SERAP condemns Buhari, demands end to criminalising peaceful protesters in Nigeria

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August 5, 2020

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) Wednesday strongly condemned reported violent attacks on #RevolutionNow protesters in Abuja, Osogbo and other parts of the country.

SERAP tasked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to put an end to the “use of excessive force against protesters, and allow people to peacefully exercise their human rights.”

Department of State Services (DSS) had Wednesday reportedly arrested Olawale Bakare and six other #RevolutionNow protesters wearing orange-coloured caps around Olaiya area of Osogbo, Osun State capital.

Several protesters were also allegedly arrested by the police and the Nigerian Army in Abuja.

Reacting to this development, SERAP, in a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said: “By failing to adequately protect protesters from violent attacks, Nigerian authorities have blatantly violated their obligations under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”

The statement added: “Nobody should be arrested or subjected to torture and ill-treatment simply for taking part in peaceful protests. The authorities should stop criminalising peaceful protesters.

“Rather than suppressing peaceful protests, the authorities ought to protect peaceful protesters and ensure a safe and enabling environment for people to exercise their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

“SERAP urges the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested, promptly investigate attacks on protesters, and identify security agents suspected to be responsible and bring them to justice.

“Nigerian authorities need to take seriously the protesters’ socio-economic grievances, including by immediately taking measures to genuinely fight grand corruption, and improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services.

“SERAP urges the international community including the UN Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the African Union and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to publicly condemn attacks on peaceful protests and to put pressure on the Nigerian authorities to effectively investigate attacks on protesters, prosecute perpetrators and to respect and protect the human rights of everyone.

“Nigerian constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party guarantee the rights to liberty and security of person, freedom from arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, and the right of peaceful assembly.

“The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials prohibit the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters.”

Idowu Sowunmi

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Petrol: PPMC fixes ex-depot price at N138.62 per litre

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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August 5, 2020

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The downstream subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) otherwise called Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), has fixed the ex-depot price of premium motor spirit (PMS) also known as petrol at N138.62 per litre.

PPMC, in a memo by its Manager, Sales, Mohammed Bello, in Abuja on Tuesday, said the new price would come into effect from August 5.

The ex-depot price is the price at which depot owners sell the commodity to retail outlets.

PPMC also put the ex-coastal price of the commodity, which is the price at which the product is sold to depot owners, at N113.70 per litre.

The ex-depot price for automotive gasoline oil (AGO), also known as diesel, was fixed at N160 per litre and N165 per litre, for depots in Lagos and Oghara respectively.

It, besides, fixed the ex-depot price for kerosene at N160 per litre.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Petroleum Products Pricing for Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) was yet to release the monthly pricing modulation for petroleum products for August.

The pricing modulation would determine the pump price that the products would be sold to motorists.

Some analysts have, however, speculated that Nigerians may pay N150 or more per litre of petrol for the month of August.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Sanwo-Olu reverses Lagos Land Use Charge, waives ₦5b potential penalty revenue

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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August 5, 2020

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Babajide Sanwoolu signs — File Photo: Lagos State Governor, babajide Sanwo-Olu

The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-Lagos State Government Wednesday reversed the rate of Land Use Charge to pre-2018 and upheld the 2018 method of valuation.

It would be recalled that former Lagos State governor, Akinwumi Ambode, had in 2018 introduced the controversial increase in Land Use Charge which generated uproar in the state.

Reversing the charge on Wednesday, the Sanwo-Olu administration explained that the decision for the review was to reduce the financial pressure on Lagosians relating to land use.

“In 2018, there was an increase in Land Use Charge rate as well as the method of valuation of properties, this shock had a sporadic increase in Land Use Charge payable by property owners.

“In view of the aforementioned, the current administration decided to review the Land Use Charge law by reversing the rate of Land Use Charge to pre-2018 while upholding the 2018 method of valuation,” Sanwo-Olu said, in a statement by his Commissioner for Finance, Rabiu Olowo.

