FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING
Office of the Special Adviser on Communications
Headquarters, Mabushi P.M.B. 111, Garki – Abuja, Nigeria

PRESS STATEMENT

• A total of 1804.6 kilometres of roads spread over the six geopolitical zones of the country
• Fashola explains that Executive Order 007 signed by the President in 2019 is to stimulate private sector participation in the road sector
• NNPC is not taking over, but funding the 21 roads to enhance timely completion, says Minister
• Calls on Nigerians, other road users, to maintain 100 kilometre speed limit as the nation’s road network gets better
• NNPC pledges to ensure completion of road projects before the end of the Buhari Administration

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Tuesday handed over a symbolic cheque of N621.24 Billion for the rehabilitation of 21 critical roads across the country through the Tax Credit Scheme under the Executive Order 7 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
In his remarks before the brief presentation ceremony at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Works and House Headquarters, Mabushi, the Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, explained that the Tax Credit Scheme, which, according to him, was inherited from the previous administration, was meant as a strategic partnership with the Private Sector.

The Minister, who said the present administration was currently using it for the construction and rehabilitation of Kabba-Obajana Road in Kogi State and the Apapa-Oworonsoki Road in Lagos, pointed out that contrary to the belief in some quarters that the Scheme was meant for only big companies like the Dangote Group, the scheme was open to all the members of the Private Sector.

Giving the presentation of the cheque as sign of the participation of the NNPC in the Scheme, Fashola pointed out that in order to ensure the inclusion of all segments of the Sector; the Federal Government has further opened a window of participation for smaller companies by asking them to form conglomerates to enable them mobilize enough funding capacity.

“The Tax Credit Scheme is a policy that we inherited from the previous administration. It was there but it was never used”, Fashola said adding that it was in the life of the present administration that the scheme was given life and because it had an expiration date the Executive Order 7 had to be put in place to enable government use it to address the Kabba-Obajana, and “the difficult Apapa-Oworonsoki Roads which is serving the Apapa Port”.

The Minister explained further, “Of course, the Tax Credit Scheme that we inherited had an expiry date and when we started using it, it was being said that it was made for one company alone. So we had to come out to explain that it was meant for all the companies that have tax credit”.

“And when it expired, we looked at some of the limitations of the scheme and we made some recommendations to the President”, the Minister said adding that one of the recommendations was that, perhaps, the roads should be made more diverse and to be spread out to include all the six geopolitical zones.

According to him, another recommendation was that other companies that have smaller turnover could come together to form conglomerates. He added, “All of these were then factored into the recommendations that were passed to the President which was signed as the Executive Order 7”.

Describing the signing of the cheque as “a big show of confidence by the NNPC”, Fashola expressed delight that contrary to the earlier impression created in some quarters, the scheme was now attracting other sectors of the economy including the manufacturing and telecommunications firms.

The Minister, who said some of the roads had subsisting contracts that were over ten years old, pointed out that the NNPC was not taking over but funding the roads to ensure completion, adding, “One of the things we have done is to ask the contractors that they should not ask for the review of the contracts throughout the duration of the projects”.

“So we are putting in a governance process and that governance process requires us to do certification of their certificates promptly within five days”, the Minister said adding that as soon as the certificates were certified they would be escalated to the NNPC which would be required to pay within 30 days. Also, he said, the staff of the Ministry has certain number of days within which to act to certify the certificates.

The Minister gave assurance that all the unpaid certificates that were in existence before the scheme was approved and all the certificates that budget provisions were inadequate to pay, would be paid as from signing of the contract with the NNPC adding that what it meant was that there would be money to pay the contractors who would in turn pay their suppliers of construction materials in the chain of distribution of wealth across the divide.

He explained that some of the roads like Apapa-Oworonasoki and Obajana-Kabba had no previous contracts in which case those on tax credit scheme were allowed to choose their own contractors while the Ministry still acts as supervisors adding that the difference between them was that the 21 roads which affect the NNPC distribution operations were already under contract.

“So NNPC is not taking over our roads, NNPC is not constructing roads, NNPC is only putting forwards its tax liabilities to fund the roads”, Fashola said reiterating that the roads would have been completed some years back but for insufficiency of funds.

