[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ccording to Holy Scripture , Psalm 105: 15 “Do not touch my anointed ones ,do my prophets no harm , The actual words of this verse do not occur in Genesis, but they express the lesson which God’s dealings with Pharaoh and Abimelech taught the kings and peoples. The touching and purported removal of the anointed People’s Democratic Party (PDP), chairman in the Aniocha North council, Prince Victor Egbune, has earned the House of Assembly member representing the constituency, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi and five others Mr. Julius Ego, Aniocha North PDP, Secretary, Mr. KC Ogbolue, Auditor, Mrs Dorathy Udeh, Woman leader, Mr. Ejike Ogbechie, Ex-Officio and Mr. Patrick Nwaoba, Ex-Officio indefinite suspension for carry out the controversial removal of the party’s chairman which is currently generating mixed reactions in the state.
Grassroots Publishers online reliably gathered that the local government PDP disciplinary committee, chaired by Mr. Odum Andrew, Mr. Anslem Odiakaose, secretary, Mr. Uwagwu Ike, Mr. Kingslay Azu, Pat Onochie, Mrs Maido and Ike Okonkwor will be summoning the suspended party members for possible trial. In a dramatic twist, barely 24 hours this week after an enlarged meeting of the Aniocha North PDP had passed a vote of confidence on the party chairman, Mr. Victor Egbune, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, State Party, chairman, Mr. Kingsley Esiso and Delta North chairman, Mr.Moses Iduh, with claims that there was no political crisis in the local government, the Aniocha North (PDP), chairman, Victor Egbune, was sacked from office by the party executive over alleged misappropriation of party funds, anti-party activities, misconduct and incompetence, amongst other shortcomings.
The local government party executive in what suggested to be renouncing of their earlier vote of confidence passed on governor Okowa, the state PDP chairman, Mr. Esiso and others, passed a fresh vote of no confidence on the embattled party chairman.
In a vote of no confidence letter signed by
Mr. Egoh Julius, PDP Secretary; Mrs. Dorothy Udeh, Women Leader;, Mr. Bunor Nwechi, Asst. Pub. Sec; Mr. K.C. Ogbelue, Auditor; Mr. Nmakwe O.C., Org. Sec. Mr. Patrick Nwaoba, Ex Officio; Madam Felicia Orakwe, Ex Officio; Uche Mukolu, Ex Officio; Evlyn Monye, Ex Officio; and Ejike Ugbechie, Ex Officio, addressed to the state PDP chairman, Mr. Kingsley Esiso, announced the formal sacking of Mr. Egbune as the local government area chairman of the party.
“We the under listed members of People’s Democratic Party Aniocha North Chapter wish to express with dismay our dissatisfaction with the conduct of our party Chairman. It is our belief that with the enormous task ahead of us, it has become imperative to cleanse the system of any bad element that would cause us failure in our forthcoming elections.
“In the light of the above facts, we the undersigned members of the Local Government Executive hereby unanimously pass a ‘Vote Of No Confidence’ on Prince Victor Egbune, the local government area chairman for incompetence and misconduct as stated below: Misappropriation of party funds, Factionalising the party, Inability to call regular meetings, Co-ordinating an aspirant.
“With this vote of no confidence, Prince Victor Egbune ceases to be our Chairman, we therefore request you sir to authorize the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Aggrey Abia to function in acting capacity pending when the Chairman is formally replaced. We thank you in anticipation of your accelerated response.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta State has insisted that Mr. Egbune remains the Aniocha North chairman of the party, saying the state leadership of the party viewed with “disgust and palpable apprehension the fake news making the rounds to the effect that, the Chairman of our Aniocha North Chapter, Prince Victor Egbune has been removed.”