With this development, the state government said penalties for Land Use Charge for Year 2017, 2018 and 2019 have also been waived.

“This translates to N5,752,168,411.03 potential revenue waived by the state.
In additional to the re- introduction of the 15 per cent early payment discount, an additional COVID-19 incentive of 10 per cent will be granted on the total amount payable. This makes the total discount for early payment 25 per cent if payment is made before due date.

“The penalty for obstruction of officials and damage to property identification plague has been reduced from N250,000 to N100,000.

“The penalty for inciting a person to refuse to pay LUC has been reduced from N250,000 to N100,000.

“The 2020 LUC Law introduced a 10 per cent and 20 per cent special relief for vacant properties and open empty land, respectively,” the statement added.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Bristow Helicopters sacks 100 Pilots hours after Air Peace layoffs

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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August 5, 2020

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The management of Bristow Helicopters Limited has terminated the appointment of no fewer than 100 pilots.

Bristow Helicopters, in a statement on Tuesday, said those sacked comprised both Nigerian nationals and expatriates working with the company.

It explained that the decision to sack the pilots was due to the severe impact of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This was coming barely 24 hours after another Nigerian airline, Air Peace, sacked over 70 pilots over the COVID-19 crisis.

Bristow Helicopters added that it had engaged with the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers to negotiate a fair and equitable redundancy compensation for those affected.

“The spread of the COVID-19 virus has severely impacted all sectors in the aviation industry including our market, which primarily serves the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

“In addition, the ongoing downturn in the global oil and gas market continues to influence and determine the demand for our services.

“The combined effects of these ‘arisings’ has resulted in very significant reductions to our business particularly a reduction in the number of contracted aircraft in Nigeria.

“As a result, the company must now restructure all aspects of its business model (both Rotary & Fixed Wing), including an extensive review of its operations and we continue to drive efficiencies, but with zero compromise to safety and our core values.

“One of these measures includes the right sizing of the business to ensure that the company has the optimal level of personnel to continue the safe delivery of its services to its clients, whilst allowing the appropriate capacity for future growth.

“Accordingly, and with much regret, the company has taken the very difficult decision to release over 100 pilots and engineers (both National and Expatriates) over the next couple of weeks.

“In compliance with the relevant labor and local content laws and also best practices; the company has engaged the leadership of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) to negotiate a fair and equitable redundancy compensation for the affected individuals,” the statement explained.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Senate reviews National Health Act 2014 to improve healthcare for Nigerian

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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August 5, 2020

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The Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, says plans are on to review the National Health Act 2014, for better health coverage in the country.

Senator Oloriegbe says the National Health Insurance Authority Bill as well as the 6 months maternity leave bill has passed 3rd reading and presently before the house of representative for its concurrent list to be presented to Mr. President for assent.

Speaking during the Save The Children Nigeria, World breastfeeding week webinar, Tagged: Innovative Strategies for improving breast feeding and Nutrition in Nigeria, the lawmaker stressed that the legislature is working to ensure increased budgetary allocation for the health sector.

“As the Chairman Senate Committee on Health, my colleagues and i would make sure all this bills are signed into law, our focus is to reduce maternal and child mortality rate at all levels”

“Breast milk is a natural renewable resource and when children are exclusively breast feed, their brain becomes well developed to contribute to a better society, we all must champion this cause”.He said

Earlier, the wife of the Kaduna State Governor, Mrs Aisha El’rufai, expressed optimism that before the end of this year, the state would implement the bill for maternity leave.

“Kaduna State is at the forefront of this campaign, breast milk remains the best nutritional food for infants growth, every state governors wife must take the lead in this campaign until we achieve zero water for infants at early stage”

The Deputy Director Food System and Applied Nutrition NAFDAC, Mr Abdulsalami Ozigis, explained that the Agency has checked unethical practices that undermines breast feeding.

