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Abandoned Ogun Roads Receive Govt’s Attention

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Abandoned Ogun Roads Receive Govt's Attention

Abandoned Ogun Roads Receive Govt’s Attention By Seyi Bakare

 

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Recently, the Ogun State government ordered the contractor handling the Mowe-Ofada road reconstruction in Obafemi-Owode Local Government area of the state back to site. Contract for the reconstruction of the eight-kilometer road was awarded by the immediate past administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in 2013.

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Abandoned Ogun Roads Receive Govt's Attention

 

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The people’s hopes were however dashed as the contractor stopped work in 2018, citing the non-payment of the N500 million owed it by the state government. But the sorry past is now prologue: the project stretching from Ofada Roundabout to Mowe junction and linking the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is now back on course.

 

 

For the Dapo Abiodun-led administration, completing all abandoned projects left by previous administrations, particularly those with a high potential to drive the development narrative of the Gateway State, is an article of faith. It doesn’t matter who initiated what: what matters is value for the people’s money. That is why, for instance, the cargo airport envisioned by the Gbenga Daniel administration is being built as we speak.

 

 

 

But we turn to the roads. When he came on board, the Ogun helmsman set up a Contract Review Committee headed by Adekunle Mokuolu with a view to revisiting all abandoned projects in the state.

 

 

The committee’s report, turned in on September 8, 2020, identified countless infractions, but the highlight was that the current administration would need more than N218 billion to complete the inherited projects spread across the three senatorial districts. A total of 114 contracts were awarded during the period under review (2009-2019), at a total cost of N349,376,997.76, while total payment for the contracts/projects stood at N130,735,758,922:75. The total sum for the unpaid Certificate of Valuation (CV) for work done stood at N20,741,675,388:76.

 

 

 

 

Apparently, successive governments embarked on white elephants for reasons of political gain. Immediately after they demolished buildings to pave way for their promised roads, they stopped work on them. The result was untold hardship for many citizens. In particular, landlords and families whose houses were demolished suffered mental anguish as they watched the sites of their former homes waste away, awaiting roads that never came.

 

 

 

There was no compensation whatsoever. From Akute to Alagbole and Mowe, roads were abandoned. But even with the limitations imposed on the state’s finances by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Abiodun government was determined to complete the projects, saying they were meant for the good of Ogun, and that those suffering in the communities deserved a good life. The Abiodun administration has embarked on aggressive construction and rehabilitation of the road projects.

 

 

Contractors are back on site. Instructively, the review cost is about 10 or 16 per cent of the initial or actual cost quoted by previous governments. In 2021, with the naira having fallen drastically, Abiodun is spending 15 per cent of the sum originally quoted by previous governments on the abandoned projects, showing that the initial costs were bogus. To him, all abandoned projects must be given a facelift in the interest of the people.

To take a few examples: the 42-kilometre Sagamu-Siun-Abeokuta road, which the Amosun administration awarded at a total cost of N60 billion but later abandoned, is being reconstructed by a firm, Strabic, with two layers (binding and wearing course) at a cost less than N20 billion, with street lighting. The administration has, among many others, completed the 10-lane, 19-kilometre Ijebu-Ode/Epe road linking Ogun with Lagos State, one of the best ever roads constructed in the annals of Nigeria. The Lafenwa-Olorunda-Aiyetoro road abandoned in 2012 is back to life. The Abiodun administration approved the erection of a flyover at Lafenwa and undertook the relocation of powerline at Odeda in order to pave way for the railway line passing through the state. The projects have a long-life expectancy of between 10 and 15 years before resurfacing.

Further evidence that the administration sets great story by road construction is provided by the work of the Ogun State Public Works Agency (OGPWA), which has been tasked with fixing at least 15 roads on a monthly basis across the state. This month of August, the agency is rehabilitating 13 roads. The distribution is as follows: Ogun East, five roads; Ogun Central, four roads; and Ogun West, four roads. Indeed, between January and June this year, the government has built 54 road roads across the state: 29 in Ogun Central, 10 in Ogun West 10 and 15 in Ogun East. It expended a total of N7.389bn on the projects, including Raypower, Navy-Osi-Ikola roads in Ado-Odo/Ota local government; the Fajol-Ajegunle-America Junction-Alogi road and American Junction-Unity Estate road in Abeokuta South and Odeda local government areas, and the Ejirin-Mobalufon- Oluwalogbon road (Ijebu-Ode LGA) and Ilaro-Owode road in Yewa South local government area.