Urging the contractors to go out there and do the best they could to meet the expectations of Nigerians, the Minister said even as the construction companies were shutting down as a result of the yuletide season, the contractors were expected to do more work now when the weather was good for construction.

The Minister called on Nigerians to maintain the speed limit of 100 kilometres as specified by the nation’s traffic laws noting that the season of celebrations would involve a lot of movement of goods and persons across the country.

He added, “As the number of roads we complete are increasing, we are also seeing increasing accidents and the accidents break our hearts. So I am going to appeal to the Media who are here to please help us to carry this message through this Yuletide season that the maximum speed on our highways is 100kilometres, not more”.

According to him, “What it does, if you maintain that speed, is that if there is trouble you will be better able to avoid it”.

Earlier in his remarks before the presentation the representative of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC and Chief Finance Officer of the organization, Mr. Umar Ajiya, said the Corporation was motivated by the challenged condition of some of the nation’s roads most of which were the arteries of the company’s operations adding that with the vandalization of the distribution pipelines the company had been forced to use the roads as its channel of distribution of petroleum products nationwide.

Thanking the Minister of Works and Housing and other relevant agencies of government, the NNPC Chief Finance Officer said the symbolic presentation of the N621 billion was a way of contributing to the Federal Government efforts to give Nigerians befitting road network adding that it was an investment that was being done in compliance to the Executive Order 7 to use the company’s tax credit.

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Muhammad Nami, in his remarks, said the investment in roads was as a result of Executive Order 007, 2019 meant to encourage taxpayers to use company income tax payable by them to fix the nation’s critical infrastructure in exchange for tax credit.

Explaining the process involved in the scheme, the Executive Chairman said the scheme was meant also to support “the fact that there is a social contract between the taxpayers and the government” adding, “What government is using the Executive Order 007 to do is to give value to taxpayers’ money.

“This is unprecedented and very necessary for us to fix the roads in Nigeria”, he said adding that it has become expedient because the annual budgetary allocation for the roads were not only minimal but absolutely insufficient. He said it was most importantly meant to bridge the critical infrastructure gap that the country faces.

The critical roads, which are major routes for the distribution of petroleum products across the country by the NNPC include, the roads in the North Central totaling 791kilometres which are the dualization of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa/Bokani Junction Road Section I: Ilorin-Jebba In Kwara State, dualization of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa/Bokani Junction Road Section II: Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani Junction In Kwara/Niger States and dualization of Suleja-Minna Road in Niger State.

Also in the zone are the dualization of Suleja-Minna Road in Niger State Phase II, Reconstruction of Bida-Lambata Road in Niger State, Agaie – Katcha – Baro Road, Emergency Repairs of failed section of Mokwa – Makera – Tegina – Kaduna State Border in Niger State, Minna – Zungeru – Tegina road and Bida – Minna Road.

In the South-South, three roads totaling 81.90 kilometres which are under the scheme include rehabilitation of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road in Cross River State Section I: Odukpani-Itu Bridge Head in Cross River/Akwa Ibom States, dualization of outstanding portion of Odukpani-ltu-lkot Ekpene, and dualization of Oku-Iboku Power Plant Section of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot-Ekpene Road in Cross River/Akwa Ibom States.
The roads chosen in the South East, aggregating to122 kilometres, include rehabilitation of Umuahia (Ikwuano)-Ikot Ekpene Road: Umuahia-Umudike in Abia State and the dualization of Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road in Abia/Akwa Ibom States.
In the North East, roads involved total 117 kilometres. They include rehabilitation of Cham-Numan Section of Gombe-Yola Road in Adamawa State, construction of Bali – Serti Road in Taraba State and rehabilitation of Gombe – Biu Road in Gombe/Borno State while in the North West the roads chosen, which aggregate to 283.5kilometres, include Rehabilitation of Outstanding Sections of Gada – Zaima – Zuru – Gamji Road Phase II in Kebbi State and Rehabilitation of Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto-Birnin Kebbi.