“We have been able to promulgate Act No 41 of 1990 on marketing of breast milk substitute and have been conducting several training and sensitization on this”

In his submission, the Advocacy Campaign and Policy Manager, Survive Program of Save The Children Nigeria, Mr Innocent Ifedilichukwu, who maintained that breast milk nutrition is a necessity for human development, called on Government as well as private organizations to establish a crèche within their firms to create opportunity for working class mothers to breastfeed their infants, while at work.

Mr Ifedilichukwu, added that Save The Children would continue to partner relevant agencies in advocating for the right of children to quality education, health care services and equal opportunity.

– Radio Nigeria

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Buhari, Atiku, AbdulRazaq, Abiodun celebrate Chairman of BUA Group, Rabiu, at 60

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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August 5, 2020

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President Muhammadu Buhari; former vice president and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2019, Atiku Abubakar; Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; have sent warm greetings to Founder/Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, on his 60th birthday.

Buhari joined family and friends to celebrate the milestone, heralded by years of hard work, dedication and commitment to building the Nigerian economy.

The President congratulated the business magnate for “his foresight in investing extensively in agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing and real estate, which has translated into strengthening the pillars of the economy, bolstering the government’s diversification efforts and creating chains of subsidiary industries and business outfits.”

As the Chairman of BUA Group turned 60 on Tuesday, the President extolled his “large-heartedness in always investing in people and institutions, commending him for the construction of clinics, schools and religious houses, and consistent financial interventions in the fight against pandemics like Polio virus, Ebola and COVID-19.”

The President affirmed that Rabiu’s “diligence and business acumen continues to inspire many, and his propensity for creating opportunities for others to prosper is legendary, urging him to remain focused on his vision of a greater and better Nigeria.”

Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, prayed God to reward him with longer life, good health and more wisdom.

On his part, Atiku celebrated Rabiu, saying he “has distinguished himself as an astute businessman who continues to create jobs and opportunities.”

“His philanthropy and charitable causes speak eloquently to the depth of his humanity. My family rejoices with him and his family on the occasion of his 60th birthday. May the Almighty Allah grant him many more years in good health and service to humanity. Ameen,” Atiku added.

AbdulRazaq, on behalf of his family, the people and government of Kwara State, congratulated Rabiu on his 60th birthday anniversary.

“I commend him for his huge investments in Kwara State and the donations he made towards the state’s campaign against COVID-19 pandemic.

“I pray the Almighty Allah to continue to bless Alhaji Rabiu and his family, and may He grant him more fruitful years and good health,” he said.

While congratulating chairman of BUA Group on behalf of his family and the good people of Ogun State, Abiodun said: “You continue to touch lives with your entrepreneurial ability and skills.

“You have further touched even more lives with your philanthropic contributions.

“May the Lord grant you many more years in good health and may you live to reap all the rewards of your labour.”

Idowu Sowunmi

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IGP denies building Nasarawa Police Mobile Training School with illegal funds

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Abuja Bureau

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August 5, 2020

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Acting-IGP-Adamu — Nigeria's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu

Nigeria Police Force has debunked the online story published by Sahara Reporters on August 03 under the heading ‘Exclusive: How Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Adamu, Illegally Raised Millions of Naira for Construction of Training School in Nasarawa.’

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, while reacting to the story described it as a misleading report, noting that spurious allegations were made with reference to several unnamed and unverifiable sources.

“In the report, spurious allegations were made to the effect that the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu was ‘involved in a multi-billion Naira fraudulent scheme.’

“The publication which referenced several unnamed and unverifiable sources alleged, essentially, that the IGP ‘used his office to unlawfully compel and in fact threaten Mobile Police Commanders into generating millions of Naira monthly through illegal means for the purpose of establishment of a MOPOL Training School in his home town of Endehu in Nasarawa State.’

“The Force wishes to state unequivocally that the publication in its entirety is false and baseless. It was published in the tradition of Sahara Reporters to blackmail and impugn the credibility of strategic leaders of the country in an apparent attempt to advance their ignoble and unpatriotic intentions,” Adamu said, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba.

