EIGHT-POINT AGENDA OF MR. PRESIDENT LINKED TO GOOD ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE - Umahi The Honourable Minister of Work, His Excellency, Sen. (Engr.) David Nweze Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNTI has reiterated that the availability of good road network is instrumental to achieving food security, ending poverty, improving security, enhancing economic growth and job creation. He affirmed this, while opening a two-day retreat organised for Highways Engineers and management staff of the Ministry with the theme, “Ensuring Delivery of Mr. President’s Agenda on Road Infrastructural Development” on 17th January, 2025 in Abuja. According to Engr. Umahi, the massive infrastructural development embarked upon by the present Administration across the entire six (6) geo-political zones of the country is premised on stimulating the economy and improving the lives of the citizenry. He re-affirmed the present administration's commitment towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation of failing major highways across the zones, which will provide robust road infrastructure, as well as alleviate the sufferings of the citizens. He also added that the retreat, which is aimed at enhancing optimum service delivery, efficiency, and unity in the delivery of road projects, nationwide, is expected to help participants ensure that the government gets value for money expended on all projects. While urging participants, especially the Ministry’s supervisory staff, to make the best use of the retreat to sharpen and improve their technical capabilities, he expressed optimism that they would acquire enough resources to help in delivering Mr. President's 8-point agenda. The Minister, who earlier maintained that bad roads are tantamount to keeping people in prison, as it hinders their movement, also called on Highway Engineers to change their _modus operandi _and work professionally, imbibing internationally recommended engineering standards and practices, to achieve the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. He directed that henceforth, contractors must mobilise to the site before requesting for mobilisation fee. Acknowledging the need for continuous capacity building for Engineers, as an enabler for improvement in service delivery, he promised that such exercises would be institutionalised. He, as well, directed all Federal Controllers of Works (FCW) to dismantle all speed calming devices/measures (speed breakers or bumps) on Federal highways in their respective states, insisting that there is nothing wrong in mounting such bumps but there should be approval and standard design and specifications guiding such endeavours. In his Goodwill Message, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olufunsho Adebiyi, FNSE thanked and welcomed the Honourable Ministers for approving, as well as gracing the occasion. He called for rapid transformation in service delivery in the road sector. The Permanent Secretary, however, formally presented to the Honourable Ministers, a team of transformed Engineers, who are willing to support the government achieve its Renewed Hope Agenda. The Honourable Minister of State for Works, Muhammadu Bello Goronyo, Esq., eulogised the personality of the Minister, whom he revered and referred to as a go-getter, intelligent, hardworking and highly professional. He expressed gratitude to all stakeholder for their collaborative efforts in ensuring the success of the present administration, particularly in the provision of critical road infrastructure. The Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Hon, Akin Alabi enjoins the Ministry to put in more effort, so that our roads work for the citizens, while the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Mpigi Barinada, called on the need to engage the members of the National Assembly (NASS) to ascertain that correct appropriation is made to accommodate all Nigerian roads. He concluded by saying that the good works of the Ministry are an indication of support for Mr. President’s Agenda. The retreat was facilitated by a panel of experts delivering insightful presentations on critical topics. The panelists included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, the Director, Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Clement Ogbuagu, representative of the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Francis Useni, the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Engr. Emeka Eze and retired directors from the Ministry such as Engineers Bala Danshehu, Bola Aganaba, J. A. Yusuf, A. A. Adebiyi and Olufemi Oyekanmi. Their Sessions covered Compliance with Procurement Laws, Prudent Use of Resources, Project Planning and Alignment with President Tinubu’s Eight-Point agenda. Discussions were centred on the composition of the Site Management Team; Project Planning; Resolving Bill 1; Direct Labour Policy; Inter Relationship between Engineers; Adherence to the Rules of Law and lastly, Funding of Projects. It was agreed that the Ministry should return to its original structure; waiver for recruitment of young Engineers is to be pursued to bridge the gap of shortage of staff; there is no free money in Bill 1 anymore; the issue of direct labour was stepped down, as extant laws do not support it, more so, to avoid conflict of interest with the Federal Emergency Road Management Agency (FERMA). It was rather agreed that FERMA should be strengthened to effectively carry out its mandates. The Ministry was advised to lobby for the establishment of a Federal Highways Authority; Participants were admonished to eskew backbiting and learn to bond with each other, as well as to forgive one another. As takeaways from the Retreat, participants were asked to reduce the use of emergency contracts; publish all contracts on the Ministry’s websites, including the names of the contractors, and value for money expended on every project; ensure that effective from 2025, categorisation of contractors will start and no longer portfolio or envelop contractors. To avoid unnecessary embarrassment, Officers need to apply extant rules in discharging their duties. The year 2025, being a year for enhanced performance for Mr. President, priority projects will be tracked by the second quarter of 2026, which should be ready for commissioning.  Participants also were urged to ensure that Nigeria roads are motorable, especially that of Abuja - Kaduna, a vital artery linking the South to the North of the country. Civil Servants were, as well as urged to guide and support politicians in performing their jobs.   ...

