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Again, FG Talks Tough, Threatens To Revoke Lokoja-Benin Road Contract
Published
1 week agoon
By
EditorThe Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has again threatened to revoke the sections I-IV Lokoja-Benin, Obajana Junction Benin roads in Kogi and Edo States should the contractors handling the project fail to sign the reviewed contract.
Umahi issued the fresh threat during a meeting with the contractors in his office, in Abuja, yesterday.
The Miniater had in March issued a similar threat during a visit to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki. He had expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work earlier this year.
Representatives of the contractors messers Mothercat Ltd, CCECC Ltd, Dantat & Sawoe Ltd, CGC Ltd and RCC Ltd attended the latest meeting with the minister in his Abuja office, on Thursday.
The minister also directed staff of his Ministry to, within 7 days , carry out a comprehensive audit of the ongoing projects with a view to knowing the status of work done, the capacity of personnel and equipment being used by the contractors.
READ ALSO: Umahi Threatens To Revoke Road Contract In Edo
Umahi did not mince words when he expressed displeasure at what he described as the pranks being played by the contractors.
He noted that they were part of the process of re-scoping and reviewing the contract specifications but that they failed to sign the review contract documents after signing that they would do the job based on the new specification.
Umahi said, ”The project was initially N121 billion, but before the administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the project was already reviewed to about over N870 billion .
“When I came in as Minister, I saw that the project was over-bloated, and I refused to take the No Objection to FEC. I had to go through the road myself, and I realized that some sections of the road could not survive asphalt.
“So we started meetings that took us over five months with all the contractors, and in the meetings, we agreed to re-scope the project. So we re-scoped the project where we said okay, the new lanes should be done on concrete and the other ones done on asphalt.
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“So, we kept the contracts up and we all signed the documents and based on signing the documents, we took it to BPP and from BPP we went to FEC, and before we went to FEC, we demanded for them to approve that they can do the job. They all gave us letters of approval.”
He wondered why contractors were given jobs without having the required manpower and equipment to execute, and warned that henceforth, any contractor signing a contract must sign alongside the basic rate and timeline.
The minister furthersaid, ”The position of the government is that if you are not signing the contracts between today and tomorrow, you will forgo the jobs. You can go to court. We will not enter into any condition for further negotiation.
“This contract is over N2 billion per kilometer. You don’t have equipment to do the work. Let me even assure you that if you are signing the contract, you will sign it alongside the basic rates.
“You sign it alongside the timetable, and you deploy in three sections, or I will terminate the job. Enough of playing with the psyche of the people.”
He declared that the Ministry would not allow any contractor to hold the nation to ransom or to impose their conditions on the Ministry.
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Umahi said, “You don’t want to work, leave the job. It’s not compulsory that you must be the one to do the job. You can not be on site, and the people are dying.
“The vehicles are falling down, and you’re playing politics with the lives of the people. And we fold our hands and leave you for what? You can’t be on site….So if you are not working, pack your things out of that site.”
In his remarks, the Director, Highways (SP) South, Engr. C.A Ogbuagu gave account of the techinical processes undertaken by the Ministry before Federal Executive Council approved the augmentation of the project,
which the contractors accepted, and letters of award were given to them.
He expressed suprise that the contractors refused to sign the new document.
He said, “After the FEC’s approval of the argumentation, the legal department was brought in so that this new contract will now be executed so that work will continue on site. So, for about two weeks now, the draft addendum has been with the contractors, and none of them has positively responded, except RCC.”
In its response, the representative of the CGC said, “for our side, and firstly for our section, and currently we are seriously working. And secondly, we have a sent the draft to the Head Office And there there is any issue, we have answered them and may be later tomorrow morning, we can get the approval from them so we can go ahead.”
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VIDEO: Arsenal Pay Tribute To 14-year-old British-Nigerian Fan Daniel Anjorin Killed In UK
Published
16 hours agoon
May 4, 2024By
EditorArsenal fans have paid tribute to the late British-Nigerian teenage fan Daniel Anjorin, who was tragically killed by a sword-wielding assailant in London on Tuesday.
During the 3-0 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday, Arsenal paused the game in the 14th minute, with fans applauding in tribute to 14-year-old Anjorin, whose favourite player was Bukayo Saka.
Anjorin’s image was displayed on the scoreboard, accompanied by banners reading “R.I.P Daniel” in different sections of the Emirates Stadium as a mark of respect for the Arsenal supporter.
TV presenter Piers Morgan was among a number of Arsenal supporters who paid tribute to the young fan during the game.
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Anjorin’s family has issued a statement paying tribute to their son.
His family issued a statement via the Metropolitan Police that said, “We as a family are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Daniel. It is difficult for us at this time to process what has happened to him and that he will never come home. Daniel had left the house for school and then he was gone.
“Our children have lost their loving and precious brother and we have lost the most loved and amazing son. We would like to send our best wishes to the other victims of this unthinkable incident.
“We would also like to thank the local community for all of their support during this most difficult time. We ask that the media please respect our privacy and refrain from contacting us or our family.”