In a statement entitled “Prince Victor Egbune Is Still Chairman PDP Aniocha North LGA” signed by the state PDP publicity secretary, Mr. Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza and made available to newsmen, read thus:
“For the benefit of the unsuspecting public, we wish to make it abundantly clear that non of our twenty-five chapters has intractable issues. The said fake news is baseless, unfounded, tendentious, malicious and deliberately calculated to mislead the general public and should be disregarded in its entirety.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to reiterate that, Prince Victor Egbune is still the Chairman of PDP Aniocha North and we have implicit confidence in his leadership. Furthermore, we hereby warn all the renegades who are behind this fake news and their sponsors to desist forthwith from this divisive tendencies.” the statement said.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ristiano Ronaldo scored a brace as Real Madrid thrash PSG 3-1 at the Bernabeu Stadium in the first leg of the Champions league game on Wednesday. The Portuguese forward scored a late close-range strike after his penalty had cancelled out Adrien Rabiot’s opener at the end of a thrilling first half.
Brazilian left-back Marcelo wrapped up the victory minutes after Ronaldo’s tap-in with a goal created by Marco Asensio. BBC reports that the emphatic spot-kick meant Ronaldo became the first player in Champions League history to score 100 goals for the same club
Last season, Zinedine Zidane’s Real became the first team to retain the Champions League and won La Liga for the first time since 2012. This term they are already out of the Copa del Rey and fourth in La Liga, 17 points behind leaders Barcelona as pressure on their French manager has mounted.
PSG played their part in an end-to-end contest, with Neymar’s delicate assist for Rabiot a highlight and Kylian Mbappe forcing a strong save from Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas. But the result puts Real in control heading into the second leg at Parc des Princes on 6 March.
However, Zidane’s side also survived a second-half penalty claim with the scores level when Rabiot’s shot hit Sergio Ramos high on the arm.
[dropcap]J[/dropcap]acob Zuma, South Africa’s embattled and controversial president, has announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation. “I have to come to decision to resign with immediate effect,” he said late on Wednesday in Pretoria.
Zuma’s resignation followed weeks of intense public pressure to step down amid longstanding corruption allegations.The ruling African National Congress (ANC) formally asked Zuma, 75, to resign on Tuesday. He initially refused, saying he did not understand why he was being told to step down.
The party later announced plans to hold a no-confidence vote against him on Thursday in parliament.
“It is my party that placed me the representative of the people. It is my party that availed me,” Zuma said in his speech from Union Buildings.”Make no mistake, no leader should stay beyond the time the people they serve. No leader should seek an easy way out because they could face a life without the perks of political office.”
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also the newly elected head of ANC, is expected to become acting president on Thursday. A new president must be elected within 30 days but the cabinet and presidency continues.
Corruption allegations
Zuma, who served as the country’s president since 2009, joined the ANC in 1958. He is considered one of the party stalwarts, having served for 10 years on the Robben Island prison alongside freedom fighter Nelson Mandela and living in exile before returning to South Africa in 1990. Despite being known for being an astute political operator, Zuma’s presidency was characterised by scandal and corruption allegations, making him the most controversial president since the end of apartheid.
South Africa will look back and wonder how we allowed a president so reprehensible to last so long in office.
SIZWE MPOFU-WALSH, AUTHOR
“South Africa will look back and wonder how we allowed a president so reprehensible to last so long in office,” Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, author of Democracy and Delusion: 10 Myths in South African Politics, told Al Jazeera.South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled last December that parliament had failed to hold Zuma accountable over the alleged use of state funds to upgrade his rural home in Nkandla.
That followed an earlier court decision in April 2016 that found Zuma had “failed to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution”.It resulted in an impeachment vote that same month, but the motion failed to pass when parliament, where the ANC holds a majority, voted 233 to 143 in Zuma’s favour.
Zuma was also found to have given favour to an Indian immigrant family known as the Guptas, in what became known as the state capture scandal.It was reported that the family wielded such influence over Zuma that they were able to decide who got appointed to the cabinet.
Zuma has always claimed his innocence and some South Africans still defend him, saying he was targeted unfairly in a system that is underpinned by corruption.”When it comes to the allegations of state capture, the state was captured a long time ago. And here we are focusing only on Zuma. There is a broader perspective one needs to take when looking at state capture,” Wandile Giwa, a 26-year-old student, told Al Jazeera.
