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Tag: road

  • Gov. Soludo flags off 16.4km road reconstruction

    Gov. Soludo flags off 16.4km road reconstruction

    Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has flagged off the construction of a 16.4 kilometres road from Nawfija to Ogbunka running through Akpu, Ufuma, Ajali in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

    Soludo, while performing the ceremony, said when the road was completed, it would take 15 minutes for motorists to drive from Awka to Ufuma.

    The governor said that the road would be ready by the time he would clock one year in office.

    The contractor was awarded to Datum Construction Nigeria Limited with completion time of 10 months.

    He noted that Anambra people were in dire need of roads and promised to build roads from Nanka, Igboukwu to Ikenga, Obosi, Abagana, Nimo and Awka, in order of priority.

    “Roads at Okpoko, Mmiata, Amansea through Ebenebe, Awba-Ofemili shall be constructed and a bridge from Awba-Ofemili to Anyamelum shall be built.

    “Also, roads from Ufuma to Awa, through Ndiukwuenu to Amansea will be fixed; I will inspect every road that shall be constructed before embarking on the construction”.

    According to Soludo, the quality of roads we are building has never been done in the state, they are guaranteed to last for 20 years.

    “But we have all our personal responsibility and it should never be taken for granted,” he said.

    Soludo said Nnewi, the largest industrial town in Anambra would also get the necessary attention on roads and other infrastructure.

    He called on the people of the state to continue to support the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and vote for the party’s National Assembly candidates in the next election.

    He said his administration was adopting the philosophy of ‘being your brothers’/ sisters’ keeper’ which is the motto of APGA.

    According to him, for these roads to continue, Orumba North and South should understand that this is an APGA project.

    “Our victory will aid his government to continue developing Orumba by attracting resources from Abuja to state level,” he said.

  • Buhari directs NNPC to complete section 4 of East-West Road

    Buhari directs NNPC to complete section 4 of East-West Road

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited and it’s subsidiaries to step in and fix section 4 of the East-West Road.

    The portion of the road is from Eleme roundabout to Onne Junction, through the tax credit scheme.

    Buhari made the remarks at the opening ceremony of a meeting of the 5th National Council on Niger Delta in Uyo on Thursday.

    “The East-West Road project which is now being handled by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, is the largest infrastructure project in Nigeria.

    “It is a very strategic road, connecting the country’s busiest and foremost commercial cities in the region.

    “This would be expeditiously addressed, considering the importance of the road to our national economy,” Buhari said.

    Buhari, who was represented by Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, the Minister of Environment, reassured that the completion of the East-West Road was a top priority for this administration.

    The President noted that one of the cardinal mandates of his administration was to tackle corruption.

    He explained that the Forensic Audit of NNDC had been submitted, noting that the implementation of it’s recommendations had begun in phases.

    “I hereby assure you that this process will eventually bring about the constitution of a new Board for the Commission, which is the desire of most stakeholders in the region,” he said.

    Mr Umana Umana, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, said the objective of the conference was to canvass for more and sustained collaboration with development partners and other stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes designed for the improvement of life in the Niger Delta Region.

    Umana said the meeting was important item for the ministry and other stakeholders for the opportunity to take stock of collective engagement with the mandate of reinventing the Niger Delta Region.

    He said that the theme of the council meeting was: “Harnessing 21st Century Development Initiatives and Strategies for Greater Development impacts in the Niger Delta Region.”

    He said the theme further addressed the urgent need to constantly develop new strategies that could help Federal Government to reposition the Niger Delta for a better economic standing on infrastructure, healthcare, manpower development and security.

    Umana said that the ministry was partnering relevant agencies, development partners, International Oil Company (IOCs) and other stakeholders on infrastructure development, investment in social services and institutional capacity building for Niger Delta Region to achieve it’s mandate.

    Umana who is also the  Chairman of Council, promised to publish a compendium of projects undertaken by the ministry in all the Niger Delta Region.