The force added that while it’s being conscious of the need not to glorify the falsehood contained in the reportage, it’s considered expedient and in national security interest to put the facts straight.

“The establishment of the Police Mobile Training School in Endehu, Nasarawa State, North-central geo-political zone of Nigeria was informed by overriding national security consideration on the need to strengthen the operational capacity of the special forces of the Nigeria Police Force.

“Also, the insinuation that the IGP sited the facility ‘in his hometown of Endehu in Nasarawa State’, is also utterly misleading. For the avoidance of doubts, Endehu is not the hometown of IGP Adamu. He is, in the contrary, from Lafia.

“The allegations that the IGP used his office to threaten Mobile Police Commanders into generating Millions of naira monthly through illegal means for the establishment of the institution is also totally false. It is on record that the parcel of land where the institution was sited was donated to the Police with the full complement of the Certificate of Occupancy which the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State publicly presented to the Nigeria Police. The acquisition of the land was, therefore, without any financial commitment by the Police.

“Furthermore, the construction of the facility was achieved with the support of the Nasarawa State Government and well-meaning corporate bodies within the context of their Corporate Social responsibility (CSR). In all instances, all the support so extended were not in cash but in form of donation of materials.

“The only involvement of some Squadron Commanders was to ensure the delivery of some of the construction materials so donated by the corporate bodies. Hence, the allegation that the IGP ‘had each Squadron Commander cough out nothing less than N500,000 monthly for the purpose of erecting different structures in the training school’ is a preposterous and feeble attempt to discredit the innovative reasoning that engendered the successful implementation of the critical national security asset that the facility represents,” the statement said.

The police added: “The construction of the project through corporate intervention is a demonstration of the commitment of the Force leadership to meet its obligation to citizens in terms of their safety and security and in furtherance to the Reform agenda of the Nigeria Police Force. It was not established as a personal asset of the IGP. Rather, it is a national security legacy project. It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time that corporate organisations and governments at all levels are assisting the police to bridge operational and infrastructural gaps.

“Dangote Foundation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Bankers’ Forum, State Governments, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), and well-meaning individuals among others have in the past donated fleets of vehicles and have rendered other supports to the Police.

“The attempt by Sahara Reporters to malign the Force leadership shall not in any manner impact on the firm determination of the Nigeria Police Force to advance its strategic plan and to continue to adopt innovative reasoning in changing the policing narratives in Nigeria towards stabilising the internal security order.

“While members of the public are called upon to discountenance the content of the publication in its entirety, it is to be noted that the Nigeria Police Force has instructed its legal team to initiate legal actions against Sahara Reporters to address the defamatory and libellous components of the report.”

Idowu Sowunmi

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WAEC releases timetable for 2020 WASSCE

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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August 4, 2020

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West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Tuesday released the final international timetable for the conduct of the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The council, which took to its Twitter handle to break the news in a statement by its spokesperson, Demainus Ojijeogu, enjoined the general public to disregard “several versions of the examination timetable that have been in circulation.”

The statement stated that the examination would begin effective from August 17 to September 12, 2020.

“The council hereby urges the candidates to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of the examination by shunning all acts of malpractice and obeying all COVID-19 protocols that have been put in place at the examination centres,” WAEC said.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Kwara Deputy Governor, wife test positive for Coronavirus

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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August 4, 2020

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Kwara deputy governor — Health officials conducting a test for Kwara State Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi.

Kwara State Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, and his wife, Abieyuwa, have tested positive for the novel (Coronavirus) COVID-19.

Alabi is also the Chairman of Kwara State Technical Committee on Coronavirus.

Disclosing this on Tuesday, Kwara State Government in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the couple underwent COVID-19 test after they showed slight symptoms of the virus.

The statement said: “The results of their test are positive. The second couple are very stable and in high spirit, and are now undergoing standard management protocols supervised by the government’s medical team.

