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Federal Government Needs N19tn To Complete 2,604 Ongoing Projects — Works Minister Umahi

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Minister of Works David Umahi has announced that completing the 2,604 ongoing road projects will now require N19 trillion, a significant increase from the initial estimate of N13 trillion.

This surge in costs underscores the mounting challenges in infrastructure development and the urgent need for additional funding.

He said this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday at the ministry headquarters to update Nigerians on road infrastructure development.

He explained that the cost increased due to the dwindling foreign exchange rate and the price of bitumen.

He explained that despite these issues, the ministry had completed 85 per cent of 330 emergency projects awarded by the government in July 2024.

Umahi also berated the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Remi Oseni, over his comments that the minister had misplaced his priorities on the state of roads across the country.

He said, “The issue of fewer priorities by the House of Rep members was the variation of price, and that was a very terrible programme that was eroding the little resources we put in the budget to do projects.

“Before we came on board, there were these issues of variation of price and foreign exchange differential. Some contractors were claiming them. Essentially, two of them. But that less priority that he talked about was that we stopped them. And we have no regrets about stopping them.

“And let me say to him that the projects Mr. President inherited were a total of 2,604 projects as of May 29, 2023. The total cost was N13tn. That’s what the President inherited. And a debt to contractors of N1.6tn. And when you look at the variation because of the fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira against the dollar, if these projects are reviewed, the cost of these projects will increase to N19tn, just to complete the ongoing projects.”

The minister further noted that “Mr President manifested all the projects in the 2024 budget with the hope of giving him time to look for resources, including loans, to do these projects.

“But the truth I want the public to know is that N13tn projects inherited, today it should be over N20tn because, at that time, it was N500 to a dollar. Today the dollar is N1,700. At that time the ton of bitumen was like N600,000 per ton. But today it is N1.2 million per ton. And so you have to understand this. There is a transition before we stabilize.”

Umahi stated that this was why in the 2023 supplementary, the President approved N300bn to take care of several palliatives.

“By next week, we are going to publish what success we have achieved in those N300bn projects. We used it to procure over 330 roads, palliatives, and bridge repairs, which were properly procured and properly executed.

“As of today, we have achieved over 85 per cent completion. And so when we publish it, I want him to go there and verify. And I request that he tenders an all-reserved apology because all he did was to represent the contractors and incite the public against the government that brought him in,” he stated.

The minister added that about 10 projects have been terminated by the current administration as they had been awarded over one and a half decades ago.

According to the works minister, the President should be commended for paying attention to special mega road projects, and there is a priority given to the ministry in terms of the supplementary budget for 2023/2024, while they inherited N1.6tn in debt to contractors.

On the issues of the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency, Umahi maintained that their hands are clean and there is nothing to hide. According to him, some contractors are unhappy with the ministry to the point of wanting the removal of the minister.

He noted, “There is no way you expect some project that lasted up to 20 years to be done in one year. The Chairman said we are awarding projects that we are not ready to execute. And that is where the oversight function comes in. You have the records of what we have awarded.

Regarding the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual carriageway projects awarded to Julius Berger Plc, he reiterated that after the expiration of seven days, “we will have no option but to revoke it and award the project to another construction firm to complete it.”

He therefore hinted that the ministry has a total of N600bn in certified jobs for 2024 and N726bn under the NNPC tax credit scheme.

Umahi said the insecurity in the North-West had delayed some of the ongoing projects, with 50 workers kidnapped for ransom by bandits.

BIG STORY

400 Sex Tapes: Equatorial Guinea’s Baltasar Remanded In Prison

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The former Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been remanded in Malabo’s Black Beach Prison.

The embattled former anti-graft chief was arrested days ago for allegedly recording over 400 sex tapes involving the wives of prominent figures in the country.

This scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation into the 54-year-old economist, resulting in an impromptu search of his home and office by ANIF officials, who reportedly discovered several CDs that revealed his sexual encounters with different married women.

As the footage leaked online, causing a media uproar, Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, dismissed Engonga.