  • IGP says claims Kaduna is inaccessible by road, air, train untrue

    IGP says claims Kaduna is inaccessible by road, air, train untrue

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Alkali Usman, says the rumour making the rounds that Kaduna is inaccessible by road, air, or train is mere propaganda.

    The IGP stated this during his operational visit to the Abuja-Kaduna road on Saturday in Kaduna.

    He said the visit was to check the situation along the Abuja-Kaduna road.

    Usman noted that they have already made arrangements to secure the road.

    “My coming out today is to check the deployment we made to ensure the road is safe and also to check the deployment we have made at the scene of the train accident where repairs are taking place.

    “We have also deployed our men to assist the engineers in taking care of the situation and I want to assure the public that the propaganda going round that Kaduna is inaccessible by road, air or train is not true.

    “The road is safe for motorists and we will try our best to keep it safer.”

    He added that the visit was also to ensure that officers and men deployed to keep security on the road are performing their duties diligently.

    The IGP explained that they would work with available resources given to commands, however, he called for improvement.

    “Government is giving us the resources and in turn we are deploying them to our commands.

    Usman, responding to questions from journalists on the certainties that passengers would no longer patronize the train when restored, said “It is only a perception, the incident has happened and gone, that of course has informed us on measures to take in ensuring such a thing does not occur again”.

    He called on the troops to be diligent and dedicated in discharging their national duties.

     

  • Truck drivers block border between Taraba and Benue states

    Truck drivers block border between Taraba and Benue states

    The border between Taraba and Benue states on Monday were blocked by truck drivers following illegal extortion and illegal checkpoints by security operatives on transported food items and passengers.

    Chairman of the truck drivers, Wukari Branch, Wunuken Hosea, explained that the extortion on the Benue axis of the boundary is contributing to the high cost of grains across the country.

    In his words: “Despite dialogues with security operatives and revenue collectors on agricultural produce, the trend has continued unabated with a huge increase in the amount demanded from us.”

    Hosea pointed out that there is no going back on the blockade until the relevant authorities address their challenges.

    The protest resulted in gridlock on the Taraba and Benue boundary which leads to the South-Eastern and western parts of Nigeria.

    It was gathered that this is not the first time that truck drivers are embarking on such protest at the same spot with little or no effort to address their plights.

  • STRIKE: NUPENG demands rehabilitation of 21 critical highways

    STRIKE: NUPENG demands rehabilitation of 21 critical highways

    Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, NUPENG, has said it will not give further warning to embark on industrial action, if the N621bn provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited for the rehabilitation of 21 critical highways is not utilized.

    In NUPENG words “On the basis of this communique, the union suspended the intended industrial action, but we were very clear in our statement, that should the spirit and letter of the agreement not fully implemented with a focus on those jointly identified critical roads or attempt is made to divert the funds, the union will not give further warning to resume the intended actions.”

    This was declared in a statement jointly signed by the union’s President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi.

    NUPENG noted that it had started mobilizing members of the union for the sudden strike.

    According to NUPENG, officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMWH) were currently diverting the N621bn provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited for the rehabilitation of 21 critical highways.

    NUPENG noted that roads rehabilitation pictures being brandished by the FMWH were photographs that were taken before the N621bn was approved.

    The Union pointed out that agreements reached on the matter with the government and other stakeholders in two separate meetings were not upheld.

    The officials of the Ministry of Works and Housing are going around showing pictures of roads done in June and August 2021 to justify payment made from the N621bn which was approved in October 2021 for the identified 21 critical roads

    The statement read in part, “These two meetings resulted in the signing of a communique indicating the readiness and willingness of NNPC to finance the rehabilitation of identified 21 critical roads at an estimated sum of N621bn through road infrastructure tax credit scheme.

    “Unfortunately, our worst fear concerning the struggle is gradually unfolding with information coming out from reliable sources that some elements in the garbs of being state governments, officials of Ministry of Works and Housing, and desperate politicians are already dipping their soiled hands into these funds and diverting them to roads already budgeted for and done since last year.”

    “The officials of the Ministry of Works and Housing are going around showing pictures of roads done in June and August 2021 to justify payment made from the N621bn which was approved in October 2021 for the identified 21 critical roads.