Joyful response expected
But most South Africans are expected to be overjoyed by Zuma’s ouster.The call for Zuma to step down reached a crescendo in early February when the Nelson Mandela Foundation released a statement calling for him to go immediately.
“President Zuma has abused the trust of South Africans. He must go, sooner rather than later. Time is of the essence,” the foundation said. The court rulings heightened pressure on Ramaphosa, who was elected ANC leader in December 2017, to force Zuma to step down as the party looks to repair its reputation.
But Zuma had survived several no-confidence votes in parliament and until early February believed he would survive another.The tide changed, however, and several of his allies abandoned him.
Ramaphosa has been clear that he had no intention of humiliating Zuma and the ANC itself reportedly wanted him to bow out on his own, rather than drag out the process.Still, Zuma leaves the ANC deeply divided and analysts say the party faces a serious challenge to repair its reputation in his wake.
“Ramaphosa will have a hard time fixing a party that faces indecision and disagreement over its values at every level,” said Ebrahim Fakir, an independent political analyst.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]lothes made of different shades of red sold fast in boutiques and shops in the Delta state Capital, Asaba, as part of the Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Clothes dealers, who spoke on Wednesday, said that most of the red clothing collections that were stocked up for the season had been sold out.The clothes, available in various patterns, go for as low as N1,000 to N30,000.
The dealers added that some of the clothes were bought as gifts for loved ones, in the spirit of the celebrations. Mrs.Jane Okoro, a shop owner at Ogbogonogo , said that the rush for red clothes began a few days before Valentine.
Okoro said that they had to restock fast so as to meet up with the demands.
A boutique owner at Asaba, Efe Ovie said that even up till this afternoon, customers were rushing to get red outfits.According to him, most of the boutiques have sold out a lot of their red clothes, especially dresses and collared shirts for men. He attributed this to the fact that many people used the outfits for programmes and private outings in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
Majority of residents in the Asaba featured the colour on various parts of their outfits.Red shirts, bags, shoes, trousers and skirts outnumbered all other colours as people trooped out to celebrate the love season.Other respondents, who spoke said that the colour pushes the solidarity of the love season.
They stated that red stands for love all over the world and wearing the colour on Valentine’s Day connotes that love was being celebrated.
At Ibusa Road, a visitor Ifeoma uba, who wore red clothes, told Grassroots Publishers Online that she wore the colour because it signifies love. “Red stands for love and this is a day that love is celebrated in its fullest. I decided to wear this colour to join the love movement,’’ she said.
A visitor at Onitsha park, Ifedi Alibo said that his wife insisted that they wear red to show their matching love for each other when they go out.“My wife actually wants our outfits to match and that is why I am wearing this.“Red is a wonderful colour that connotes many things and love is the strongest meaning that can be given to the colour.
“I believe this is why most people are wearing it today,’’ Alibo said.
Valentine’s Day celebration which takes place on Feb. 14, all over the world, is generally seen as a day to share love among friends, relations and lovers.
Comptroller Uba Garba Mohammed CAC, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos led by Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba cannot stop the unending onslaught against dubious Importers and Smugglers as he vow to frustrate all their illegal activities. Compt. Mohammed Garba,who by any matrix, can be called an anti-smuggling czar, has vowed not to relent in the national assignment of ridding the country of contraband items, describing smugglers as economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law.
Interestingly, he has an unending catalogue of seizures and arrests made within his zone.He has always held on to the philosophy that you can never succeed as an anti-smuggling officer by mere saying smuggling is bad and Smugglers are dangerous to our national economic growth. You must try to show example by fighting it head-on and putting your life on the line to show that you can die for this course. This anti-smuggling czar whose antecedents are record breaking at Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja when it comes to customs operations wondered aloud that while a good number of well meaning Nigerians are appreciative of government efforts to rid the nation of corruption in all its ramifications, some smugglers are repentantly bent on circumventing the lofty mission for their selfish interest.
