News
People’s Parliament Honours Minister of Steel with Special Tribute
By our Correspondent
The People’s Parliament Network (PPN), in Kogi, paid a courtesy visit to the Honorable Minister of Steel, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, at his residence in Lokoja, Kogi state on Thursday, October 19, 2023.
During the visit, the group extended their congratulations to the Minister on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Minister of Steel. They presented him with a portrait frame picture, a T-shirt, and exercise books. The exercise books, featuring the Minister’s picture on the cover, were intended to be mass-produced and distributed to school children in Kogi schools as a tribute to his role.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Comrade Musa Samuel, expressed gratitude to the Minister for granting an audience to the People’s Parliament and outlined the group’s core objectives, emphasizing their commitment to equity, fairness, and justice in Kogi state. He also extended an invitation to the Minister to become the Patron of the group.
In response, the Minister expressed his appreciation for the visit by the People’s Parliament and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the privilege and honor of appointing him as Minister of Steel. He emphasized the potential of Nigeria as a country and a land of opportunities and stressed the need for hard work to correct various issues in the country. The Minister pointed out that the largest steel plant in West Africa is located in Kogi State, specifically in Ajaokuta LGA.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by the Ajaokuta Steel plant, which had been a long-standing issue despite previous administration’s efforts to revive the industry.
The Minister, however, highlighted that the President was committed to revitalizing Ajaokuta Steel and was actively working with a technical team to achieve this goal.
He urged all Nigerians to come together with prayers and support for the success of Ajaokuta Steel, emphasizing that its revival could generate approximately 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, including opportunities for members of the People’s Parliament Network.
The Minister also encouraged the People’s Parliament and the people of Kogi state to support the APC government, expressing President Tinubu’s dedication to preventing the state from falling into the hands of the opposition. He informed them about an upcoming Kogi Unity Consent event in Kogi state at Muhammadu Buhari Square in Lokoja, primarily aimed at fostering peace and harmony among the youth and ensuring peaceful, credible, and successful elections.
The Minister called on the group to support the APC in the forthcoming rally across the state, expressing confidence in the party’s chances of winning the governorship election.
He concluded by highlighting that the APC in the state had been founded by his late father, the former Governor of Kogi State, Late Prince Abubakar Audu. He expressed his unwavering commitment to the party, emphasizing that those who didn’t understand his roots might consider switching to another party.
News
FG Commits To National Development With Major Contract Agreements — Umahi
Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, has again signed landmark contract agreements with four (4) construction firms to execute critical road projects across the country, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The contract signing ceremony, held on Thursday at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, marks another major step in the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering durable, sustainable road infrastructure that enhances connectivity, stimulates economic growth, and improves the quality of life of Nigerians.
The four contractors and their respective projects are as follows:
1. Messrs J. Patel and Sons Nigeria Limited – Reconstruction of Mando (Kaduna) – Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State,
2. Messrs JRB Construction Company Limited – Dualisation of Ibadan–Ijebu Ode Road in Oyo and Ogun States,
3. Messrs Truecrete Solutions Limited – Construction of Osogbo–Ikirun–Akoda Road in Osun State and
4. Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited – Construction of Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan Road in Osun and Oyo States.
Speaking during the event, the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, described the projects as strategic national infrastructure designed to boost economic activities, improve transportation efficiency, and strengthen national integration. He noted that the reconstruction of the Mando (Kaduna) –Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State holds special significance, as it was one of the key infrastructure development commitments made by His Excellency, President Tinubu during the 2022/2023 electioneering campaigns. According to the Minister, the present administration remains resolute in its determination to deliver world-class infrastructure that will stand the test of time. “Our vision is to build roads that will last for generations. Under the Renewed Hope administration, we are determined to deliver infrastructure that can serve Nigerians for up to 100 years through the adoption of rigid pavement (concrete) technology,” Umahi stated.
The Minister commended the selected contractors for their competence, track records, and proven capacity, emphasising the Federal Government’s confidence in indigenous contractors. He particularly praised Messrs JRB Construction Company Limited, Truecrete Solutions Limited, and other indigenous firms for their commendable performances on previous projects across the country.
Umahi charged all contractors to mobilise to their respective project sites immediately and commence work without delay, stressing that the Ministry expects measurable progress within the stipulated timelines.
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, who formally signed the contract agreements, described the occasion as the successful completion of the procurement process and the official commencement of project implementation.
He commended the leadership of the Ministry for its commitment to ensuring that projects reached the execution stage and reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to effective monitoring, quality assurance, and timely delivery.
Also speaking, the Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Mr. Clement Ogbuagu, presented details of the awarded contracts as follows:
1. Reconstruction of Mando–Birnin Gwari Road, Kaduna State
Contractor: Messrs J. Patel and Sons Nigeria Limited
Contract Sum: ₦178,116,787,162.00
Length: 122 Kilometres
2. Dualisation of Ibadan–Ijebu Ode Road, Oyo and Ogun States
Contractor: JRB Construction Company Limited,
Contract Sum: ₦295,996,609,992.77
Length: 114.5 Kilometres (Single Carriageway Equivalent)
3. Construction of Osogbo–Ikirun–Akoda Road, Osun State
Contractor: Truecrete Solutions Limited
Contract Sum: ₦101,806,585,825.90
Length: 70 Kilometres (Single Carriageway Equivalent) and
4. Construction of Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan Road, Osun State
Contractor: Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited
Contract Sum: ₦114,854,477,607.93
Length: 73 Kilometres
All the projects will be executed using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) technology, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to building durable, cost-effective, and sustainable road infrastructure nationwide.
The ceremony represents another significant milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to modernise Nigeria’s road network and accelerate national economic development.
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