Nigerian Eye

Senate probes works ministry over RCCG’s N145m road project

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The Senate is currently probing the Federal Ministry of Works for paying N145m to a construction firm as reimbursement for a road project executed by the Redeemed Christian Church of God as part of its corporate social responsibility.
A senior official of the RCCG, Pastor Niyi Adebanjo, had in a petition submitted to the Senate alleged that FMW officials paid N151m to the management of Cartil Construction Nigeria Ltd as part payment for the road project awarded to it but abandoned.
Adebanjo submitted the petition on behalf of the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred the document to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
The petition was presented by the Chairman of the committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, on behalf of Lawan, on February 9.
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The RCCG, in the petition, alleged that the construction firm claimed the sum of N151,508,901.22 as reimbursement for the rehabilitation of the Ife-Ifewara Road, Osun State, which the church constructed.
Part of the petition read, “The rehabilitation of the road was awarded and paid for by Pastor Enoch Adeboye in the sum of N188,440,342, hence the claim by Cartil Construction Nigeria Limited was illegal and unjust.
“The church hereby requests the Senate to look into the matter and, among others, urge the firm to refund the money it collected to the coffers of the Federal Government.”
Speaking before the panel under oath, on Wednesday, Adebanjo said, “Pastor E.A. Adeboye employed the services of the Construction Department of the RCCG to execute the project between August 26, 2016 and 2019 and the total cost was over N188m.
“The project started from Eruwa junction in Ife and Garage Olode in Ifewara, which is 8.2km. We have details of all the seven companies that supplied us with the materials used to execute the project. They delivered all the materials on site. We have supplied details of the projects to the committee.
“While the project was ongoing, authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service pleaded with Pastor Adeboye to extend the construction to their premises, which was done.
“There are people at Ife and Ifewara who can testify to the fact that Pastor Adeboye constructed the road because he visited the palace, where the Oba appreciated him for constructing the road.
“We were therefore shocked when we found out that somebody was trying to defraud the Nigerian state by claiming money for a project he never executed.”
He said the people of the area pleaded with Adeboye to repair the road, which was in a deplorable state for years, making it a death trap for motorists and a safe haven for criminals.
The firm’s engineer, Olalekan Jimoh, was put on oath to address the panel on behalf of its Managing Director, who he claimed could not speak English language.
Jimoh denied allegations of the RCCG, saying the contract for the construction of the road was awarded to his construction firm in 2010 for the sum of over N600m to rehabilitate the road under reference. He said only N145m had been paid to the company.
The engineer said, “Cartil Construction Limited was duly given an award letter, description of works to be done and staff of the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja and those in Osun State were constantly supervising the project which is still ongoing.
“Up until March 2020, there were communications between us and the Federal Government.”
He therefore urged the committee to summon officials of the Federal Ministry of Works for questioning so as to correct the impression that the firm fraudulently collected money for projects it did not execute.
Jimoh said, “The RCCG only constructed the entrance to its church in 2016 from the junction of the road to their premises, which is about six metres.”
However, a member of the panel representing the area under reference, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, faulted the submissions of the construction company.
He said, “I visited the road personally and I complained to the Minister of Works (Babatunde Fashola), and told him that the road was abandoned due to the sickness of the Managing Director of the construction company.
“The minster then promised that another contractor would take over the project because the road had been abandoned. It was when armed robbers capitalised on the poor state of the road that Pastor Adeboye came to the aid of the people.”
Ruling on the matter, the committee chairman directed the secretariat to write the directors and supervising engineers in charge of the project to appear before the panel.
Akinyelure said, “The engineers in the Ministry of Works should come and tell us their own side of the story. The directors of works too should be summoned. We would listen to them before we would carry out physical assessment of the road as part of our oversight functions.”

Latest-News Senate probes works ministry over RCCG’s N145m road project

The Senate is currently probing the Federal Ministry of Works for paying N145m to a construction firm as reimbursement for a road project ...

Boxing legend, Marvin Hagler is dead

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Former middleweight world champion, ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler has died at the age of 66.
His wife, Kay Hagler who announced his passing on Facebook said he died unexpectedly at their home in New Hampshire.
“Today, unfortunately I lost my beloved husband, Marvelous Marvin.
“He passed away unexpectedly at our home here in New Hampshire.
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“This is a trying time for our family and we would appreciate all the privacy we can get.
“I miss him already and do hope he is in a better place,”she said.
Also, former world featherweight champion, Barry McGuigan in a tribute to Hagler said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” to hear of his sudden demise.
“I’m honoured to have spent some amazing times with him.
“My heartfelt sympathies to his wife Kay and his family. Rest in Peace Champ,” he said.
Before his death, Hagler dominated the middleweight division from 1979 until his controversial defeat by Sugar Ray Leonard in April 1987.
He made 12 successful title defences and famously won the classic fight known as ‘The War’, when he beat Thomas ‘Hit Man’ Hearns in April 1985.