The FOU, Zone “A” roving crack team, which is now being headed by a seasoned anti- smuggle czar CSC Okpabi Charles Jack, a Chief Superintendent of Customs who is regarded in agents’ circle as a “mad dog” because of his insistence that the right thing must be done , has done a similar job when he was the officer in charge of Customs Patrol Team at Eleme- Akpajo axis, Port–Harcourt under FOU, Zone “C”, Owerri. Infact, when CSC. Jack Okpabi was at FOU Zone “C”, Eleme- Akpajo axis as Patrol head, Jack and his men put on tough look in dealing with the dubious agents and their importers ,a lot of seizures was made by his team then . So the Grassroots Publishers online are not surprise that since he mounted the saddle, the Benue -born senior officer has moved in full swing with his men to sanitise the sea ports,airport and land border stations under FOU, Zone “A”.
Three days after Okpabi Jack, a Chief Superintendent and officer in-charge of the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Roving team, Ikeja, was given an award and a” Certificate of Merit ”to authenticate it by Hammed Ali, a retired Colonel and Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, at the last International Customs Day Celebration at the Customs Training College, Gwagwalada, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, he led an operation that intercepted two executive Rolls Royce from a Lagos socialite currently being detained in the Command on the orders of the Comptroller, Mohammed Uba Garba over alleged underpayment.
As at the last count, there 31 such expensive vehicles parked at the Command premises , and the Customs warehouse, Ikeja. The Duty Paid Value , DPV, of the seized vehicles, according to Garba, was N1.43 billion. Given a breakdown of the seized vehicles, an elated Comptroller of FOU, Zone A, said, four were Rolls Royce, . he confirmed that seven were Mercedes Benz and four Toyota Corolla. Also, on the Command seized vehicles list were Two lexus Jeep and G Wagon each. This is in addition to one Porche Panamera, Jaguar, Bentley and Toyota Land Cruiser each.
The interception of the two executive Rolls Royce from the Lagos socialite in information acting on information was to prove to critics that he knows how to go about his enforcement job and that he hits at target without missing. Three days after invading the home of the Lagos socialite which resulted in the evacuation of the two executive Rolls Royce from the place, it was the turn of another Lagos socialite, one OluOkewo, a real Estate Valier , living in one of the posh homes, at Parkview estate, Ikoyi. Jack and his team were said to have evacuated some expensive vehicles including a Rolss Royce valued at about N2 billion.
It was learnt that the Customs award winner, described as a rugged and dogged officer by Colleagues had acted on information that the multi-million naira vehicles parked in the Lagos socialite home were brought into the country without payment of the appropriate Customs duty. Prior to the recent invasion of these Lagos socialite homes over alleged importation and use of assorted vehicles without payment of the appropriate duties, he had led the team to evacuate three Rose Royce vehicles from the home of three Lagos socialites in Ijebu ode, Ogun state and Lagos respectively. The cost of one of the vehicles was put at N180 million. while the least cost about N10 million.
Working on the instructions of Garba, the Comptroller, he had not spared the Car dealers who are feeling the heat .he was said to have led an operation that evacuated 37 assorted vehicles smuggled into the country through unapproved routes and parked at a location around the Badagry axis. The vehicles , according to the Comptroller had a Duty Paid Value of about N1.4 billion. This is in addition to the seizure 27 other vehicles smuggled through unapproved routes in Ogun. The 27 vehicles alone, according to a source had DPV of about N228.21 million.
He was said to have led an operation that evacuated 51 assorted vehicles including four bullet proof from a hidden warehouse in IKoyi, Lagos state worth billions of naira. There had been several other assorted vehicle seizures that had been linked to the Customs award winner and his men. One of such operations was the evacuation of 51 assorted vehicles from a hidden location in Omole Estate , Ikeja. The evacuation of the vehicles to the Command and parked at the Customs Training School,also at Ikeja, may have attracted the attention of Ali, the Comptroller General, to the school to see the seizures made by his boys at FOU, Zone A. The visit ,according to an insider was at the invitation of Garba, the Command Comptroller to sell Jack and his team to the Customs boss over their good deeds. The Comptroller General, may have left with the impression that Jack is a ”hard working enforcement officer who knows his onions.
