank you ❤️”.
Reacting to the news, fans expressed their happiness as they took to social media to celebrate with him.
A fan, @BusayoOtebata, took to X to share his excitement. In his post, he said, “Been having a rough day before until I saw this video of Davido and Chioma🥺🥺❤️. I’m so happy for my fav, Ori ade Baba ibeji”.
Another fan, @effizzzyy, also said: “Davido’s comeback has been one for the books. He got his biggest ever and most successful album with Timeless, and now he and Chioma welcome their twins. Beautiful, just beautiful ❤️🙏🏼”.
Other reactions
Davido and Chioma 😍 Double blessing. Congratulations Baddest- @Mbahdehforyou
It’s twins. Congratulations to Davido and Chioma❤️- @TheMahleek
Congratulations to Davido and Chioma, two new family (sic) to the 30BG 🥰❤️ – @_asiwajulerry
Big Congratulations to Davido and Chioma 😍❤️ – @Mrbankstips
Last year, Davido and Chioma lost their toddler son, Ifeanyi, following what was reported to be a drowning accident.
THESenate Public Account Committee has revealed that former Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, signed N26 trillion financial statement for Nigeria without the knowledge of the then Finance Minister, Ahmed Zainab.
The revelation came during the consideration of the audit report by the Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Ahmed Wadada.
In a 2019 report submitted to the National Assembly, the Auditor-General of the Federation said Idris single-handedly signed the document without counter-signing by the then Minister of Finance, against financial regulation.
The query read, “The Accountant-General of the Federation was the only officer of the Federal government of Nigeria that signed the consolidated statement of financial position without indicating his FRC of Nigeria registration number, (a) component that carries the approval of the CFS contrary to the extant regulation.
“There was no signature with FRC of Nigeria registration number of the Honorable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.
The committee alleged that the anomalies were due to weakness in the internal control system in the consolidation process.
Responding to the allegation, the Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Toyin Madein, said she was not the AGF when Idris signed the statement.
The co-signing of the statement was introduced to ensure accountability in the management of public funds.
The ICIR reports that Idris and others have been facing prosecution by the Federal Government over alleged N109 billion fraud that resulted in his suspension.
THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said it arrested 2,272 suspected criminals in the past two months in its bid to rid the nation’s capital of crimes.
The command also apprehended 207 scavengers and charged 196 of them to court.
Similarly, the command received 62 cases of human genital disappearances, nabbed and charged 51 persons to court for giving false information and inciting public disturbance.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Friday, October 13, the FCT Police Commissioner Haruna Garba said, “A total number of 2,272 suspects were arrested in the last two months. 1,967 were charged to court, 865 were sentenced and given a fine of N3,000 – N5,000.”
Garba reiterated the command’s commitment and willingness to always work with the city’s residents to end crime.
The ICIR reports that organ disappaearnces claims are rife in Abuja, and the Police have yet to establish any claims.
On October 9, the ICIR reported how two people were mobbed in Lugbe, a major satellite town in the FCT.
Meanwhile, the one-chance menace has been rampant in the city, with the latest famous victim being Greatness Olorunfemi, a young lady who was reportedly denied treatment by the Maitama General Hospital because the sympathisers who brought her could not produce a police report.
On October 1, The ICIRdetailed the law’s position getting a police report to treat a person needing emergency care.
One chance is a criminal group disguised as commercial drivers and commuters. They usually move around cabs in groups of two, three or four, armed with weapons such as guns, knives, hammers and other harmful objects.
They dispossess passengers of their belongings, including laptops, money, phones and other valuables. Many of them conduct their illicit business, using Point of Sale machines to empty victims’ bank accounts, using force.
The command’s arrest of over 2,000 suspected criminals in two months lends credence to The ICIR report on the dimensions criminalities and insecurity take in the nation’s capital.
Command arrested robbers, others – Garba says
The FCT Police Commissioner said in his Friday’s (October 13) briefing that following a distress call that some strange and suspicious movements were noticed around the Zuba Fruit market, Police operatives from the division swiftly mobilised to the scene and arrested one Mukhtar Usman, who, upon sighting the Police operatives, took to his heels.
He was given a hot chase and apprehended by the officers.