Video: Arsenal pay tribute to 14-year-old British-Nigerian fan Daniel Anjorin killed in UK
Credit: X // AntoineSpeaker pic.twitter.com/b9bUk0LXPw
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) May 4, 2024
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READ ALSO: 14-year-old Boy Killed In London Sword Attack
According to The Guardian, a fundraiser set up for his family has raised more than £120,000 in three days, with more than 7,000 people donating.
Anjorin died on Tuesday morning as he walked to school in Hainault, in the east of Britain’s capital, when he was attacked by a man wielding what appeared to be a Samurai-type sword.
The suspect, a Spanish-Brazilian national, Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, was remanded in custody by a London Magistrates Court on Thursday.
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Find The Man Who Stole $30000 From Me, Get $2000 Reward – Nigerian Man Cries Out
Published
20 hours agoon
May 4, 2024By
EditorA Nigerian man has offered a $2000 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest of a man who allegedly defrauded him and his friends of over N42 million (approximately $30,000 USD).
Addressing the public on X.com, he said, “Hi everyone, this person defrauded my friends and I.
“We will be offering $2,000 (USD) to anyone who has info on him or knows of his whereabouts.”
According to the victim, the suspect, who moved into the victim’s apartment, spun a web of lies, claiming to need financial assistance for various reasons, including a dying nephew and financial problems with the Federal Inland Revenue Services
He narrated, “Roughly three months ago, The dude in the video came to my apartment in Lagos sharing that he had some financial problems with the FIRS(Federal Inland Revenue Services).
READ ALSO: Nigerian Man Extradited From Malaysia, Convicted For $6.3m Fraud In US
“He mentioned how he got locked out of his funds of over N107,000,000 (USD 71,000+).
“We (my friends and I), were sympathetic to his cause and decided to lend a helping hand.”
The victim revealed that he first encountered the suspect on a gaming platform, Fortnite, in 2023.
They bonded over shared interests and his alleged profession as a skilled 3D and Motion Artist.
“I was happy to connect with him because he presented himself as a well-skilled 3D & Motion Artist.
“He also shared his Upwork profile with me, which was very convincing,” he added.
Detailing the events that unfolded, he said the suspect moved into their apartment in early February after a period of lodging in hotels and other residences.
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He added that he even financed a computer rental for the suspect, who claimed it was essential for his work.
He wrote “Here is a detailed breakdown of the series of events that played out while he lived with us (myself and my flatmates):
“He was shuffling between hotels and apartments in January before he finally moved in with us early February
“He mentioned he needed a computer to continue working as he didn’t have any at the time, so, I offered to help with the rental.
“I sent him the money to purchase the computer on rental about three times and he never for once, received any computer.
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“He kept on spinning lies around how there was either a delay or how the money miraculously went into thin air without achieving its purpose. At the time, I believed all these.
“We also had to raise about N1,700,000 to help assist with the admission of his dying nephew into the hospital because, according to him, the child had suffered internal bleeding after falling off a trampoline.
“He used this and other tactics to coerce us into giving him more cash.”
The victim revealed that in March, the suspect purportedly convinced him and his friend to accompany him to Abuja to address his FIRS-related issues.
He shared screenshots of transactions made to the suspect’s account, urging the public to scrutinise the details for evidence.
Headline
PHOTOS: Moment 23-year-old Miss Ecuador Beauty Queen Is Gunned Down In Hail Of Bullets
Published
21 hours agoon
May 4, 2024By
EditorShocking CCTV footage shows two gunmen bursting into an eatery before killing the former Miss Ecuador contestant.
The former beauty queen, seen in the footage wearing a blue top, was talking to a man when the gunman, circled, walked in
Landy Párraga Goyburo can be seen standing next to a man while chatting with him inside the restaurant.
She can be seen glancing towards the door as her assailant sneaks into the place without her noticing.
As the first gunman runs towards them, Párraga drops to the floor while the man next to her ducks for cover.
The masked attacker quickly opens fire, shooting towards both Párraga and the man.
READ ALSO: Appeal Court Stops Yahaya Bello’s Contempt Proceedings Against EFCC
He then stands over her as she lies helpless on the floor and appears to shoot her repeatedly at point blank range.
Both attackers then dash out of the door and flee the scene.
Images later showed the former beauty queen lying motionless on the floor in a pool of blood.
Cops are now investigating the murder while trying to identify the assailants.
Párraga was a former Miss Ecuador contestant, having represented Los Ríos Province in 2022.
She had more than a million followers across her social media accounts.
READ ALSO: EFCC Chairman Narrates How 17-year-old Hacked His Computer, Bank Account
In December 2023, her name was mentioned in a chat made public by the Attorney General’s Office as part of a major organised crime case it is investigating.
One of the 52 people being prosecuted in the case is Helive Angulo.
In the chat, Angulo told the drug trafficker Leandro Norero, whose assets he managed, that the police had asked him about Párraga.
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Norero cryptically wrote: “If my wife comes across anything about her, I’m screwed.
“My friend, her name cannot come out anywhere. Otherwise, my world will come crashing down.”
Norero was killed in prison in 2022, six months after his imprisonment.
Money transfers made to Párraga’s bank account are under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office.
The office never prosecuted Párraga and she had never publicly commented on the case.
SOURCE: THE US SUN
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