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Former middleweight world champion, ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler has died at the age of 66. His wife, Kay Hagler who announced his passing o...

FG suspends USSD banking services proposed disconnection

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The Federal government has directed Mobile Network Operators to put on hold the impending suspension of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data services.
The directive was given by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, according to a statement titled ‘Impending suspension of USSD banking services put on hold’.
The statement was signed by the Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Femi Adeluyi, on Saturday.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria had announced on Friday that they would disconnect banks from USSD services on Monday due to their over N42bn debt.
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Pantami has however called for a meeting on Monday with all stakeholders including the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, as well as the MNOs and financial institutions.
Adeluyi said the purpose of the meeting was to ensure an amicable resolution of the impasse.
“The outcome of the meeting will determine the next steps regarding the status of USSD financial services,” the statement said.
Adeluyi noted that the Minister had sent a letter with respect of the isssues to the CBN Governor on March 3rd, 2021, regarding the need for the banks to do the needful.

Latest-News FG suspends USSD banking services proposed disconnection

The Federal government has directed Mobile Network Operators to put on hold the impending suspension of Unstructured Supplementary Service...

Arsenal vs Tottenham: Arteta not interested in supremacy battle

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Ahead of Sunday’s North London Derby, Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has insisted he is not interested in the battle for supremacy in London.
According to him, such will come automatically if the Gunners become Premier League champions.
Arsenal face Tottenham, with only Fulham and Crystal Palace from the London contingent below them in the table.
Spurs, West Ham and Chelsea are all ahead of Arteta’s men in the table.
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“No,” he said to the Mirror, when asked if being the fourth-best team in London was acceptable. “We want to be the best – and not in London.
“We want to be the best in the league.
“That is the standard we have to try to reach because of the expectation we have and what this club has done over the years.
“I’m not interested about London. I’m interested about the whole country and being the best in the country.”

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NLC gives Fayemi deadline to pay workers’ outstanding salaries

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The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has given the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, till May 1 to pay all outstanding salaries of workers in the state.
Messrs Kolapo Olatunde and Sola Adigun, Chairmen, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), in a statement signed demanded the immediate payment of outstanding salaries and other matters of workers’ welfare and interests before Workers Day (May 1st)
Part of the statement read: “We are not oblivious of the excellency’s giant strides and it is noteworthy.
“However, workers are hereby constrained to bring to your Excellency’s doorstep the outstanding demands of workers which revolve around issues of welfare of workers which we have been presenting since the inception of your administration in Ekiti State.
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“There is no doubting the fact that the present administration inherited promotions arrears for 2015, 2016 and 2017 while this administration met those of 2018 and 2019 which are equally not yet implemented.”
The leadership of the organized labour urged the government to begin with piece meal payment of these outstanding arrears to gradually relieve itself of the financial burdens.
Labour Congress urged the State government to take action before the 2021 Workers’ Day celebration.
“Workers are agitated and are so convinced that with the political will of Gov. Kayode Fayemi, these outstanding workers welfare and salaries can be attended to before May 1st.”

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Kaduna Abduction: Shehu Sani, Aisha Yesufu react to flogging of students by bandits

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Aisha Yesufu, a popular Nigerian activist and a former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, have reacted to the video showing bandits flogging the missing 39 students abducted from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In order to press home their N500m ransom demand, the criminals have released several videos through social media accounts of their captives and the last one shows the abducted students being flogged.
Parents of the students have also confirmed that the abductors have reached out and are demanding the sum of N500 million.
The video shows the students in what appears to be a forest.
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Reacting to the development, Mrs Yesufu tweeted, “These are Nigerian citizens under the government of the incompetent, clueless, corrupt, inept and failure Buhari @MBuhari.
“Why are his sycophants not angry at the terrorists the way they are angry at those that call Buhari’s incompetence out?”
Earlier, Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna central senatorial district in the 8th Assembly, tweeted, “The Video clip released by the Kidnappers of the Kaduna Forestry Students is painful. That our country receded to this level is sad.
“This is a great challenge to the leadership of this country to wake up to its responsibilities. More action and vigilance is needed NOW.”
Governor Nasir El-Rufai had, however, ruled out the possibility of paying ransom or negotiating with the bandits when he appeared on Channels Television on Saturday.