Dave Umahi, the minister of works, has said that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) previous presidential candidate, is urging the southeast’s populace, particularly the ignorant, to rebel against the government.

Even after putting the folks into trouble, Obi, according to Umahi, would not stand up for them.

During a gathering on Wednesday to recompense landowners impacted by the proposed Lagos-Calabar coastal route, he made the statement.

The Federal Ministry of Work oversaw the exercise’s organisation.

The 700-kilometre coastal highway has been enmeshed in controversy following the demolition of Landmark Beach Resort, valued at $200 million, to create a right of way for the project which is estimated to cost the federal government N15 trillion.

After the demolition, a visibly worried Paul Onwuanibe, the Group CEO of Landmark, told BusinessDay that about 70 percent of the beach was destroyed by the government bulldozer, describing the action as “insensitive.”

“What is left of these businesses are the rubbles you can see (in video clips he captured while the demolition was going on). Those are people’s investments and means of livelihood reduced to mere rubbles; so many jobs have been lost and many Nigerian families are in for it,” Onwuanibe said.

On his part, Obi slammed President Bola Tinubu’s administration for going on with the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project in defiance of public outcry.

The presidential candidate expressed displeasure that the government is embarking on a job-losing project at a time of rampant unemployment.

Obi said it was not too late to discontinue the Lagos-Calabar highway project, adding that urgent necessities are nationwide security, poverty eradication, healthcare, and education, especially for the poor and underprivileged.

He had also described the reported demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project as insensitive and heart-wrenching, lamenting that livelihoods were being wiped away, lifetime investments wasted, and jobs disappearing as a result of the demolition.

In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor said: “The outcry against this project has been overwhelming due to the current situation in the country. However, reports as of yesterday indicate that demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project has commenced from the Lagos end.

“The sight of this insensitive demolition is heart-wrenching. Livelihoods are being wiped away, lifetime investments are being wasted, and jobs are disappearing as bulldozers roar through. The homes of the elderly are being overturned by the power of bulldozers.

“This hasty flag-off defies the widespread outcry by the public, especially business and property owners directly affected by the project. Nobody knows the outcry that will accompany this project as it progresses towards poor rural landscapes.

“Thousands of jobs are about to be lost, with investments above $200 million at risk. Over 100,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector face imminent extinction, along with 80 small businesses and their 4000 mostly youth employees.”

However, Umahi insisted there was no inhumanity meted to Landmark and that the matter should be buried because he was actively involved.

The former Ebonyi State Governor alleged that Obi goes around to condemn people, thereby bringing judgment upon himself.

He said: “It brings to some of the comments made by my brother, his Excellency Mr Peter Obi, I am not supposed to comment about it because some people have already done the work. And I know what Arise Television brought courtesy of Channels Television, they were bringing similar scenarios when His Excellency Peter Obi was the governor. He made a statement saying ”Any infrastructure that stands in the way of the road must go. And there would be no compensation paid.” That’s what he said.

“But look at me, by the human face of the renewed hope agenda administration, we are even paying for people who are illegally staying on the coastal line, and don’t have valid infrastructure and valid documents. That is mercy, that’s mercy… You know some people darken counsel without knowledge. You know there’s the devil in the details.

“When you condemn people, you bring judgment upon yourself. And that is what he (Obi) has done. And I think he’s inciting some of the south east people that are not well informed. He is inciting them. And gets them into trouble. And he doesn’t go to fight for them. Wisdom is a defence. And I want our people to have wisdom because I am involved.

“There’s is no inhumanity meted to Landmark, that matters should be buried because I was there. And so we fought everything possible. Even some people donated property to save his two big infrastructures. That’s appreciation. But some people have taken sides along with him to play politics.

Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, claims that the devaluation of naira created the biggest mess for his company in 2023.

Dangote made this known on Tuesday during the annual general meeting of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc.

Dangote claims that the business is working hard to make sure that dividends are paid out this year.

He claimed that many businesses were also impacted and would not be able to pay dividends, particularly those in the food and beverage industries.

“We are doing whatever it takes to make sure that at the end of the day, we will be paying dividends because if you look at our dividends last year, it was almost 50 percent more so we will try and get out of the mess,” Dangote said.

“The biggest mess created was actually the devaluation of the naira from N460 to N1,400.

“You can see almost 97 percent of the companies, especially in food and beverages businesses, none of them will pay dividends this year for sure but, we will try and get out of it as soon as possible.

“We want to see that at the end of the day, no matter how small, we will be able to pay some dividends, especially if there is a rebound of the naira.”

• ‘We’ll Reapply For Merger Of Dangote Sugar With Nascon’

Speaking on the suspension of the planned merger of Dangote Sugar Refinery with Nascon Allied Industries Plc and Dangote Rice Limited, the chairman said it was put on hold because the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) wanted the rice factory to begin.

Dangote said the rice factory in Jigawa is expected to be commissioned soon, adding that Dangote Sugar will reapply for the merger when the time is right.

On April 19, Nascon announced the suspension of its proposed merger with Dangote Sugar.

Nascon said the merger was not completed due to the current non-operational status of Dangote Rice.

• Dangote Sugar To End Sugar Importation In 2028

Dangote said the company’s sugar master plan will enable the producer to sell only locally produced sugar in the next four years.

According to the chairman, the implementation of the backward integration policy will give the company the best future in terms of stability and prevent issues relating to exchange rate losses.

“The sugar master plan we are now taking is very, very serious,” he said.

“But to say the least, the industry as a whole, did not really push as we are supposed to push in terms of the backward integration.

“We have done a lot, but we also have our fears because if there is no proper implementation, we do not want to go and sink a lot of your money and we end up losing money because if government is not following or making sure that everybody behaves, then we will not be able to make money. But right now, I think they have called us.

“We have sat down and I can assure you on our own, we think the best future of this company is through the backward integration.

“Because backward integration will actually give you much more forfeit and stability and it will erase all these exchange rate losses.

“So, by the grace of God, in the next four years maximum, our company should be producing what we are selling currently, all domestic, 100 percent domestic.”

However, Dangote said if any sugar is imported by the company, it will only be to complement what it is producing.

The Port Harcourt-Aba train service, spanning 62 kilometres, has been launched by the federal government.

To promote and increase the use of the rail service, FG also announced a 4-day free train ride from May 1-4.

It is anticipated that commercial services will begin on May 7.

Transportation is one of President Bola Tinubu’s eight top priorities, according to a statement released by the federal ministry of transportation on Tuesday. As a result, the minister has directed his attention on the eastern rail corridor project since entering office.

Alkali said the commencement of the train service is part of the intensified drive by FG to facilitate trade, enhance mobility, and accessibility, as well as ensure connectivity between regions.

“With the completion of the rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt to Aba rail corridor, the Ministry will continue to vigorously drive the contractor Messrs CCECC towards the speedy completion and delivery of the 181 kilometres Aba-Enugu stretch,” Alkali said.

“The fare for the Port-Harcourt to Aba train service has been pegged at #1000 for VIP & #800 for economy class.”

Fidet Okhiria, the managing director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), said the locomotives and coaches used for the flag-off are refurbished ones.

Okhiria said the contractor is expected to deliver 50 narrow gauge locomotives and 100 narrow gauge coaches to be deployed along existing train corridors in the country.

On March 2, FG said the train services would commence by the end of March.

However, on March 29, the launch was postponed to April.

The rail line is a section of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railroad project initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.