“Immediate contact tracing and tests, among other safety protocols, are being done for persons who have met with the couple in the past few days.”

It would be recalled that Chief of Staff to Kwara State Governor, Aminu Adisa, had died of COVID-19 last month, thereby throwing the state into mourning.

Idowu Sowunmi

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NDDC: Pay fees, stipends of stranded scholarship students abroad, Buhari orders Akpabio

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Abuja Bureau

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August 4, 2020

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• IMC speaks on list of contractors

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally come to the aid of stranded scholarship students of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) studying abroad, ordering the payment of their outstanding fees and stipends with immediate effect.

The commission’s Interim Management Committee (IMC) has also said it stood by the list of NDDC contracts handled by members of the National Assembly, which was submitted by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.

Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, at the National Assembly in July.

It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diapora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, recently wrote Akpabio to see to the payment of the fees, after the students protested over non-payment of their fees by NDDC.

Confirming the latest development on Tuesday, NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Charles Odili, in a statement, said the President has directed Akpabio to pay the students.

READ ALSO:

How we spent N500m on school feeding programme during lockdown – Minister

Odili assured that the students would be paid by the end of the week, explaining that the delay was caused by the sudden death of NDDC then Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Ibanga Etang, in May.

“Under the commission’s finance protocol, only the Executive Director (Finance) and the Executive Director (Projects) can sign for the release of funds from the commission’s domiciliary accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“With the death of Chief Etang, the remittance has to await the appointment of a new EDFA. Senator Akpabio, the Honourable Minister, said President Buhari who has been briefed on the protest by students at the Nigerian High Commission in London, has ordered that all stops be pulled to pay the students by the end of this week. We expect a new EDFA to be appointed this week. As soon as that is done, they would all be paid,” the statement explained.

On the list of NDDC contracts handled by members of the National Assembly, Odili noted that the list submitted by Akpabio was not compiled by the minister but came from the files in the commission.

He said the list submitted to the National Assembly was compiled by the then management of the commission in 2018, adding that there was another set of list for emergency project contracts awarded in 2017 and 2019 but were not submitted to the National Assembly.

According to him, “The Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the commission stands by the list, which came from files already in the possession of the forensic auditors.

“It is not an Akpabio list but the NDDC’s list. The list is part of the volume of 8,000 documents already handed over to the forensic auditors.”

He said prominent indigenes of the Niger Delta whose names were on the list should not panic as the commission discovered that people used their names to secure contracts, adding that the ongoing forensic audit would unearth persons behind the contracts.

He said the intention of the list was to expose committee chairmen in the National Assembly who used fronts to collect contracts from the commission, some of which were never executed.

Odili added that the list did not include a case of 250 contracts, which were signed for and collected in one day by one person for members of the National Assembly.

He said the forensic audit exercise was on course and the commission positioned 185 media support specialists to identify the sites of every project captured in its books for verification by the forensic auditors.

Odili advised members of the public to discountenance the “avalanche of falsehood being orchestrated by mischief makers,” regretting that “more insinuations and accusations may be thrown into the public space by those opposed to IMC.”

Meanwhile, NDDC had extended an invitation to Buhari to inaugurate a 29-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State.

This was disclosed by NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, noting that the road was built in conjunction with Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC) to create a land link to the ancient city of Nembe for the first time.

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Wike signs revised N300bn 2020 Budget, promises quality projects in Rivers

Odili explained that the road project, which cost N24 billion, cutting through swampy terrain to connect 14 other communities, needed 10 bridges and 99 culverts.

“To conquer the swampy terrain, the construction involved digging out four metres of clay soil and sand filling it to provide a base for the road. The road has cut the journey time to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, from three hours to one and a half hours.

“This project is not only a flagship intervention project in the Niger Delta region, it is also a model of development partnership between the commission and international oil companies in the region,” he said.

Idowu Sowunmi

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