News
VP Osinbajo Lists Buhari’s Signature Projects, Pledges Completion
The Federal Government will continue to implement “game-changing infrastructure projects” around the country to connect the nation’s economic zones and drive economic development, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The Vice President further noted that most of the signature projects of the administration, including the Lagos-Kano Rail, Mambilla Hydro Plant, Second Niger Bridge, amongst others would be completed during the second term of the Buhari administration.
Osinbajo stated this in Kano on Monday during a one-day working visit to the State to commission some infrastructural projects by the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje administration.
Speaking at an interactive session with leaders and stakeholders at Government House in Kano, Vice President noted that “one of our signature projects is the Lagos-Kano rail, which has gone now as far as Abeokuta, and we are hoping that we will be able to complete the Lagos-Kano rail in the shortest possible time.
“We expect that the infrastructure projects of the Federal Government, including the Mambilla Hydropower plant, the Second Niger Bridge and several others will be completed in our second term. We hope we are able to complete as many as possible before the end of our term.”
Speaking further on the position of the Federal Government in providing the necessary infrastructure to drive economic development, Mr Osinbajo said infrastructure was central to the agenda of the Buhari administration in all sectors.
“There is no question at all that for President Muhammadu Buhari, infrastructure is key. Infrastructure is key to anything that we intend to do. It is key to resolving most of the pending issues that confront our country, especially the economic issues.
“We need to be able to connect the economic zones of Nigeria. We need to be able to connect the South, the South-South, the South-East, the South-West to the North. All the zones of this country have to be connected in order to realise the economic objectives that we set for ourselves.”
“In a few years, as a matter of fact, in two budget circles, we invested about N2.7 trillion on capital alone, which is the highest in the history of the country despite the fact that we are earning almost 60% less than previous governments.”
Mr Osinbajo also said addressing the poverty concern in the country remains one of the major issues adding that the Federal Government under President Buhari is focused and committed to reversing the situation significantly.
Referring to Governor Ganduje who had spoken earlier on the same subject, the VP observed that “poverty, as the governor pointed out, remains one of the major issues that confront our people. And the President again on June 12, made the declaration that it is the intention of our government to take 10 million people out of poverty every year till the next decade, that is taking 100 million people in ten years, out of poverty.
“Now, that may sound ambitious but I must say to you that we are extremely committed towards achieving it and we are extremely focused. This explains why it is that we launched the Social Investment Programmes.
“Any country of our size that does not have a social investment programme or establish a social safety net for its people will be acting irresponsibly. That is the reason why we launched the programme.”
While commending the Kano State government for taking the lead in providing game-changing infrastructural projects and the enabling environment necessary for the economic development of the State, especially in health, education and other sectors, the Vice President assured Governor Ganduje of the Federal Government’s continuous support for states that are complementing national efforts at tackling poverty, providing access to education and health, amongst others.
At the ground-breaking foundation laying ceremony for the Cancer Treatment Centre at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Prof. Osinbajo commended the state government for taking the lead in aligning to the national cancer control plan of the Federal Government.
In his remark, Governor Ganduje thanked the Vice President for the honour of visiting the State to commission the projects and announced the establishment of the special fund to cater for the needs of indigent patients desirous of treatment at the cancer treatment centre, when completed.
Projects commissioned by the Vice President in the State include the Aminu Dantata flyover of over 2km, at the Murtala Muhammad Way, and the Tijjani Hashim Galadima Kano underpass way, in Kofar Ruwa.
Osinbajo also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Sheikh Qariballah Nasuru Kabara flyover, in Shahuci.
While in Kano, the VP visited the National Monuments and Museum in Kano with selected school children from the State, where he and the children were conducted round the monument which used to be the palace of the Emir of Kano.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has declared that only those who are not in their right senses could sustain a fight with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Akpabio, who spoke on Friday during the public lecture and book launch organized to celebrate Wike’s birthday in Port Harcourt, was apparently reacting to the face-off between Wike and his successor as governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
The Senate President, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, used the opportunity to critique Governor Fubara’s management of the ongoing political crisis in the state, particularly regarding his relationship with the legislature.
Akpabio emphasized the importance of maintaining quality relationships with legislative leadership, narrating the lessons he learned from his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State.
“For those who may not understand politics, we were taught that the parliament can turn a woman into a man and a man into a woman.
“As a governor, my greatest fear was my House of Assembly. That’s why I always worked closely with my Speaker”, Akpabio said.
He acknowledged Wike’s ability to reconcile quickly after any disagreements, stating that “No one in their right senses would sustain a quarrel with Wike”.
Addressing Wike directly, Akpabio said, “Your contributions to Nigeria’s political landscape, both as governor and now as minister, are indelible. The bridges you’ve built stand as a testament to your commitment to progress and unity.”
An as-yet-unnamed man has died after setting himself and his wife ablaze in the Ijoka Area of Akure, Ondo State.
It was gathered that the couple, who had been married for ten years and had two children, had separated following an undisclosed marital issue.
The incident was disclosed by the state police command on its X handle on Friday.
The police reported that the deceased took the fatal action against himself and his wife after he had begged her for reconciliation, but she refused to end the crisis.
A police source, who requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak on the matter, said: “The man had been separated from his wife for some time but had been begging her to end the conflict between them and continue their lives as husband and wife. However, the wife refused.
“So, on a fateful day, the deceased invited his estranged wife to his house to pick up an item. When she arrived, he began begging her again. But the wife insisted on not reconciling, which led him to lock the door from the back, pour petrol on both himself and the woman, and set them on fire. He died on the spot.”
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident, adding that while the husband died, the wife was still in hospital receiving treatment.
Odunlami stated, “They were married and, along the way, had issues that caused them to stay apart. The deceased asked his wife to come over and collect a wardrobe. When she arrived, he began threatening to kill himself but later locked the door so that both of them would die together.
“Using fuel and a lighter, he set himself and the woman ablaze. He died on the spot, while the woman suffered major burns.”
PUNCH
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, says the country cannot achieve economic development without addressing the power sector crisis.
This is as he urged leaders in the country to rise above their differences, confront the power sector crisis and make Nigeria an industrialized nation.
Shettima stated this when while inaugurating the National Economic Council, NEC, Ad-Hoc Committee on National Electrification and NEC Ad Hoc Committee on Polio Eradication at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“One common thing with these countries and others in the post-industrial revolution community is that they have largely resolved the issue of energy insufficiency.
“There is no doubt that we cannot dream of meaningful national economic development without addressing the issue in the power sector and ensuring that Nigerians have accessible, available and affordable energy,” he stated.
While regretting that an estimated 40-70 percent of Nigerians have no formal access to electricity, Shettima said he is comforted by the knowledge that the calibre and experiences of Governors and other members of the committee will change the narrative in a positive trajectory.
The VP acknowledged the basic challenges in the nation’s power sector, particularly the national grid which has been witnessing system collapse.
Shettima, however, expressed hope that there would soon be significant improvement following the recent reforms in the energy sector which have opened the sector, not only to the participation of, otherwise, excluded players, but also to attract investments, both foreign and local.
Fubara: No one in their right senses would sustain quarrel with Wike – Akpabio
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