Of course, there is the Joju road (Ado-Odo/Ota LGA), Lantoro-Elite-Idi-Aba road (Abeokuta South LGA), NNPC Mega Station road (Abeokuta South LGA), Somorin-Kemta-Idi Aba Road (Odeda LGA), Imasayi-Igan Okoto-Ayetoro road (Yewa North LGA), and the Papalanto-Ilaro road (Ewekoro LGA). The projects also include the asphalting of Lafenwa-Rounder road (Abeokuta North LGA), palliative works on Sango junction-Ojuore road (Ado-Odo/Ota LGA) and the construction of City Gate monument at Sagamu Interchange (Obafemi-Owode LGA); the construction of an internal road linking Ifo General Hospital and renovation of Ifo Fire Station, rehabilitation of Olowomore-Sanni and Olowomore-Brewery roads, both in Abeokuta North, and the expansion of the link road connecting Alaba Lawson School and /CBN/MTD, Ibara.

In a clime marred by discontinuity politics, where politicians abandon projects only because they did not initiate them, costing taxpayers humongous losses, it is apposite to dwell on the paradigm shift in Ogun State. In his inaugural speech on May 29, 2019, Governor Abiodun placed emphasis on the upgrade, rehabilitation, repair and restructuring of township and rural roads that were of economic benefit to the state. Looking back two years after, it’s been promise made, promise kept. And that’s how it should be.

*Bakare contributes this piece from seyibakare@aol.com

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC’s suit against order restraining ex-Gov’s arrest

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Kogi AG Vs. AGF: Supreme Court cautions against continued harassment of Kogi officials

Yahaya Bello: Appeal Court fails to hear EFCC’s suit against order restraining ex-Gov’s arrest

 

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Hearing on the appeal instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against an interim order of the Kogi State High Court restraining the Commission from arresting, detaining, harassing or prosecuting Yahaya Bello, pending the determination of the substantive originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, suffered a setback on Monday, as the Court of Appeal failed to sit.

 

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Governor Yahaya Bello Reveals His Preferred Successor

 

The appropriateness of the siege on Bello’s residence by operatives of the Commission last Wednesday had elicited a heated debate across the country, particularly with the realisation that there had been a restraining order against such action, which had not been vacated as of the time of such action.

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The EFCC had appealed the order on March 11, 2024 and sought for a stay of execution in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission v. Alhaji Yahaya Bello. The Court of Appeal did not grant the stay of execution but fixed Monday, April 22 for hearing.

However, the Kogi High Court, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, had delivered its substantive judgment in the matter and directed the commission to seek the leave of a superior court before taking further step against Bello. The judgment was read at about 12pm.

As at about 8am, when EFCC laid siege on Bello’s Abuja residence, the interim injunction, which restrained them from arresting or harassing him, among others, was still subsisting.

Justice Isa Abdullahi had, in his latest verdict, held: “Looking at the Orders sought by the applicant (Yahaya Bello), I am inclined to grant them subject to some alterations which in my view will meet the justice of this case, in the following terms;
1. An Order is hereby granted enforcing the Fundamental Rights of the applicant to liberty and freedom of movement and fair hearing, by restraining the Respondent (EFCC) by themselves, their agents, servants or privies from continuing to harass, threaten to arrest or detain or in any manner whatsoever arresting, detaining or prosecuting the Applicant on the basis of the criminal Charges now pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja to wit; Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022 between FRN v. Ali Bello & Anor, without prejudice to the power of the said Federal High Court, to make any Order as it may deem just in the determination of the rights of the Applicant and the Respondent as may be submitted to her for consideration and determination.

