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FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2016 • T H I S D AY
NEWSEXTRA
Fashola: Community Hostilities Could Delay Work on Second Niger Bridge Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said hostilities from communities located on the peripheries of the second Niger Bridge could derail the construction of the project schedule if left checked. Fashola who took a one-day inspection of the project site and consultation with stakeholders, however, said the federal government was committed to curtailing this and completing the bridge along with the mausoleum project dedicated to the memory of late former President-General, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, in Onitsha, Anambra State. A statement from his senior
aide on communication, Mr. Hakeem Bello, yesterday in Abuja, explained that the minister met with the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano; Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, and Asagba of Asaba who was represented by the Iyase of Asaba, Patrick Onyeobi, in Delta and Anambra States where he clarified this development. According to the statement, Fashola stated that the second Niger Bridge was one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s priority infrastructure projects and he would want to see it completed with no delays. He said the government was working to address
Armed Ijaw Youths Invade Radio Station in Yenagoa, Injure Many Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa Many persons were wounded at the premises of a radio station owned by Senator Ben MurrayBruce yesterday in Bayelsa after the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, invaded the station in an attempt to halt a live programme. THISDAY gathered that the attack on the premises of Rhythm FM studios, was a fallout of the leadership tussle between Mr Udengs Eradiri, President of the foremost Ijaw group, and Mr Wisdom Ikuli, who is laying claim to the position. The programme, Talk of the Town, anchored by Lishman Onisodemuya, was reportedly on when the youths who stormed the studio in buses and other vehicles started shooting into the air, forcing employees in both the radio and television studios of Silverbird Group to run for safety. Ikuli, National Mobilisation Officer of the IYC, it was learnt, and and a self-acclaimed spokesman of the council, Mike Edounkimo, were thereafter dragged out during the live programme and seriously battered. Ikuli and Edounkimor were said to have been thoroughly beaten with bruises all over their faces by the youths who attempted to bundle them into one of the vehicles before the intervention of the police. The mob that ensued reportedly robbed employees of the studios of their money, mobile handsets and other prized possessions. Following the imbroglio, the radio studio was temporarily shut down. At the time of filing this story yesterday, the attackers had been picked up and taken to the Ekeki Police Station in Yenagoa, it was gathered. Six of the 10-member executive council had recently unilaterally suspended Eradiri and the Spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare. But the Parliament of the IYC, which has the power
to sanction errant members said that due process was flouted by the dissident National Secretary-General, Bristol-Alagbariye Emmanuel; Director of Mobilisation, Ikuli; Legal Adviser, Ekine Egberekro; Assistant Secretary, Deinkoro George; National Women Leader, Felicia Ngeri and Financial Sercretary, Kemepado Alfred,who reportedly signed the document suspending the duo. The aggrieved executive members accused Eradiri and Omare of highhandedness, financial misappropriation and replaced them with Mr. Elvis Donkemezuo and Edounkimor, who both belong to the Ikuli camp. Speaker of IYC Mobile Parliament (IMP), Mr. Mkpon Ijonama, had described the persons bandying the suspension document as renegades. “We have a procedure as an entity and if you go to Article 10 of the constitution of Ijaw Youth Council, it spelt boldly and clearly a procedure in which one can be suspended or removed from the council. ‘’None of the procedures were met before the so-called suspension on social media”, he had said. It was learnt that Eradiri had on Wednesday been interviewed on the same programme, which Ikuli attempted to respond to yesterday. Eradiri was said to have been angered by Ikuli’s comments warning him and Omare to stop parading themselves as leaders of the body. He also reeled out financial figures he claimed Eradiri collected on behalf of the council and diverted to his personal pocket. Youths loyal to Eradiri who heard the announcement and felt that their leader had been insulted reportedly mobilised to the station to perpetrate the violence. Mr Asinim Butswat, the police Spokesman in the state, confirmed the incident, noting that the command was ‘on top’ of the situation.
