The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have resolved to strengthen collaboration.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC Spokesperson disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Oyewale said that the collaboration would be, particularly, in the area of Intelligence to tackle the menace of economic and financial crimes and corruption.

According to him, the two agencies made the resolution, when Paul Akugbo, new Director of Base Command Liaison, Lagos paid a courtesy visit to Michael Wetkas, Acting Director of Lagos Directorate of the EFCC.

Meanwhile, Akugbo described the visit as most necessary towards strengthening the already existing collaboration between the DSS and the EFCC.

“It is, indeed, a thing of honour to be among you today.

“As you know, the Base Command is not the Lagos Command; rather, it is the national headquarters annex located in Lagos,” he said.

He commended the EFCC for its unrelenting efforts to stamp out corruption in Nigerian society.

Responding, Wetkas expressed delight in receiving Akugbo and his team, adding that the DSS and the EFCC had always worked together.

“On several occasions, we have written letters to you for certain people on our watch list and you have intercepted them and handed them over to us. We thank you for this.

“The success of our various services is our joint success. Lagos is a challenging place and we are here to support in any way we can,” he said.

He said that the visit was a demonstration that the DSS was ready to work and partner with the EFCC to achieve overall success for Nigeria.

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.

The United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF), says 69.2% of children in Kano State are multi-dimensionally poor.

Fatima Musa, a Social Policy Specialist with the UNICEF, Kano Field Office, disclosed this in her presentation during a media dialogue on Friday in Zaria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the media dialogue is on Children’s Advocacy Priorities for News and Programme Managers from Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.

Musa explained that 69.2 per cent of children of 0-17 years old were defined as multi-dimensionally poor, while 59.5 per cent of children of 0-17 years were monetarily poor in Kano.

“Across the geo-political zones, the child MPI shows higher poverty in the North-East and North-West (where 90% of children are poor) and lower poverty in the South-East and South-West (74% and 65.1% respectively).

“The incidence of child MPI is above 50% in all states and greater than 95% in Bayelsa, Gombe, Sokoto and Kebbi states.

“UN Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC) provides for a child: person under the age of 18; the primary role of parents and family in the care and protection with state’s obligation to help them to carry out their duties,” she said.

The social policy specialist, who raised an alarm over the increased child poverty in Nigeria, called on governments at all levels to increase budgetary allocation for children-focused interventions.

According to her, the menace can be reduced by providing quality education, water, good healthcare services, access to good shelter, child protection and social safety nets.

She also lauded Katsina and Kano states for accepting Universal Child Benefits and for expressing interest in piloting it.

According to the specialist, the development came at the right time, as it’s aimed at addressing child poverty.

Earlier, Samuel Kaalu, UNICEF Communication Specialist, Kano Field Office, called on media practitioners in the country to focus more attention on issues affecting the well-being of women and children in their reportage.

Kaalu also urged them to give adequate attention to the issue of violence against children in order to ensure proper enlightenment of the public against the phenomenon.

The communication specialist said violence against children occurring in homes and communities usually go on unnoticed or denied.

He further called for more support from the media in sensitising the public to the importance of enrolling children in school.