Federal Government Takes Over the Completed 2nd Niger Bridge Project with Ancillary Facilities from Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) PLC   …..Assures of Its Commitment to Delivery Of Enduring Road Infrastructure in Nigeria …..As Sen. Umahi Harps on Prompt Supervision of Projects Of The Federal Ministry of Works Says Day and Night and Even Weekends Shall Not Be Spared   The Federal Government of Nigeria has restated its commitment to the delivery of enduring road infrastructure that will conform with the world best standard and add value to the economic recovery action plan of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR This  was contained in the message of the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON when he received the handover of the completed 2nd Niger Bridge project and ancillary facilities from the contractor that handled the project, Messrs. Julius Berger  Nigeria (JBN) Plc this  Sunday, the 3rd day of December 2023 at the 2nd Niger Bridge toll station "We are here to take over the completed works of Julius Berger  Nigeria Plc on the 2nd Niger Bridge and some access roads. We are satisfied with the works done  and which project circle was completed under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We thank the immediate past administration of President Mohammadu Buhari for doing quite a lot to bring this project to fruition and of course my predecessor, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, CON, SAN who was the Hon. Minister of Works that handled this project. The job is impeccably beautiful and well completed".   The Hon. Minister stated that  in line with the new innovations of Mr. President on road infrastructure, his Ministry would work to ensure the installation of solar powered light on the length of the completed project, ensure that the two interchanges of the bridges are completed, acquire more land through the State Government so as to have service stations and  ensure security on the road through the installation of CCTV cameras. And the Ministry also plans to concession the project through the HDMI programme.   "We have the light issue, and we shall put our heads together on how to have light permanently along the completed road especially at night and we have agreed on solar solution. The road project will be fully completed when we have completed the two interchanges. One is taking road users off from Asaba town so that if you are coming to this bridge, you don't have to go through Asaba town to encounter vehicular traffic  while the other one is to take road users off  Onitsha town to avoid traffic, and it is when this is done that the entire job will be said to have been fully completed. Julius Berger and RCC have been respectively proposed to handle the jobs." "However, If we get an investor who is prepared to fund the two interchanges, we shall concession the two projects to such investor  under our HDMI programme, and we are going to acquire more land here so we can establish service stations and we get the private sector to build hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, fillings stations and other facilities for public use as we see in Western world" "And  of course we are going to ensure security surveillance along the road through the installation of CCTV cameras and deployment of security personnel so that within this axis you can have access to security within the shortest possible time".   The Hon. Minister also said that although Federal Government is taking over the completed 2nd Niger Bridge, the contractor shall still be liable within the defect liability period and so if anything goes wrong in the completed job, the contractor will be called upon to fix it. He added that the toll would be activated the moment the two interchanges are fixed.   Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Director Bridge Design and Construction, Federal Ministry of Works Engr. Obioha thanked the Federal Government for working assiduously to ensure that the project was completed. He noted that the Ministry worked well with the contractor to ensure the project was completed on record time and hoped that the public would complement this Federal Government's efforts by abiding by the rules of the road and helping to ensure the safety and protection of the installations along the road.   On his own part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc, Dr. Las Ritcher said the bridge was commissioned by the immediate past administration but there was need for a technical handover to the Federal Ministry of Works, hence the handover ceremony. He expressed hope that the Federal Ministry of Works under Sen. Umahi who is known for his penchant for quality delivery of jobs would be satisfied with the quality of job done "He has seen what Julius Berger had delivered to the highest quality. I think he is satisfied and from tomorrow we can say it is not our project; it is now the project of the Federal Ministry of Works. I am delighted to hand it over to the client and that he can run that road, including the toll station".   It is to be noted that the contract awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc is for the construction of 2nd Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta States, Contract No. 6475 and construction of access road from existing Benin- Asaba Expressway to approach link road to 2nd Niger Bridge, Contract No 7919.   Meanwhile the Hon. Minister of Works had on the same Sunday, 3rd December 2023 paid an inspection visit to the project site of CGG Nig. Ltd on the contract for the Rehabilitation of Enugu- Port Harcourt Expressway Section 111: Enugu- Lokpanta 61.15 km road. The Hon. Minister also visited the collapsed New Artisan bridge along NNPC Mega Filling Station Enugu- PH  Expressway, Enugu State. Works in those locations are ongoing and are expected to be delivered on record time. ...