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Tag: Federal Projects

  • Wike confirms refund of N78bn spent on federal projects in Rivers

    Wike confirms refund of N78bn spent on federal projects in Rivers

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, has confirmed the Federal Government’s refund of the N78 billion spent by State on Federal projects.

    Wike stated this on Wednesday during the inauguration of the Isiopko Internal Roads Phase 2 in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

    The inauguration of the road was performed by the 2019 Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Peter Obi.

    The governor, however, said the refunds would be deployed in providing more critical projects across the state to enhance the socio-economic life of the people of Rivers.

    He said: “Rivers people; the Federal Government has refunded us the money. I have not touched a dime yet and it is in the bank. I will use it for project execution.

    “I kept it to tell those who are making noise to know that I am going to work till the last day in office. I will continue to work for the interest of our people. I’m not resting.

    “They need to know that I will make sure that what is supposed to be done for the people of Rivers State is done.

    “I will persist until we have improved and changed Rivers State and bring it back to what it’s supposed to be.’’

    The governor said he “promised to change the narrative of neglect of Isiopko people by the previous administration by completing the rehabilitation of all their internal roads’’.

    He also announced the award of contract for the reconstruction of the link road from Ogbodo to Isiodu, adding that his administration would rehabilitate internal roads in Omerelu Community.

    Obi, who inaugurated the road project, alleged that the Federal Government had been borrowing in the guise of using it for capital projects.

    He challenged the federal government to show the capital projects that such borrowed money was expended on.

    Obi said access roads as provided by Governor Wike to the Isiopko people will increase the quality of life they live, enhance property value and reduce poverty.

    “Accountability in government is the most critical yardstick to determine good governance and to build the trust of the people.

    “For recruitment into governance, competence capacity, and visible performance like we are seeing here today should be embraced.

    “The reason why Nigeria is not working today is that people have been recruited based on sentiment and that has to stop because the country is collapsing.

    “Every day you hear Nigeria is borrowing money, and when you ask they say it is being used for capital projects.

    “Please, we want to commission those capital projects. Let them invite us to accompany them for the commissioning. So that when our children ask us about the borrowed money, we can point to the projects to answer them,’’ he said.

  • Presidency threatens to relocate federal projects in trouble states

    Presidency threatens to relocate federal projects in trouble states

    States or communities creating unnecessary impediments in the allocation of land for, or access to such lands for federal projects risk forfeiting such projects, henceforth, the presidency warned yesterday.

    It said such projects would be moved to communities where the projects are needed.

    “The idea of chasing away contractors on site or making undue demands from them by local communities or the deliberate actions of state governments to frustrate the allocation of lands for federal projects is an antithesis of the people’s welfare,” President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said in a statement.

    He drew attention to a recent directive by the president to ministers in which he requested them to “have the states clear all lingering land issues threatening federal projects under their supervision or have such projects moved to willing states where that becomes impossible.”

    President Buhari regretted that some communities in the states are frustrating the siting of federal projects in their areas by making impossible demands for land compensation on contractors and even chasing them away from site where they are unable to meet up.

    To compound matters, contractors kept away from site often make further demands on payment whenever they return to site.

    The Presidency noted that the refusal to allocate lands for federal projects or the growing hostility by communities against contractors on site are hurting the interests of the very people governments are elected to serve.

    Shehu added: ‘’By denying federal government lands for projects and creating unnecessary obstacles for the execution of these projects, it may be unfair to turn around and accuse the same federal government of marginalising people in terms of projects allocation.

    “When it comes to the welfare of the people, governments at all levels should be united by the common goal of improving the wellbeing of the people, regardless of political affiliation.

    “It is, therefore, impossible to spread federal government projects when petty demands or politics is allowed to override the higher interest of the people.”

  • Federal Projects: Senate approves N102bn refund to Delta, Taraba States

    The Senate has approved promissory notes and bond issuances of N102.2 billion to Delta and Taraba States as refunds for projects executed on behalf of the federal government.

    While N67.9 billion was approved for Delta State, N34.3 billion was approved for Taraba State.

    The Senate also approved N43.5 billion as payment for ”contractors liabilities”.

    The contractors are Setraco Nigeria Limited (N37.4 billion); Bouygues Nigeria Limited (N4.6 billion); Simidia S&I International Company Limited (N346 million); Hamdala Homes &Agencies Limited (N210.6 million) and Lejmej Nigeria Limited N960 million.

    The approval was a sequel to the adoption of the interim report of the ad-hoc committee set to consider the Promissory Note Programme and a Bond Issuance to Settle Inherited Local Debts and Contractual Obligations on the refund to state governments for projects executed on behalf of the federal government.

    A promissory note is a debt instrument which one party promises in writing to pay a determinate sum of money to the other, either at a fixed or determinable future time, under specific terms.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had in March written to the National Assembly, seeking its approval for the issuance of promissory notes to offset inherited local debts.

    The Senate eventually resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to look into the programme and advise the Senate appropriately.

    Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Francis Alimekhena, noted that the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) scheme– an incentive of the federal government, aimed at supporting active exporters in expanding their businesses, also helps in the diversification of the Nigerian economy.

    He explained that beneficiaries of the scheme have not been paid since 2007 up to the compilation period in 2016/2017 a backlog which he said affected the liquidity strength of most of the companies. This he said, has resulted in difficulty of loan repayment and meeting of employee’s obligations.

    Mr Alimekhena said most of the federal highways were in a state of disrepair before the state intervention adding that inspections were carried out by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing on all roads completed by the states to ascertain the quality of work done.

    In his remark, Shehu Sani said the report brings an end to the long period of wait and the stagnation the companies have faced especially in terms of meeting their daily obligations, especially to their workers.

    Also approved by the lawmakers, is the sum of N193 billion to clear outstanding claims of 269 verified companies (who are beneficiaries of the EEG.