DISCOUNTENANCE THE BASELESS  RUMOUR THAT THE 3RD MAINLAND BRIDGE IS JERKY AND DEFECTIVE AS A DECEPTIVE  PROPAGANDA FROM THE FIFTH COLUMNISTS The attention of the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has been drawn to a widely  circulated  but baselessly and maliciously orchestrated   rumour that the 3rd Mainland  bridge  is shaky and defective. The rumour,  for all intents and purposes, is nothing but an untactful falsehood by the fifth columnists whose mission is to undermine  the confidence and solidarity reposed  on the works  sector  of the Renewed Hope administration  by Nigerians. The Honourable Minister of Works had upon getting wind of this needless rumour and, for the benefit of the doubt, deployed a team of engineers led by the Federal Controller of Works in charge of Lagos State, Engr. Olukorede Kesha to inspect the entire length and width of the bridge  measuring 11 kilometers  with a view to ascertaining if by the whiskers  anything went amiss with the 3rd Mainland bridge. The report is the same; that the bridge  is hale and hearty, and its integrity is undoubtedly intact Members  of the public are therefore  enjoined  to disregard  the false rumours making  the rounds on the state of the 3rd Mainland bridge. The Renewed Hope administration of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has demonstrated  unprecedented commitment  to the revampment of the inherited road infrastructural deficiencies. The 3rd Mainland bridge, including other iconic bridges in Lagos, has received priority intervention by Mr. President knowing  their vitality to the road communications and transportation ecosystem in Lagos and beyond. That is why the superstructure, the substructure, and other underwater elements  of the 3rd Mainland bridge are receiving profound  repairs by the Renewed Hope administration. The Federal Ministry of Works is up to task and speed  in changing  the narratives in the road infrastructure development in Nigeria. The code is quality, speed, and value for money, and you can be sure that the roads done by the Renewed Hope administration can stand the test of time. God bless the Federal Republic  of Nigeria.   ...

Project Inspection: Minister Chides Contractor In continuation of his inspection of projects in the South-South geopolitical zone, the Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE visited ongoing works on the Dualisation of East-West Road, Section II-II (Ahoada-Kaiama) and the Construction of Multiple Box Culverts at Flood Affected Areas on East-West Road, Section II-II (Ahoada-Kaiama) in Rivers and Bayelsa States, yesterday, Wednesday, 8th January, 2025. Engr. Umahi disclosed that he was highly impressed with the quality of work on Section II-II (Ahoada-Kaiama) by Messrs Setraco (Nig.) Ltd. but directed them to speed up the process through the addition of more resources to the job. He reminded them that the April, 2025 delivery date remains sacrosanct. He directed that due to the nature of the soil in the areas affected by floods, where box culverts are being constructed, continuously reinforced concrete pavement  (CRCP) should be used. The affected area is about 2.3 kilometres. The Project Manager of Setraco, Engr. Isaa Michel, while appreciating the Minister for the site inspection and the savory, as well as unsavoury comments, promised to hasten the pace of work, to meet the dateline. The Minister was also at the site of the Construction of Multiple Box Culverts on the East-West Road being handled by Messrs Rock Result (Nig.) Ltd., where he praised the standard of work but frowned at the level of work achieved. He expressed his disappointment with the pace, stating that the contract was scheduled for finishing by November, 2024 but was extended to December and is still uncompleted. He, therefore, gave the contractor up till the end of January, 2025 to complete it or it stands revoked. Engr. Umahi informed the contractor that the provision of roads and bridges remains a top priority of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Revolution of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He advised them to up their games or be left at the bus stop   ...