PRESIDENT BUHARI URGES STRONGER SYNERGY WITH STATES TO DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE, CALLS ON NATIONAL ASSEMLY TO PASS WATER BILL

PRESIDENT BUHARI COMMENDS GANDUJE, STRESSES ON COMPLETING PROJECTS

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for imbibing the culture of completing projects of importance in order to save time and cost overruns without minding which administrations began those projects.

Speaking in commendation of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje during a courtesy call on the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, on Thursday in Kano, the President said the completion of projects started by his predecessors was a sign of strength and good leadership on the part of the Governor.

In stressing the need to create such culture among the general public, President Buhari said he is pleased to see the Governor initiate and complete projects, adding that he is equally happy seeing him completing projects initiated by his predecessors.

“It shows that he is not wicked or malicious,” said the President.

The President said he was glad with the many projects the Governor is putting in place, adding that this is the only way to justify the resources that are being managed on behalf of the people.

Governor Ganduje in his remarks expressed the gratitude of the government and the people of Kano for the care and love lavished by the President as manifested by key appointments as well as the many ongoing federal projects, including the Kano-Kaduna modern railway project, which construction the President kicked off in the city in the morning.

Emir Aminu Ado Bayero welcomed the President to the Palace which he said has always served as his home. He commended the President for carrying out so many infrastructure projects in the state and across the nation in spite of the global economic meltdown caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, but urged that more attention be paid to the problems of security, poverty and food inflation.

He equally urged his subjects to pray and show patience and understanding towards their leaders.

Before his presence in the Place, the President had commissioned a very impressive three-layer bridge in the city, put up by the Ganduje administration to alleviate excruciating traffic hold-up on a major road crossing beside the state Secretariat.

President Buhari was welcomed, as usual by mammoth crowds that lined his routes.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 15, 2021

 

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Dustin-ma, Katsina State, called on state governments to build stronger partnerships with Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to provide infrastructure that will meet the growing needs of Nigerians, while urging the National Assembly to pass the National Water Resources Bill.

Speaking at a ceremony for the commissioning of the Zobe Regional Water Supply Scheme in Katsina State, the President said the project was initiated by a previous administration in 1992, and the Federal Government had to work in collaboration with the state to ensure completion.

“I am particularly delighted to be physically here today for the commissioning ceremony which has been on hold for over one year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“As you all know, the implementation of this very important project that commenced in 1992 suffered neglects under past administrations primarily due to lack of attention that resulted in poor funding and ultimate abandonment.

“It is therefore gratifying to note the positive efforts made by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to salvage the project leading to its completion and eventual commissioning today.

“I have also noted the effective collaboration between the Ministry and Katsina State Government for execution of different components of the project as enshrined in the Memorandum of Understanding entered into by both parties way back in October 2017 when the project was resuscitated,” he said.

President Buhari enjoined other sectors to emulate the good practice of federal and state governments’ partnership to accelerate infrastructure development.

The President said the administration will work towards ensuring that all Nigerians, irrespective of location in the country, have access to adequate potable water supply and sanitation facilities as enshrined in the SDG target.

“However, for this national aspiration to be realized, we need to mobilize funds from all sources including the private sector. This is where the need for quick passage of the National Water Resources Bill that made provision for the National WASH Fund, as well as regulatory environment for private sector involvement in the sector, become relevant.

“I therefore call on the National Assembly to give attention to the Bill towards its passage into law as soon as possible,” he added.

The President noted that from the inception of the administration there had been a serious commitment to the development of the water sector through various efforts.

“Approval of the National Water Resources Policy by the Federal Executive Council in September 2016; Approval of a 15-year Roadmap developed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in 2016; Approval and Launching of Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Program in November 2016; Approval of the National WASH Action Plan for the revitalization of the sector and declaration of a “State of Emergency” on the sector in November 2018 and Launching of the “Clean Nigeria Campaign” in 2019 to make Nigeria Open Defecation Free by 2025.”

He said Executive Order Number 9 was signed in support of the Clean Nigeria Campaign Implementation and improved funding of the sector from special sources.

According to President Buhari, “the transformation being witnessed in the sector under the above listed efforts is highly commendable. I enjoin the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to continue the good work towards meeting our national aspirations as well as meeting the targets for water supply and sanitation under the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.”

He urged the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, who signed an agreement ceremony to take over the project from the Federal Government, and community leaders to operate the facility efficiently, and jealously guard against vandalization.

In his remarks, the Kastina State Governor said the Federal Government had shown strong commitment to the development of communities, pointing out that the Zobe Regional Water scheme will address a major concern by supplying water for households, businesses and farms.

He said the project had to be separated into two phases in 2016 to enable completion, noting that by 2018 the first phase had been completed to provide more than 50 million litres of water to some communities in the state.

The governor called for more partnership to develop the state, adding that the government will keep providing the enabling environment.

Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Hussein Adamu, said 106 water projects were left uncompleted by various administrations, and the Federal Government would keep working hard to ensure that Nigerians get adequate supply of water.

He said the Zobe multi-purpose dam will provide the needed water that will be treated to meet acceptable national and global standards.

Deputy Governor of Katsina, Mannir Yakubu, who is the Chairman of the water project scheme and Emir of Kastina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, thanked President Buhari for his intervention.