2. An Order is hereby granted directing the Respondent to bring before the said Federal High Court, or any such appropriate Court, such criminal Charge, allegation or Complaint in respect whereof the Applicant is reasonably believed by the Respondent to have committed any offence subject of its jurisdiction, provided that the Respondent shall not invite, arrest or detain the Applicant on account of a reasonable belief that the Applicant has committed any financial crime, without first obtaining the leave of a superior Court of Record, especially haven regard to the antecedents of the Respondent in the manner it has managed its engagements with the Applicant.”

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YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED -Apostle Suleman lectures

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YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED -Apostle Suleman lectures

YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED
-Apostle Suleman lectures

 

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If you have always been a people pleaser and always try your best to be liked by everyone, and do not like it when people are mad at you and always your mouth shut and letting people do and say whatever and walk all over you, Apostle Johnson Suleman has a word for you.

 

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YOU MUST OVERCOME THE NEED TO BE LIKED
-Apostle Suleman lectures

The servant of God at the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) worldwide warns you should never try to make people like you. “Deal with fear,” he instructed in his latest homily. “The person who already likes you doesn’t need it, and the person who dislikes you doesn’t deserve it,” declares the ‘Restoration Apostle, warning that you risk being overwhelmed by anxiety and fear if you desperately need to be liked by others to be happy.

 

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“It is fear. Fear is so terrible that it takes some components to crush fear; love, power and sound mind, including courage. To be free from fear, guard what you hear. When the devil throws fear at you, gather yourself and respond in faith,” Apostle Suleman lectures.

 

There are people who are incapable of saying no to other people; they struggle terribly to overcome the need to be liked by other people. But Apostle Suleman’s warning suggests the keyword to be ‘need’. It indicates that it’s perfectly okay to ‘want’ to be liked by other people. However, issues arise when it becomes a need, because you would do all sorts of dumb things just to crave acceptance in order to be liked. The famous preacher says the need to be liked by other people can only compound the problem by breaking your commitment to yourself.

 

 

It doesn’t matter if that means ignoring your values, lying to yourself, or pretending to be someone you’re not; as long as it results in you being well-liked by others, it sounds good to you. But Apostle Suleman points out the result: “Jesus Christ and other great people in world’s history never achieved the impossible goal of being universally liked. These exceptional people lived their truth regardless of whether or not everyone liked them,” he asserts, instructing that you’re better at focusing on living your truth than trying to be liked by others.

People will dislike you because of how you look, dress and talk. People will avoid you or pretend to fall asleep when you’re talking, for reasons you may never know. But, Apostle Suleman cautions you to commit to consistently living who you really are because, he says, if you don’t, no matter who you are, you will always say yes to people who don’t like you for whatever reason.

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Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

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Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

*Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

 

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Six Nigerian soldiers and a civilian hunter were killed on Friday night by bandits who ambushed them in Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State.

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Niger: One Week After Primate Ayodele’s Warnings, Bandits Attack Nigerian Soldiers (VIDEO)

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Local sources report that the soldiers were responding to a distress call from Roro, Karaga, and Rumace communities when they were attacked. An army captain, identified as Adamu, was also abducted during the ambush. There are conflicting reports on whether Captain Adamu was subsequently killed.

This unfortunate incident has fulfilled the prophecy of Nigerian prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele which he shared earlier in the month of April.

According to the prophecy which was captured in a video, the man of God warned the government of Niger state to be careful of attacks on military formations, government houses and governor’s convoy. He called on the authorities to watch out for any of these attacks.

These were his words:

‘’There will be a deadly attack on military formation. They must be careful so they won’t attack their government house and the governor’s convoy. They must watch on this in Niger’’

Just one week after the prophet sent this warning; bandits laid an ambush against soldiers and killed them.

There are several prophecies on the internet that Primate Ayodele has shared regarding the security situation of Nigeria. He also foretold the biggest calamity involving the brutal murder of soldiers in Delta state, kidnap operations in Nigerian schools, and several other things that have been fulfilled while some are yet to come to pass.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW:

@primateayodele

#military #nigeria #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #militarylife #warnings #government #niger #nigerstatetiktokers #governance #governor #governmenthouseniger #primateayodele #iescworldwide

♬ original sound – Primate Ayodele

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