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Moniya-Iseyin Road: ‘We Have No Excuse Not To Deliver Within One Year’ – Contractor

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The contractor handling the construction of the 65 kilometers Moniya-Iseyin road, KOPEK Construction Company has hinted that there was no excuse for the company not to complete the project within the time frame mandated by the governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

The road contract was revoked after being abandoned by the former contractor and in November 2019 re-awarded with the completion time frame of one year.

The Project Manager, KOPEK Construction Company, Engr. Paul Chamoun while answering questions from journalists on Friday in Ibadan, said the company had resumed work immediately after new year yuletide and the first work done was to fill all notable craters and potholes while concrete works like culverts and line drainages were ongoing.

He said the most difficult part of the project were being concentrated upon in the time being as laying of stone base and asphalt would be the simplest work.

“According to what the governor told us and our own planning, we are to finish the project in one year and we are doing all in our programs to achieve that, by the grace of God, if we do not have any unforeseen challenge, we will deliver on time.

“We thank God there is zero challenge for now, we are doing our best, even more than expected, we do not have any difficulty for now, that means no excuse not to deliver the project to time, I can promise you that we shall deliver.

“Immediately we resumed from the new year break, we started mobilization and you can see that the part from the town here in Ibadan, which is the beginning of the project is where we are working on the concrete, the culvert, line drainage, retaining walls among others.

“The percentage of work to be covered will increase rapidly after all these preliminary works are concluded and we start asphaltic laying, we will not disappoint the people and the government,” he noted.

The Site Engineer who supervised the project on behalf of the State Ministry of works and Transport, Engr. Olaide Fadare in his response, said the present administration took immediate step to re-award the road project after revoking the contract with the former contractor to ease the pain of the people plying the road and communities along the way.

He stated that government realized the importance of the road as the link between Ibadan, the State capital and Oke-Ogun, which was noted to be ‘food basket’ of the State, adding that economic growth of the State through agriculture would be maximized when the road is completed.

“The road has been one of the most important roads that the present administration put keen interest on and that is why it was re-awarded immediately due to the fact that they noticed the professional inadequacies of the former contractor.

“We also enjoin the people of the State to please keep faith with the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde whose only interest is to serve and create enabling environment for the people to grow their investment and live comfortably, this is seen in all facets of human life like health, workers’ welfare, education, public infrastructures among others,” he said.

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FG Targets 15m Households for Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme

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The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Nentawe Yilwatda, has announced the Federal Government’s plan to reach 15 million households, representing 75 million people, through its conditional cash transfer scheme.

Speaking on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Yilwatda explained that the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to mitigating the economic hardships faced by vulnerable Nigerians.

“The president was so specific,” Yilwatda noted.

“There are policies that he brought in to see if that can ease those challenges for people at the lower end of the pyramid. One of those policies is to reach out to 15 million beneficiaries under the conditional cash transfer, targeting households rather than individuals. Each household will receive ₦25,000 monthly, paid three times a year.”

Yilwatda further clarified that the 15 million households being targeted translate to 75 million Nigerians, assuming an average of five persons per household.

So far, the Federal Government has reached five million individuals but is facing challenges in fully sanitizing the social register, particularly with the implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) policy mandating digital identities for transparency and traceability of payments.

“Currently, only 1.4 million people on the social register have digital identities. Many of those we are targeting are outside the formal banking system,” the minister disclosed.

Yilwatda emphasized that women are specifically targeted as household leaders under the program to ensure the funds are used effectively for the benefit of children and other vulnerable members of society.

The conditional cash transfer programme, which is administered under the National Social Investment Programme, had earlier been suspended by President Tinubu in January due to allegations of corruption. However, the scheme was reinstated in February, with plans to extend the initiative to an additional 12 million households.

 

 

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Fuel Price Relief: PETROAN Promises Pump Price Drop This Week

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The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has assured Nigerians of a reduction in the pump price of petrol within the week, following adjustments to the ex-depot price by key players in the industry.

 

Last week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Dangote Refinery announced a reduction in the ex-depot price of petrol to ₦899 per litre in Lagos. Despite this, the pump price at many filling stations across the country has remained unchanged.

 

However, PETROAN President, Billy Gilly-Harry, during a Monday appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, expressed optimism that the price change would soon reflect in retail outlets.

 

“But I believe from today when members start loading from both NNPC and Dangote at this new price reduction, it will reflect in the market,” he said.

 

Gilly-Harry lauded some members of PETROAN, particularly in Abuja, for proactively reducing their pump prices to below ₦1,000 even before the official announcement. He emphasized that while members strive to serve Nigerians by providing affordable fuel, they must maintain marginal profitability to sustain operations.

 

“We don’t encourage our members to try to sell products at a loss because our focus is to serve Nigerians. And the only way we can serve Nigerians is when we have the resources to do so. The resources can only be there if we’re making marginal profit enough to pay for the cost of money and ensure continuity in business,” he noted.

 

Addressing concerns over the delay in implementing the price reduction, Gilly-Harry explained that some retailers are still selling old stock purchased at higher prices.

 

“This reduction, if you apply it immediately, don’t forget that some of them bought at ₦970, paid transportation costs and logistics that have taken it quite high,” he said. “By the time it gets to their retail outlets, it’s quite much more than that. And so they must also sell at a profit – minimal marginal profit as provisioned by the PIA. So, that’s the reason.”

 

The PETROAN boss commended both the NNPCL and Dangote Refinery for their efforts in reducing the ex-depot price, which he described as a significant step toward easing the burden on Nigerians.

 

Nigerians are now hopeful that the price adjustment will translate into tangible relief at filling stations in the coming days.

 

 

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FG Declares Festive Public Holidays

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The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, December 25, and Thursday, December 26, 2024, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day, respectively. Additionally, Wednesday, January 1, 2025, has been declared a public holiday to celebrate the New Year.

This announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani. The minister extended warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to embrace the festive period as an opportunity to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season represents.

Tunji-Ojo emphasized the significance of the season in fostering harmony and strengthening family and community bonds.

“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” he stated.

He further encouraged citizens to remain committed to peace, unity, and progress for the development of the nation, stressing the Federal Government’s dedication to ensuring security and prosperity across the country.

While wishing Nigerians a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, the minister expressed confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He assured citizens that the coming year would usher in a stronger and more prosperous economy that would set Nigeria on a global pedestal.

The minister concluded by calling on Nigerians to celebrate responsibly, maintaining peace and unity throughout the festive season.

 

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