In the South West, roads chosen are rehabilitation and expansion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway (Agbara Junction-Nigeria/Benin Border) in Lagos State and the dualization of Ibadan – Ilorin Road (Route A2) Section II in Oyo State (Oyo – Ogbomosho) which aggregate to 114.00 kilometres.

The symbolic cheque presentation ceremony was followed by a signing of Funding Intervention Agreement by the NNPC, FIRS, the Ministry of Works and Housing and the Contractors.

Also present at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Babangida Hussaini, Directors and Special Advisers as well as top officials of the NNPC and the Federal Inland Revenue Service and contractors handling the aforementioned roads.

HAKEEM BELLO
SPECIAL ADVISER,
COMMUNICATIONS
TO THE HON. MINISTER
21ST DECEMBER , 2021

PRESS RELEASE

NUGA 2022: SPORTS IS UNIFIER, RALLYING POINT FOR LAGOS, SAYS SANWO-OLU

•Tasks UNILAG to win University Games

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday said his administration will continue to use sports as a rallying point to project the tourism potentials of the state.
He said his administration would provide an enabling environment for sports and youth development as well as utilise the tourism potentials of Lagos to build future leaders.
Governor Sanwo-Olu while receiving the 2022 Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) “Torch of Unity” at Lagos House Marina on Wednesday, promised that Lagos State Government would support the games with human and material resources
The Torch of Unity was presented by a delegation from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the host university, made up of the institution’s Pro-Chancellor, Senator Lanre Tejuoso and Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Toyin Ogundipe, among other top management staff of the institution.
The Nigerian Universities Games, scheduled to hold between March 16 and 26, will be city games as sports competitions would take place inside the UNILAG campus and other sports facilities in Lagos State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu congratulated the management of UNILAG for winning the hosting rights of NUGA 2022, saying the sports competition would further bring about unity and togetherness among students and youths from different parts of Nigeria as over 10,000 participants are expected to participate in the event.
The Governor, who is an alumnus of the University of Lagos, charged the school to win the 26th edition of the Nigerian Universities Games.
He also implored students and youths to use NUGA 2022 as a platform to discuss more on what unites Nigeria and ways of bringing peace and building the nation.
Speaking on his administration’s commitment to sports and youth development, Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that currently, the state government is constructing nine sporting facilities across the state to boost sportsmanship and unity.
In his remark, the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ogundipe said the Nigerian Universities Games will go beyond sports but also boost the tourism potential of Lagos State, as over 10,000 students and officials are expected to participate in the Nigerian Universities Games.
Prof. Ogundipe appealed to Lagos State Government to support NUGA 2022 through the provision of security and transportation facilities, as well as other state facilities that can be used during the event.
He also appealed to the Ministry of Tourism to assist in ensuring that visitors feel the tourist potential of Lagos State, noting that the Nigerian Universities Games is not only about UNILAG but Lagos State.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
DECEMBER 22, 2021
PRESS RELEASE