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Commissions TETFund Sponsored Projects- Faculty of Education Building, University Library, ICT/ Research University Library, ICT/Research Centre in Ebonyi State University   ....Describes Education as a Bedrock to National Development   The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has described education as one of the most critical sectors of our national development that would be given priority by his Renewed Hope administration The President disclosed this during the commissioning of the TETFund sponsored education projects in Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The President who was represented by the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON commended TETFund for the roles it has been playing in advancing educational development in Nigeria noting that education has a pride of place in the 2024 proposed project which is now before the National Assembly for consideration.   "TETFund is playing vital roles in our educational system. TETFund has over the years played the role of bridging the gap of infrastructure and research in our tertiary institutions."   The President commended the Governor for the environment provided by State which saw to the successful completion of the TETFund sponsored projects." I want to thank you very much our dear Governor. You are well suited for this position". He also commended the TETFund management for the sense of prudence and value for money exhibited in the course of the execution of the TETFund projects in the University and  gave assurances that education and road infrastructure among other critical sectors of the economy shall attract unprecedented commitment  of the  Renewed Hope administration as they are among the precursors for the  rejigging of the national economy.   In his earlier address, the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt Hon. Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB, GGCEHF described as laudable the TETFund sponsored projects in the University and commended the Federal Government for finding the State worthy of benefiting from such funding from TETFund. "I have analyzed the project of TETFund, I have looked at it and found out that the value of and the reason for the project is enormous. This is the Agency of government that is not given to any story. If you are a contractor to TETFund, you must know they don't take story. “There is no provision for revaluation of job, no variation” And this he said is the way to go for us to show effectiveness and efficiency in the use of the taxpayers’ resources. The Governor expressed hope that TETFund would give more interventions to the State, noting that a lot of interventions had eluded the State especially infrastructural interventions from Federal Government and so the State is hoping to benefit more from the Federal Government.   He thanked the representative of Mr. President for his roles in the Federal Government's interventions in the State so far and hoped that more would be attracted to the State.   In their earlier remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Chigozie N  Ogbu, OFR and the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S T Echono, OON, FNIA took their turns to commend the President of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his manifest commitment in raising the bar in educational development in Nigeria, particularly his interest in the development of tertiary education.   The Vice Chancellor noted that it was the first time in the history of the University that TETFund sponsored projects were being commissioned at the University and they are grateful to the President. "I am very happy to report that all our infrastructural and supply projects from TETFund are completed except for one pending installation of the solar panels for the lecture podia already supplied. "We are grateful to TETFund for these impactful input into the development of Ebonyi State University".   The Executive Secretary of TETFund on his own part said he was optimistic that the TETFund sponsored projects in the University would strengthen the University's efforts in becoming a global player in the tertiary education sub- sector and significantly contribute to educational research and development. "Our resolve as a Fund is to ensure that our interventions are sustained and improved upon as much as possible to enable our institutions undertake bigger and more laudable and impactful projects that will make them become globally competitive and situate them in enviable positions among their peers both nationally and globally. We shall continually engage with our beneficiary institutions towards ensuring the delivery of iconic and impactful intervention projects in subsequent intervention years."   It is noteworthy to mention that the Projects commissioned by Mr. President were attracted by the representative of the President when he was the Governor of Ebonyi State. The Projects commissioned are: [1] Faculty of Education This is a Four-Floor structure containing 27 classrooms, 3 major teaching laboratories, 66 offices, Faculty Library and 2 lecture theaters. The classrooms, offices, laboratories, and lecture theaters are furnished.   [2] University Library This is a three-floor structure housing e-Library, Library Sections for each Faculty; Sections for bindery, references and cataloging. There is a section for bookshop. There are twelve offices and a Board Room.   [3] Information Communication Technology/Research Center This is a 2-Floor building containing 500 seating capacity furnished auditorium, four ICT Halls with 582 desktop computers for CBT Exams and training. MacArthur Foundation Advertising Practitioners Laboratory and offices. ...