    “We have our facts and figures, and we shall not be cowed into allowing the N621bn to go the same way other budgeted funds have gone.”

    The union demanded the immediate halt to the further release of the fund until a competent monitoring and validation team comprising all stakeholders that signed the communique was formed.

    It demanded that the pre-award pictures of the 21 identified roads be taken, which would be compared with pictures of post repairs/reconstruction.

    “The N621bn was approved because of our demand and struggle, therefore, we owe our members and the general public the responsibility to ensure that every kobo of the approved fund is accounted for. Taxpayers’ money must be accounted for. We demand immediate review of transport freight rates to reflect the operational realities of the petroleum distribution value chain,” NUPENG stated.

  • Troops eliminate kidnappers terrorising Auchi-Benin road

    Troops eliminate kidnappers terrorising Auchi-Benin road

    The Nigerian Army says its troops of 4 Brigade, on Wednesday eliminated three kidnappers believed to be part of the notorious kidnap and robbery gang terrorising motorists along Auchi-Benin road in Edo.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement in Abuja, said the kidnappers met their waterloo while carrying out their nefarious operation along the axis.

    He said the kidnapers, however, ran out of luck as the vigilant troops swooped on them, engaging them in a gun duel that led to the elimination of three members of the gang, while others fled in different directions.

    Nwachukwu said the gallant troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, one pump action shotgun and other dangerous weapons.

    He said efforts were ongoing to track the fleeing criminals and free that corridor from all forms of violent crime.

    “The Nigerian Army wishes to enjoin the general public, particularly the good people of Edo to continue to expose criminal elements in their localities to law enforcement agencies.

    “They are also urged to go about their normal activities as efforts are in place to ensure seamless security,” he said.

  • Bandits takeover Niger road in broad daylight, kidnap travellers

    Bandits takeover Niger road in broad daylight, kidnap travellers

    An unspecified number of armed bandits on Saturday blocked the Kontagora-Minna Road in Niger State, causing gridlock in the area.

    This left many vehicles and travellers stranded around the Yakila and Garun Gabas areas near Kundu in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

    According to reports, the blockage of the road lasted about one hour and there were no security personnel to clear the road in the area at the time.

    Travellers were said to have fled into nearby villages as they could not continue their journey over fears of being kidnapped by the armed men.

    Despite this, the bandits reportedly abducted an undisclosed number of persons and moved them to an unknown destination.

    But witnesses said a team of security operatives later arrived at the scene to clear the road in a bid to ensure it was safe for travellers and motorists.

  • BREAKING: Residents protesting insecurity obstruct Bauchi-Dass road

    BREAKING: Residents protesting insecurity obstruct Bauchi-Dass road

    Some residents of Birshin Fulani, a district of Bauchi metropolis, have blocked the Bauchi-Dass road protesting the deteriorating security in the area.

    Motorists are presently stranded on both ends of the road as a result of the occurrence.

     

    TheNewsGuru recalls that barely two weeks ago, gunmen invaded the area and killed two people, including a senior staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Engnr. Abubakar Muhammad.

    Some other persons were also abducted in the attack.

    Days later, more people were also kidnapped there.

     

    Details later….

     

  • Flood: Five simple ways to get your submerged vehicle back on the road

    Flood: Five simple ways to get your submerged vehicle back on the road

    The nook and cranny of Lagos State on Friday (yesterday) witnessed the downpour of a torrential rainfall like never before.

    The rain that lasted hours especially in the Lagos Island area left most roads flooded while workers were stranded as they were unable to access their vehicles after the close of work in several parking lots along the Marina axis of Lagos. Most of the vehicles were entirely submerged in the flood.

    While this is not the first time that Lagos is witnessing such flood, however, that of Friday took it to a different level especially with damages that might ruin a car owner if the needful is not down.

    To minimize damages done particularly to submerged vehicles, an auto expert listed a five-step actionable points to help revive submerged vehicle back to life.

    Meanwhile some of the actionable points as listed below might need the assistant/supervision of a certified mechanic.