FOU, Zone A, Customs boss defended the action of his officers involved in the raid. He alluded to the of the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap 45, which gave Customs personnel to” patrol freely” and make seizures suspected to have contravened the government fiscal policies. Given that the Command may not be hunting any person, the Customs boss was said to have appealed to the owners of the vehicles labeled seized in the Command to ”come forward with valid Customs clearance documents” to show proof of source of importation and duty payment to facilitate its release to them.He fears that some of the vehicles ”will be liable to outright seizure and subsequent forfeiture to the government in accordance with the Laws of the Country”. the Law had given the Customs the mandate to seize such seized items if within 30 days the owners could not come forward with valid Customs clearance documents to process the items for subsequent release to them.
Jack and his team have put fear on other Lagos socialites parking fleet of different models of exotic cars in their homes without payment of appropriate Customs duty as many of them had gone underground.infact most of the super rich in Lagos are keeping away from the weddings and clubs for fear that Jack and his men are trailing them. The situation is so bad that most of them were said to have put their homes under lock and key and relocated abroad to avoid running into Jack’s trouble.
A source confirmed to Grassroots Publishers online that there was hardly a week that the Jack-led team could not deposit five to ten intercepted Containers exited from the seaports or any of the terminals in Lagos at the road leading to the training School, waiting for the final directive from the Comptroller whether should be taken into the Warehouse for examination.The activities of the team, the source said had kept Garba, the Area Comptroller busier than ever as aggrieved Lagos Socialites or agents whose clients’ Containers had fallen into the waiting hand of the team had turned the Command to their office to find a way of reaching out to the Comptroller.
CSC. Jack Okpabi has done a similar job when he was the officer in charge of Customs Patrol Team at Eleme- Akpajo axis, Port–Harcourt under FOU, Zone “C”, Owerri.
Infact, when CSC. Jack Okpabi was at FOU Zone ‘C’, Eleme- Akpajo axis as Patrol head, Jack and his men put on tough look in dealing with the dubious agents and their
importers; a lot of seizures was made by his team then . So the Grassroots Publishers online are not surprise that since he mounted the saddle, the Benue -born senior officer has moved in full swing with his men to sanitise the sea ports, airport and land border stations under FOU, Zone “A”. This proactive team headed by CSC. Jack Okpabi has taken the battle to the smuggler’s den in its strive to clear the mess at the seaport, airport, Car mart and land border station.
In September last year alone, the Jack led team was said to have intercepted 14 Containers. The various Container interceptions and impounded vehicles by the Jack led team may have given the Comptroller the great joy to always address the media for much of last year over the Command’s Customized seizures. He will always begin his briefing : He had disclosed to the Media at the October briefing that the fourteen Container intercepted by the Command operational personnel for False Declaration and Customs breech of Law were promptly seized. the DPV of the 14 Containers loaded with various items was put at about N105 million. It was an inception and seizure too many.
Compt. Mohammed Garba has warn smugglers that his proactive roving teams are battle ready to cripple smugglers and getting them out of the illegitimate business, more importantly this new year 2018.
He advised smugglers to stay clear from his zone because his proactive team will never compromise with any dubious agent or smugglers.Presently, some dubious agents have resorted to blackmail against the officials of Zone ‘A’ and sending threat text messages to them for serving this nation. But amidst these challenges,He said his roving crack team is battle ready to fight Smugglers .
[dropcap]P[/dropcap]harmaceutical products/drugs with duty paid value of One Hundred and Ten Million, Sixteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty Four Naira only (N110,016,524.00) imported by one Villa Gold Pharmacy from India were on February 6 and 7, 2018 seized by the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Lagos.
This was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Jibrin Musa on Monday in Lagos while addressing the press on activities of his command in January 2018.
The customs boss noted that the drugs/products were contained in four containers and their seizure was perfected based on the intelligence from the Customs Intelligent Unit of the command.
Container MRSU 3637149 contained 936 cartons of Tramadol Hydrochloride tablet (225mg) and 56 cartons of collstop chlorpheniramine maleate capsules (4mg) and container MRKU 6196764 was filled with 368 cartons of tramadol capsules BP (120mg), 192 cartons of tramadol capsule (250mg) and 160 cartons of dobumal analgesic.
