FCT Minister threatens to kick out non-performing contractors

Published

4 months ago

September 27, 2024

FCT Minister threatens to kick out non-performing contractors

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has threatened to kick out non-performing contractors executing projects in the FCT.

Wike made the threat in Abuja on Friday, after inspecting the ongoing construction of the 15-kilometre left-wing service lane of the Outer Southern Expressway, from Ring Road 1 to Wasa.

The threat followed what the minister described as a “disappointing performance” of CGC Nigeria Ltd executing the project, saying “it is barely 50 per cent as against CGC’s 75 per cent claim.

“As at last year, you promised you would finish the project by December 2024 or at most January 2025, now you have extended it to May.

“With what I am seeing, it may not be possible till eight or nine months from now.

“You should be fair to us. If we have an agreement, let’s keep to that agreement and we are paying. Why should we see what we are seeing now? He asked.

The minister said that the FCT Administration had paid over 80 per cent of the contract sum, “but look at what they have done. This is very bad. I am not encouraged.

“We have paid the contractor more than 80 per cent of this contract and the job, as far as I am concerned, is not up to 50 per cent. I am not going to accept this.”

On what he would do to non-performing contractors, Wike said: “We don’t have any relationship with non-performing contractors. Everybody knows our position that if you don’t perform, we kick you out.

“There is no sentiment about it. Whether you are an indigenous contractor; whether you are a foreign contractor; we don’t care. All we are concerned about is the work.

“If you do the work; we go along with you, if you don’t do the work; we kick you out and we will make you pay for it; there must be sanctions.

“You can’t just collect our money, and we just say go, when you do not complete our project, no.

“Before we kick you out, we will make you pay for it. That is our position.”

He explained that his attention was drawn to the project when he inspected the Apo to Karshi road on Thursday and passed through Wasa on his way back.

He explained that the inspection was to see things for himself.

“There was no equipment here yesterday when I passed through the road.

“I believe it is because I said I was coming here today that you mobilised equipment. These are things I will not accept.

“CGC is one of the most respected construction companies in the country, but as far as this road is concerned, I am not happy,” he groaned.

The minister directed the Director of Engineering Services, Federal Capital Development Authority to sit with the contractor, agree on a work plan, and commit to a completion timeline.

Wike said that the work plan described the road as important considering the huge economic activities taking place in the area.

He directed that the project delivery work plan should be on his table on Monday, pointing out that the road, if completed, would significantly reduce traffic congestion in the area.

Kano inaugurates 14-member committee to review education policies

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

The Kano State Government has inaugurated a 14-member committee tasked with reviewing existing education policies in the state.

Inaugurating the committee on Thursday in Kano, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Ali Makoda, said that the committee was constituted by the Kano State Executive Council to assess the state’s education policies.

“This committee was originally scheduled to be inaugurated by the governor, but due to prior engagements, he has delegated the responsibility to me so that we can begin our work immediately,” Makoda stated.

The Commissioner outlined the committee’s terms of reference, which include reviewing the four existing education policies in the state to assess whether they align with the cultural and religious beliefs of the people.

“Evaluating the feasibility of implementing the policies, and making recommendations to strengthen the state’s education system.”

He noted that the four policies to be reviewed include the Kano State Girls’ Education Policy, Kano State Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Policy, Kano State Non-State School Policy, and Kano State Teacher Development Policy.

Makoda announced that the committee has been given three weeks to submit its report, and urged the members to leverage their expertise to produce recommendations that would enhance the state’s education sector.

In his response, the committee chairman, Malam Abdullahi Dutse, assured the commissioner of the committee’s commitment to work collaboratively to meet the expectations placed on them.

“Considering the diverse expertise of the committee members, I believe the government has selected individuals with the right skills to address the challenges facing education in the state. We will work diligently to provide the necessary report,” he said.

The committee’s members include Malam Abdullahi Dutse (Chairman), Prof Abdallah Uba -Adamu, Habibu Dan Almajiri, Alhaji Danlami Garba, Kano State Commissioner for Women, Children, and Disabled Affairs Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, and Isa Ahmad.

Other members are Prof Tijjani Naniya, Malam Kabiru Hanga, Munzali Mustapha, Prof Auwal Halliru Arzai, and Dr Bashir Aliyu -Umar.

The remaining include the representatives of the Emirate Council and Civil Society Organizations, and Ibrahim Bawa, Director of Archives and Publications, who will serve as Secretary of the committee.

Headlines

U.S commends Nigeria over Galactica funds repatriation efforts

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

The U.S. Deputy-Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, has extolled Nigeria’s partnership in the successful repatriation of funds linked to forfeited luxury real estate and Galactica Star Superyacht. (more…)

Headlines

Tinubu congratulates Nigerian scientists, engineers on making Biden’s honour list

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

Tinubu commiserates with Rashidi Ladoja over wife’s death

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated six Nigerians named by President Joe Biden among the 400 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in the United States.

This recognition, established by former President Bill Clinton in 1996, is the highest honour bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers.

This year’s awardees, announced by Biden on Jan. 14, are employed or funded by 14 participating United States government agencies, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Spokesman, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The Nigerian honourees include Azeez Butali, Gilbert Lilly Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa; and Ijeoma Opara, Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), Yale School of Public Health, Yale University.

Others are: Oluwatomi Akindele, Postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; and Eno Ebong, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biology at Northeastern University;

The rest are: Oluwasanmi Koyejo, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University; and Abidemi Ajiboye, Executive vice Chair of the Case School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Case Western Reserve University.

Tinubu commended the awardees for their achievements in science, technology and engineering.

He noted that recognising the talents of the awardees underscored Nigerians’ vast potential to excel both at home and on the global stage.

Tinubu looked forward to the honourees sharing their multidisciplinary expertise to benefit Nigeria’s development efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda. (more…)