According to Decree No. 118/2024, dated 4th November, the dismissal was due to “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions, as well as inappropriate family and social conduct for the performance of public duties.”

A viral video surfaced on social media on Friday, showing Engonga handcuffed on both hands and legs during a court appearance.

Confirming the situation, French online blog Afrikmatin reported that Engonga, who was officially removed from his role on November 6, 2024, was subsequently chained and transferred to Malabo Central Prison. He faces charges of corruption and embezzlement.

Additionally, online newspaper UGStandard reported that the sex tapes began circulating on social networks while Engonga was already held at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach Prison on charges of embezzling public funds, as reported by state television, TVGE.

In a fact-checking report published Wednesday, Dubawa verified that Engonga had indeed been taken into custody on corruption charges and is currently being held in Black Beach Prison.

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BIG STORY

JAPA: Canada Tightens Visa Rules, Ends Automatic 10-Year Multiple-Entry Visas

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Canada will no longer automatically grant 10-year multiple-entry visas to tourists, according to new guidelines issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

This decision marks a shift from the previous practice where eligible visitors were routinely issued long-term visas, permitting multiple entries over a decade.

Under the revised rules, immigration officers now have discretion to issue visas with shorter durations based on individual assessments.

Instead of a default extended validity period, each application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Officers can decide whether to grant a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and determine its duration, moving away from the automatic issuance of maximum-validity multiple-entry visas.

“Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document. Officers may exercise their judgement in deciding whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period,” said the IRCC.

The IRCC explained that this change is part of a broader strategy aimed at managing temporary immigration levels while addressing ongoing challenges such as housing shortages and rising living costs.

The policy adjustment reflects the Canadian government’s efforts to adapt its immigration approach in response to economic and infrastructure pressures.

Previously, Canada offered two types of tourist visas: multiple-entry and single-entry. Applicants were generally considered for the multiple-entry visa, which allowed them to visit the country multiple times over a period of up to 10 years or until one month before their passport’s expiration date.

Single-entry visas, issued for specific situations like official visits or participation in single events, were less common.

Now, with the updated guidance, maximum-validity multiple-entry visas will no longer be the standard offering.

Immigration officers will exercise their judgement to decide on the appropriate type and duration of the visa, tailoring it to the specific needs and circumstances of the traveller.

The application fee for a Canadian visitor visa remains unchanged at CAD 100 per person, with no difference in cost between single-entry and multiple-entry options.

However, the shift may result in increased application costs for frequent travellers, who might need to apply more often due to shorter-term visas.

This policy change is part of a wider effort to balance immigration levels with Canada’s current infrastructure capabilities.

Other measures announced include a reduction in the target for permanent resident admissions, which will drop from 500,000 in 2025 to 395,000, with further decreases planned for 2026 and 2027.

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BIG STORY

MC Oluomo Elected NURTW National President

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Former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as “MC Oluomo,” was elected the new National President of the Union on Saturday.

Akinsanya was the sole candidate in the election, which took place at the Union’s Zonal Secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun road.

Delegates from the four Southwest states of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti participated in the election.

The election, held during the Union’s Quadrennial Delegate Conference, was monitored and observed by the acting National President of the group, Aliyu Issa-Ore.

Issa-Ore, addressing the gathering, explained that the Union’s Constitution stipulates that the zone permitted to fill the national president’s position would elect its preferred candidate and present them to the national body.

The acting NURTW President, represented by Mrs. Adedamola Salam, Head of Finance at the National Headquarters in Abuja, added, “The Southwest zone has fully complied with the Constitution in electing Oluomo as President.

The delegates also elected Tajudeen Agbede as Vice President, Southwest, while Akeem Adeosun was chosen as Trustee from the Zone.

Shortly after taking the oath of office, Akinsanya, surrounded by associates and family members, called for peace and pledged to work towards unity among members.

He further stated, “I have forgiven everyone who has offended me, and I hope those I have offended will forgive me as well.

“This is our union, and we must be committed to preserving it. We will not allow anyone to destroy our means of livelihood.”

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