Other containers MRSU 3516384 contained 554 cartons of tramadol capsules BP 120mg and 176 cartons of col-cap and MRKU 6058282, which was seized on February 7, was laden with prohibited drugs in 200 cartons of tramadol (225mg), 330 cartons of Ibramol, chest and lung tablet (15mg), 198 cartons of col-cap capsule (14mg) and 453 cartons of rally extra (50mg).
According to him, ‘On Tuesday 6th February 2018 based on credible intelligence from Customs Intelligence Unit Apapa Command, 3 by 40 foot containers with MRSU 3637149, MRKU 6196764 and MRSU 3516384 imported by one Villa Gold Pharmacy from India were suspected to contained ‘controlled drugs.’ The said containers were examined and found to contain different pharmaceutical products and drugs which are controlled and regulated from importation into Nigeria.
‘Similarly, on the 7th February 2018 another 1 by 40 foot container MRKU 6058282 suspected to be laden with prohibited. The duty paid value of the of the 4×40 foot containers stood at one hundred and ten million, sixteen thousand, five hundred and twenty four naira only.’
DC. Gaya, APM, Apapa Customs Command
Also, the Automated Systems for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) Project Manger / Deputy Comptroller Revenue of the Command, Muhammed Gaya also assured that the Command was not leaving any stone unturned as they are ever ready for the implementation of all strategies and blueprints devised by the management to block leakages while enhancing trade facilitation and security.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n official of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (FMPWH), Olukorede Keisha, on Sunday said that palliative repair work on the Tin Can Island Port access has started and will be completed at the end of February 2018.She said AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd is undertaking the road repair.
“Dangote is fulfilling his promise to Nigerians by instructing his company, AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd to start palliative works on Liverpool road starting from Area B Police station.“The works include desilting of all drains, carting away of debris, grading of all bad portions, filling with stone base and asphalt overlay of severely failed sections.“The palliative work started since Monday, 29th January.
“Desilting of drains and carting away of debris/refuse is ongoing at Beechland through Coconut(Oshodi bound) as we speak.“Also, work has started on Tin Can gate 2 (Oshodi bound). Excavation of terribly distressed portion has began, while filling with hardcore has been done in some sections in preparation for the Stone base layer after which asphalt will be laid on it.“All these are temporary measures aimed at ameliorating the discomfort of motorists pending the final approval of the reconstruction with concrete by the Ministry (FMPWH).
“The palliative works will be through on or before February ending,” she said.She appealed to road users to be patient around construction zones, adding that AG Dangote was working hard to complete ongoing reconstruction on schedule.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his Award is presented to reputable individuals or companies who have saved & improved the lives of the less privileged and also contributed immensely towards community development in Nigeria.
Nomination is now on for the DIVERSE AWARD CATEGORIES…
1. Outstanding Performance & Excellence in State Governance 2. Outstanding Women Leadership Excellence & Good Governance 3. Outstanding Male Federal Legislator in Service for Community Development 4. Outstanding Female Federal Legislator in Service for Community Development 5. Outstanding Male State Legislator in Service for Community Development 6. Outstanding Female State Legislator in Service for Community Development 7. Outstanding Performance in Public Service for Community Development 8. Outstanding Performance in Public Service for State Security 9. Outstanding Youth Leader & Excellence in Performance. 10.Outstanding Female Celebrity in Philanthropy /Charity Projects 11.Outstanding Male Celebrity in Philanthropy/ Charity Projects 12.Outstanding Maritime Company/Personality in Philanthropy & Charity Projects 13.Outstanding CEO for Contribution in Community Development 14.Outstanding Personality for Peace keeping & Conflict Resolution 15.Outstanding Personality for Human Advocacy 16.Outstanding NGO in Empowerment projects 17.Outstanding Oil & Gas Company 18.Outstanding Clergy Personality 19.Outstanding Traditional Ruler 20.Outstanding Media Entrepreneur 21.Outstanding Role Model for entrepreneurship Development 22.Outstanding Company for Corporate Social responsibilities 23.Outstanding Life Achievement Award
Send your nominations, Suggestions/contributions to grassrootspublishers12@gmail.com
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]embers of the Delta State House of Assembly committee on Works expressed sadness over the nature of shoddy job done by the contractor, Deux Nig. Ltd, which handled the Direct Labour Agency Road in Asaba, the Delta state capital. The road which has been one of the busiest roads in Asaba, connecting Summit road through to the Ibusa road down to the main Ogbeogonogo market, has been a nightmare to residents and other road users for business transaction in that part of Asaba.