    1. Do not attempt to start your submerged vehicle

    Even if the vehicle is submerged and the water goes down. It’s likely water has made its way into the engine.

    The first thing to do is open your engine air filter and check for moisture. If it’s moist or damp, DO NOT CRANK THAT VEHICLE!!! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START IT.

    2. Drain engine oil

    Allow the water go down, tow it away if possible. Get your mechanic to drain the engine oil immediately. Also drain the transmission fluid. Do not take the risk of trying to drive that vehicle.

    3. Disconnect fuel pump

    Let the mechanic disconnect the fuel sending unit (fuel pump), pull out the spark plugs one after the other and then crank the engine. You want to make sure water in each cylinder is blown out of the engine by the compression/exhaust stroke.

    4. Connect fuel pump

    Once completed for all the cylinders. Connect the fuel pump (easiest way is to remove the relay or the fuse) and start the vehicle. It may idle rough. Leave it. Do not rev it. Allow that vehicle idle for some 30 minutes.

    5. Engage the gears

    Once it’s up to operating temperature, (because you have replaced your transmission fluid) engage the gears one after the other. From P to R wait 5 seconds R to N wait another 5 seconds N to D wait again. D to N again N to R and R to Park. After this. You can drive.

     

  • Road: Fashola clears air on RCCG’s Petition

    Road: Fashola clears air on RCCG’s Petition

    Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has clarified the issue of payment to Cartil Construction Nigeria Limited in respect of the rehabilitation of Ife-Ifewara road in Osun.

    The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) had alleged that payment was made to the contractor by the ministry for rehabilitation of the road which was done by the Church between 2016 and 2019.

    The Director of Press and Publicity, FMWH, Mrs Boade Akinola, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Akinola explained that Fashola was speaking at the Public Hearing of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

    Fashola debunked the allegation by RCCG that monies were paid to the contactor.

    The minister clarified that no payment was made by the current administration with respect to the rehabilitation of the road.

    Fashola stated that the contract was awarded to Messrs Cartill Construction Nigeria Limited five years before the Buhari Administration and six years before he was appointed as a Minister of Works and Housing.

    He said that the then Minister of Works only approved the mandatory 15 per cent mobilisation fee on March 31, 2011 and another payment was made after the work had reached about 26.21 per cent on Dec. 29, 2011.

    “These payments were all made four years before the Buhari’s administration,” he explained.

    He stated that the ministry did not make any payment to the contractor as a refund or certify any work done between 2016 and 2019.

    Fashola added that the road in question was not a federal road but the contract was initiated as Parliamentary Constituency Project which was domiciled in the budget of the ministry.

    Hence the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

    While he thanked the chairman and other distinguished members of the committee for its impartial and dispassionate consideration of the petition, Fashola said that there was no basis for the petition by way of facts or evidence.

    While commending the leadership of RCCG for intervening in the rehabilitation of the road, Fashola explained that there were procedures to be followed in intervening on federal and state roads.

    Responding on behalf of RCCG, the Petitioner, Pastor Niyi Adebanjo apologised to the minister saying that the petition was not targeted at him, but was meant to expose some perceived sharp practices.

    Adebanjo said that they thought that the Federal Government was to approve another payment for the road which was rehabilitated free by Pastor Encoh Adeboye as part of the church’s Social Corporate Responsibility.

    “The rehabilitation of the road was awarded and paid for by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, hence any further claim by any company should be seen as illegal and unjust.”

    “Ministry of Works and Housing deserves an apology from us and because the whole world is listening to us, I tender that apology “Unreservedly,” he said.

    Speaking, the Committee Chairman, Sen. Patrick Akinyelure, commended the minister for his presentation and for correcting the impression that some monies were paid during the Buhari led administration.

    He said that the purpose of the public hearing was to clear all grey areas regarding payments that were alleged to be paid by the ministry and not to witch-hunt anybody.

    He commended the RCCG for the intervention and for crying out for the perceived wrong doing, but charged them to follow due procedure and guideline in future intervention to avoid a repeat of such occurrence.