Road Infrastructure Revolution is at the Front Burner of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu   The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen.  Engr.  Nweze David Umahi has reiterated the determination of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in fixing the ailing road infrastructure across the nation. He stated this when the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the newly elected Governor of the State Ahmed Usman Ododo visited him in his office at the Ministry's Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday, 30th November 2023.   The Hon. Minister of Works stated that the President's intervention on the road infrastructure deficit in the country was part of his roadmap towards revamping the economy of the nation. He thanked the Governor for the will to seek Federal Government's intervention on the road infrastructure challenges in his State and the passion to work for the good of the State.   ‘We inspected the road from 11am on my first day in office and I got back to Abuja by 2am, it shows the passion you have for the State.  It is not by chance that my first working day was in Kogi State, and I saw the acceptability and show of true love among the villagers for you. Your people are people of gratitude. I remember the ovation that greeted our inspection visit to Murtala Muhammed Way bridge in Kogi State".   The Hon. Minister assured the Governor that the Kogi Federal Highway was part of the Federal roads listed for palliative intervention by Mr. President.   " I want to assure you that Mr. President has instructed our Ministry to go and start that portion of the road and you will soon see a lot of concrete structures on a number of sections of that road that are challenged”.   The Hon. Minister also thanked the Governor for his commitment to the ideals of All Progressives Congress (APC) and for his doggedness that saw the Party through in the recently concluded Governorship election in Kogi State and said the victory was a testimony of the good works of the Governor and the acceptability of the ruling Party by the people of the State. He praised the Governor for his sense of inclusiveness and nationalism in his affairs as Governor of Kogi State.   "I thank you for being nationalistic  I know  a lot of South Easterners  that have made your Cabinet, I  also know a lot of people that had security challenges; that were kidnapped far away but you helped in rescuing them  even across State”.   The Hon. Minister used the opportunity to congratulate the Governor- Elect and charged him to be magnanimous with victory, cultivate leadership virtues, remember his route and remain steadfast with his Party. “Every young man entering a very high position like this is open to a lot of temptations. One admonition that guides me which I will share with you today is the fact that anyone who pays evil for the good done onto him, evil will not depart from his house. He continued “the teeth and the tongue often have misunderstanding, but they live together, the Governor made a lot of enemies because of you, let these enemies reconcile with him through you, all what the Governor looks for from you is not money or position, all he looks for is respect and honour because to whom God has honoured man must honour the person.  Mr. President has suffered all kinds of betrayals and if you have suffered betrayal, you would feel it, and when Mr. President sees a man that is on the part of betraying another, he will not be happy with such a person.  If you follow the Governor, he will guide you. If he trusted you to enthrone you, who else will he now trust again.   He is a unique man, and he is a man to emulate.”   Earlier the Kogi State Governor extolled the Hon. Minister for the transformation and innovation he has brought on board to accomplish the Renewed Hope road infrastructure agenda of Mr. President and the extra-ordinary passion with which he follows Mr. President's directives on road revolution. “The very first day you resumed office that was the day you hit the ground running. You have been inspecting roads ever since then you are not resting, there was no budget, no money for you, yet we see work going on across the country. Contractors have returned to site.  Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is working, you are also responding to calls and messages, and you are so responsive, you are a leader that all of us are proud of.”   The Governor further said “I am here to principally show an appreciation to God Almighty and to show appreciation to my wonderful brother His Excellency Distinguished Senator David Umahi the former Governor of Ebonyi State and Minister of Works for all the assistance he rendered to us physically, spiritually, financially and in fact in every way.  I am introducing my next successor Hon. Ahmed Ododo to His Excellency.  Ever since I joined the club of Governors you have been so distinguished.  I came in as APC Governor, you were PDP Governor then, irrespective of our political parties, you proved to be an elder statesman. You are a politician, but you are an elder statesman. You are always uniting the Governors across party line that was why it was easy for me to predict that you were going to join us because your mind is progressive; your mind is always progressive that was why you were able to govern Ebonyi State. With the little and meagre resources, you turned the State around and Ebonyi is wearing a new look today.  You mentor leaders that is why it is not surprising the assistance I received from you in coming up with another leader to take over from me in Kogi State.”   The Governor continued, “Today you are in the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a Minister of Works with his Renewed Hope agenda, we are saying a very big thank you to you and may the good Lord protect you in the discharge of your responsibility as the Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria" ...