Evans Iwurie and his team member during the investigation committee at the state house of assembly.The construction project was awarded to Deux, a Nigerian company during the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, the total cost of which could not be ascertained by this medium.
However, the road has broken into bits and loaded with army of potholes, making it extremely difficult for vehicle owners to navigate through the road from one end to the other. The road is worse during the rains when flood usually covers the road, cutting off business along the road and making vehicular movement along the road a dangerous venture.
Drivers and tricycle users usually flow in the flood when the rains and the erosion is usually thick from May to October during which the rains cover the road, making it impassable. Drivers do gallop through the road as a result of the potholes which are usually covered by flood. This makes many of the residents cry to the state government for help so as to make their business accessible to the people of Delta state.
However, despite the failure of the contractor to execute the contract and make the road available for use, the contractors on Wednesday told the house of assembly investigation committee that it has completed 80 percent of the road leaving 20 percent to be done.
The project director and co-owner of the firm, Walter Olatunde, told the committee his company left DLA road in 2014, having done 98% of drainage, 54% binding course, 38% wearing course, but deteriorated due to the heavy rains. Olatunde who told the committee that roads are constructed to last for 10 years, said the continuous rainfall left the road submerged under heavy flood coupled with constant vehicular movement.
He agreed that DLA was the worst road in Asaba, coupled with the tough rainfall evident in the state and a major constraint of linking the drainage to a discharge point at Jesus Saves road which was completely outside of their contract scope.
Olatunde, who said his company has worked and still working in Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and other states, regretted the state of the road, adding that if the contract is re-activated, his company would not abandon the project. But the house committee led by Evans Iwurie, representing Ethiope east in the state house of assembly, expressed sadness over the state of the road, saying: “It was one of our sadest moments when we visited the road. We said Deux can’t do this to us. We are not pleased with the state of DLA.
“Over N3billion has been spent, there have been series of interventions on the road. Road that tax payers money has been expended. The committee frowns at the job done by Deux in Asaba, we are not happy.”
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n its bid to continuously ensure safety on the inland waterways, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has distributed over 1,500 Life Jackets to ferry operators, passengers and riverine communities across the state. Speaking to journalists at the weekend, Managing Director of LASWA, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, said the Authority has intensified campaign to emphasise the use of Life Jackets by all waterways users.
He said the 1,500 life jackets were distributed within 2017 and January 2018, adding that more would be distributed in the course of the year however urging passengers to insist on life jackets before embarking on any journey on the water.
He said aside the donation of life jackets, the Authority has also embarked on sensitization at various state-owned jetties whilst also using electronic media to emphasize on safety measures to be adhered to by all waterways users.
The LASWA Boss added that to improve safety on the waterways, the Authority with relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) is currently planning and working towards establishing an Emergency and Response Unit for the Inland waterways.
He said the Emergency and Response Unit collaborate with the LASWA patrol team to respond to emergency cases on the waterways, while reminding ferry operators to continue to strictly comply with safety guidelines.
“The Lagos State Government in its drive to promote a multi-modal transport system, especially the movement of passengers, goods and services on its waterways, will under no circumstances compromise safety standards and the protection of lives and property. As such we restate our commitment to the promotion of all safety measures and ensure that all operators comply with all safety standards in line with global best practices.
“Once again, the Authority will like to urge all waterways users to always wear their life jackets and report any issues immediately to the Authority or Marine Police as we continue to work to ensure a safe, clean and prosperous inland waterways,” Emmanuel said.
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