“He who gives water gives life,’’ the Emir said.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 15, 2021

 

Bamidele Yusuf Suleiman receives Adedoyin’s praises

Lagos politician, Hon Adeyinka Adedoyin, on Thursday eulogized the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Surulere, Hon Bamidele Yusuf Suleiman.

Adedoyin who spoke with reporters after meeting with youth leaders in Surulere acknowledged Bamidele Yusuf Suleiman’s honesty, competence, humble life style and commitment to service.

He described the APC chairmanship candidate as a man of integrity and principle.

‘’Bamidele Yusuf Suleiman possesses the ability, courage, the sincerity and the guiding philosophy to provide the right leadership for the betterment of the affairs of Surulere

The Lagos APC chieftain spoke of the candidate’s contributions to social and economic emancipation of the poor and his unwavering commitment to building bridges of unity between the privileged and the less privileged members of the society.

‘’Bamidele Yusuf Suleiman is a man with a vision and mission. He has a good understanding of the workings of government ’’

Adeyinka Adedoyin is backing the APC candidate because of his record in private and elected offices and commitment to issues affecting the good people of Surulere.

‘’Bamidele Yusuf Suleiman is not flippant with public funds. The good people of Surulere want someone who is not flippant with public funds, someone who is humble. They want a government that will deliver the dividends of democracy. In terms of performance, keeping money in safe hands, managing the meager resources and developing Surulere Local Government, Bamidele Yusuf Suleiman is the right man for the job’’ Adeyinka Adedoyin said.

He urged the good people of Surulere to continue to support Bamidele Yusuf Suleiman

‘’The July 24 chairmanship election in Surulere is a done deal. We are ready for the chairmanship election’’

Adeyinka Adedoyin advocated violence-free elections.

‘’We thank the good people of Surulere for rejecting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties’’

 

 

HOW THE SECOND RIVER NIGER BRIDGE WILL IMPACT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA FROM THE SOUTH- EAST

Every day, millions of people journey from Asaba to Onitsha and back through the iconic Niger Bridge, which has become a symbol of national enterprise. Atop the Asaba side of the bridge reads the sign, “Welcome to the land of progress.” The mere sight of it sparks the image of the entrepreneurial Nigerian building a future for themselves and their family.

On the other side of the bridge is Onitsha, Anambra State, home to the biggest commercial market in West Africa. Merchants in Onitsha Market deal in every type of product you can imagine — mobile phones, foodstuff, clothing items, toiletries, bathroom fittings, etc. Every year, an estimated $5 billion worth of goods pass through that market. Onitsha is also home to 51 Iweka Road, one of the largest distribution networks for Nigeria’s multi-billion-dollar movie industry, Nollywood.

Thirty minutes (or 22 km) away from Onitsha is a small town called Nnewi. According to Forbes, it “has bred more naira billionaires than any other town in Nigeria, and possibly Africa”. Nnewi is also famously a hub for automobile spare parts dealers, manufacturers of household goods, and many of the largest transport companies in Nigeria. Several of these business activities happen across states and require hours commuting from the East to the West of Nigeria. However, the snag is that most of this economic activity flows through one bridge.

The current Niger Bridge is a 1402.08-metre steel truss bridge that connects Onitsha to the rest of Nigeria. It is over 56 years old, dating back to 1965. The bridge is part of the Trans-African Highway between Lagos and Mombasa, Kenya, and is also the primary connection between Eastern and Western Nigeria, two highly industrious regions. So, one cannot overstate its importance to Nigeria and Africa’s prosperity.

Over the years, the need for a second Niger Bridge has arisen. Since the construction of the first Niger Bridge, Nigeria’s population has grown by over 400%, and the amount of people travelling through Asaba and Onitsha has also skyrocketed. This creates a heavy flow of traffic for the travellers and residents of both cities.

Speaking to the New York Times earlier this year, Patrick Okigbo, a policy analyst, said about the current state of traffic on the Niger Bridge, “…it impacts the cost of doing business. It impacts lives. If they can afford it, nobody travels by road anymore. If you can’t, then you go on a prayer.” In answer to the needs and yearnings of the people, the construction of a new bridge will ease the traffic burden enhancing the free flow of access to work, business centers, markets and other places that have social and economic significance to the people.

The Second River Niger Bridge is the product of a Public-Private Partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Finance, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), the Presidential Infrastructural Development Fund (PIDF), and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. The project is a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) model. This means that the government owns and finances the project’s construction while Julius Berger, a company with a track record of excellence over 50 years, designs and builds.

Back in 1970, Julius Berger was called upon to repair the dilapidating Onitsha bridge, which was accomplished in just seven weeks. The company has also delivered an impressive number of iconic projects that have supported Nigeria’s economy over time.

The scope of Julius Berger’s work for the Second River Niger Bridge includes constructing two secondary bridges at Amakom Village Road and Atani Road, as well as approach roads from Asaba and Onitsha, a new cloverleaf interchange at Onitsha-Owerri Road, and a toll station.

Currently, work on the bridge includes the incremental launching of the superstructures for both the western and eastern approach roads. For the access roads, earthworks and road pavements are underway, as well as the installation of culverts and stormwater drainage. In addition, the current flyover at the Owerri interchange is being demolished and replaced with a new flyover bridge with culverts and a standard drainage system.

The Second River Niger Bridge is already enabling progress in the region and would do even more upon completion. The project employs about 1700 people and is scheduled for completion in 2022.