all contending issues in the bridge project, but would want communities to maintain peace and conducive environment for work to continue on it. Fashola stated that issues relating to compensation were being worked out, and that contracting firms and investors in the project would only go back to work when the environment is conducive. “Whatever the social and economic rights relating to land that arise, I believe that we will be better off if we resolve them while construction is allowed to go on. In that way, we win both ways, we have a bridge and we also get compensation,” said Fashola. He disclosed that in his meetings with the contracting firms, he had made it very clear
to them that “not only must this bridge leave a transport advantage behind, it must also leave economic prosperity behind for the people who use it.” The minister explained that the modality adopted for the construction of the bridge-Public Private Partnership (PPP)-was Nigeria’s first big move towards such, adding that: “It comes with a lot of challenges. “Investors do not understand the host communities, and so, they would not commit money unless they are sure there wouldn’t be any hostility. “They want commitment in writing and by conduct that if they commit money the project would not be disturbed by court actions and court injunctions or by pirates, which actions sadly are now emerging on
our landscapes.” He said these were the assurances he had come to seek from the host communities, saying: “I have come here to convey the commitment of the president to the continuation and completion of the second Niger Bridge. And having been briefed in the office, I believe this is the time for work to begin and it is time for me to go and see for myself and match what is on paper with what is on ground. “I am also here to address some of the issues that have come up as a result of this project, compensation issues, and community issues. “That is why the main appeal here is to leave the compensation issue for us, we will sort it out and let the work go on, let the investors move in and let us have
assurances from the people so that we can go on. “The statement also said the stakeholders expressed their commitment to help the government sustain harmonious working environment for the project. According to it, the existing Niger Bridge which was built in 1965 has remained the crucial link between the East and West for years. It added that the last government initiated to build a second bridge due to the immense traffic arising from the economic activities on the South-east and South-west transport corridor, and that work had since stopped at the early works stages due to issues relating to funding and compensation.
HEALTH MATTERS
L-R: United States Consul General, Francis John Bray; Commander, Nigerian Army Medical Corps, Major General Abimbola Amusu; and Deputy Chief of Mission, US Mission to Nigeria, Maria Brewer, at the inauguration of the Joint West African Research Group and a clinical course in Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases, in Lagos, yesterday UNITED STATES CONSULATE GENERAL LAGOS.
Nigeria, Norway Agree to Deepen FG Launches Standard Operating Procedures Portal to Cooperation on Fisheries Tobi Soniyi in Abuja explore opportunities to ensure Check Corruption at Ports the rehabilitation and safe President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja said Nigeria and Norway, a major fish exporting country, would work together to deepen their agricultural cooperation, particularly on fish farming and fisheries development. A statement issued in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, said Buhari spoke at a farewell audience with the outgoing Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Ambassador Rolf Ree. Buhari said his administration would continue to promote agriculture as an alternative revenue earner for the country. The president said he welcomed the humanitarian aid provided by Norway and some European Union member countries in support of Internally Displaced Persons in the country. He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to
return of affected persons to their communities. The president, who also received the outgoing Ambassador of Mexico, Mr Anthonio Garcia Blanco, commended the cordial relations between both countries in the 40 years of their diplomatic relations. Buhari congratulated both envoys for a successful completion of their tour of duty to Nigeria and wished them well in their future endeavours. In his remarks, the Norwegian ambassador praised the Buhari administration for the clean-up of Ogoniland and other oil impacted communities in the Niger-Delta. Also speaking, the Mexican ambassador underscored the historic and economic similarities between Nigeria and Mexico, stressing the need for deeper and more productive ties between both countries.
Dele Ogbodo in Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday launched the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and the Port Service Support Portal (PSSP) to check corruption and other unwholesome practices by service providers at the nations’ ports. Osinbajo, while launching the portal, advocated the use of technology in controlling corruption in public service, adding that it has proven to be one of the ways of steaming graft. He said: “It is important to bear in mind that technology remains one of the most important ways by which we can control corruption aside from the consequences of ensuring that corrupt officials are made to face its consequences.” The vice-president made the
disclosure at the launch of the SOP and PSSP by the Ministry of Transportation in conjunction with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja. According to him, the use of technology is also possibly the most important ways of ensuring that public service is delivered, adding that: “The SOP and PSSP are ways of enhancing the port capacity and reducing corruption in port procedures and adoption.” Osinbajo who said the launch which marked a milestone in the nation’s port operations added that the technology which would enhance efficient procedures and improve integrity and corrupt-free system, while helping to resolve both internal and external complaints from port operators.