The Police said during interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of a five-man gang and later led the Police to arrest two of his gang members, namely, Abubakar Muhammed and Usman Mohammed, in whose houses, two AK-47 rifles, two magazines and 35 rounds of live ammunition were recovered.
Also on Wednesday, October 11, the Police said acting on credible intelligence, operatives from Byazhin Division trailed and arrested one Chukwudi Ernest Ezirike, a wanted one-chance kingpin terrorising Kubwa/Zuba expressway.
His operational vehicle, a golf car with Reg. No. KWL 536 RZ blue in colour was recovered. He is assisting the Police to arrest his accomplice in the same one-chance activities, said the commissioner.
He said the suspects would be charged in court after investigation.
In a related development, the command said its newly created Anti-One Chance Squad, designed to curb the menace of robbery (one chance) activities within the FCT, recovered ten vehicles suspected to be used for one-chance activities within the nation’s capital.
The command said most of the vehicles recovered had tinted glasses on them.
“During a search, an axe, a cutlass, and one knife ostensibly for use in carrying out their criminal activities were recovered from the vehicles. Three of the suspects are under investigation.
“The Police operative from Utako Division, while responding to a distress call, had on 05/10/2023 and 10/10/2023 recovered two vehicles, a Toyota Hilux with Reg. No. 08E24LNS and a Toyota Corolla car, ash in colour Reg. No. KTU 243 BQ belonging to one Muhammed Usman Adis and one Olumuyiwa Onlede.
“The vehicles were removed from where they parked at No. 4YP Sounde Street Utako and Nafisa Mosque Utako Abuja, respectively. The two vehicles were recovered intact at Dei-Dei under the bridge and Dikko Kaduna Road and handed over to the owners,” the commissioner stated.
In a related development, Garba said the FCT Police Command Anti-Kidnapping unit trailed and arrested a notorious kidnapper named Salisu Abdulahi, AKA Gwaska.
According to the Police, during the encounter, the officers shot one of the gang members, Baba Dan Tsoho, while others fled.
The Police said apart from actively participating in kidnapping activities, he is also an informant and food supplier to his master, Badume.
Badume is a kidnap kingpin responsible for kidnapping activities in Kaduna, Nasa, extending to Bwari and Mpape in the FCT.
In addition, Police operatives from the command acting on credible intelligence trailed and arrested four suspects, namely Douglas Joseph Lafa, Omachoko Samuel, Job Teddy and David Simon, with three vehicles, a Toyota Camry 2013 model blue in colour, a Mazda 626 Primacy white in colour and a Toyota Sienna ash in colour, all unregistered vehicles stolen from Abuja and recovered in Kaduna.
The command added that it had commenced a raid of uncompleted buildings, shanties and under bridges in Abuja to rid the city of miscreants.
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new chief executive officersfor some agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
A statement released by the President’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, October 13, said the appointment was in line with Tinubu’s resolve to base Nigeria’s economic revival on the foundation of trade expansion through small, medium, and large-scale industry facilitation in the country.
The President stated that he expected all new appointees to optimally deliver in accordance with new key performance indicating benchmarks as established by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
According to the statement, the appointments take immediate effect.
The appointed heads include Hussaini Ishaq Magaji -Corporate Affairs Commission; Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke- Standards Organisation of Nigeria; Afiz Ogun Oluwatoyin -Industrial Training Fund; Kamar Bakrin- National Sugar Development Council; Olufemi Ogunyemi- Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority; and Nonye Ayeni -Nigeria Export Promotion Council.
Others are Rimi-Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission; Bamanga Usman Jada- Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority; Charles Odii- Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria; Rabiu Olowo-Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria; Anthony Atuche, CFA – Nigeria Commodities Exchange; Veronica Safiya Ndanusa- Lagos International Trade Fair Complex; Lucia Shittu-Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board; and Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin- National Automotive Design and Development Council.
The appointments are the latest among several that Tinubu has made since assuming office on May 29.
The ICIRreported the President appointing 51 ministers as members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), along with several special advisers and a few heads of agencies.
The latest appointment follows Tinubu’s nomination of Ola Olukoyede as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman on Thursday, October 12.