WE’LL CONTINUE TO PLAY LEADING ROLE TO SECURE LAGOS, SAYS SANWO-OLU

•N3m needed to kit one police officer, says LSSTF Boss

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reassured residents of the State that his administration will continue to play the leading role to secure the State.
He said his administration has demonstrated its commitment in the past and will remain resolute in its quest to enhance peace and security, with the support and partnership from people of the State.
Speaking at the 15th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security with the Governor, themed: “Reconceptualising Safety and Security in Lagos State” held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the State Government is pressing ahead with its security trust fund’s vision of making the state the safest, most secure and prosperous commercial nerve centre in Africa.
The Governor also disclosed that the State Government and the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) with an investment of over N3billion in security and with the active support of the private sector, procured and deployed security assets for the use of the Nigeria Police.
He said his administration is committed to programmes, policies and projects targeted at socio-economic development, creation of job opportunities, prosperity and the sustenance of hope in the hearts and lives of people in the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who called for support to collectively tackle cultism, bullying in schools and other social vices, assured the residents that his government, in line with the vision of 21st Century megacity would deliver a call centre that is truly responsive to ensure a Greater Lagos.
He said: “We will continue to train and retrain all enforcement agents of the Lagos State government, while also supporting the federal security agencies to improve their effectiveness.
We have continued to foster engagements with the various security agencies in the state, demanding that they work together to dislodge criminal elements from our state. These engagements have yielded results as we have developed a mechanism in which every agency works in synergy with others to improve the State’s security architecture.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu, while appreciating the management of the LSSTF, the Lagos Police Command of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, commended the generous contributions of donors to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Boards of Trustees (BoT) of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Mr. Kehinde Durosimi-Etti, said the annual security town hall meeting is for security agencies to render an account of their operations and also provide the present administration, the opportunities to share its vision for a safer and more secured Lagos.
Durosimi-Etti, who saluted the commitment of security agents for optimally carrying out their duties, stated that the Fund would continue to play a pivotal role in strengthening the security architecture of the state through partnership and development.
He also implored the private sector and individuals to play their part by contributing to the LSSTF to ensure that the security agencies in the state are fully equipped so as to respond swiftly to any security breach.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, said N3million is needed to fully and properly kit a police officer.
He said: “The high cost of equipment required for security is a big issue, especially for technology related equipment such as good quality drones, CCTV cameras, trackers, etc.
“Our security agencies require advanced training, more equipment that would support an intelligence-led approach to crime prevention (drones, trackers, scanners at city gates, gunshot detection devices), more non-lethal weaponry.
“To fully kit one policeman with uniform, taser, tactical gear (light, knife, jacket, belt, gloves, shoulder, ankle, and boots), bulletproof vest, ballistic helmet, tear gas, push-to-talk on cellular communication equipment, rain gear, etc, will cost at least N3 million. Hence to kit 33,000 police officers in Lagos will cost about N99 billion. This is our reality if we truly want a highly motivated and fully equipped police force in the state.”
On his part, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu confirmed that in the last one year, cases of crime within the state have reduced.
Odumosu, who disclosed that no bank robbery was recorded in the last one year, called on the general public to support the fight against crime and cultism.
He said the Lagos Command will continue to rely on logistics support from Lagos State Government, LSSTF and other stakeholders in order to sustain the current tempo against crimes and criminalities in the State.
Some of the speakers and stakeholders at the 15th Annual Town Hall Meeting with the Governor also commended the Lagos State Government for improving the security architecture in the state and pledged their continuous support to tackle security challenges in Lagos.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
DECEMBER 22, 2021

Dr Abiola Oshodi preaches unity and love at Christmas

Dr. Abiola Oshodi, the Owo born Medical expert and Nigerian in The Diaspora, who is doing the country proud abroad has felicitated with Christians across the country and Nigerians in general as the birth of Christ is celebrated this year.

In a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen, Dr. Oshodi called on Nigerians to embrace the virtues of love and peaceful coexistence which the Christmas season symbolizes. “I urge Nigerians to seize the moment of the Christmas celebration to reach out to fellow Nigerians who are in distress at this period of the nation’s history. It feels good to know that despite the economic challenges, Nigeria is still making steady progress, however, for the downtrodden in the society, the Christmas period presents a good opportunity for those who have enough to reach out to them with a good patronage which exemplifies love and good neighbourliness,” Dr Oshodi noted.

“the season of Christmas is one that exemplifies the virtues of love and peaceful coexistence.

“We must continue to extend hand of love, benevolence and live as one family irrespective of our creed or colour.

“We must also continue to respect each other’s right to live freely and peacefully.

“The period of Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the symbol of Christianity and the harbinger of peace, love and good tidings

“There is no better way to celebrate the season than by showing love and being our brother’s keeper.

“Let us cultivate the habit of giving to those who need our help at this time; it would go a long way to put smile on their faces,” the Canada based Psychiatry expert said.

The Ose/Owo House of Representative hopeful in the 2023 General election advised the youths of the constituency to be up and doing, stressing that he is poised to continue to support the academic pursuit of the youth of the area with more scholarship funds and financial assistance, noting that he feels excited over the drive for academic excellence by the youths of Ose/Owo Federal Constituency.

For the people of Ose and Owo, Dr. Oshodi said in the new year, his foundation, Abiola Oshodi Foundation has a lot of positive plans and improvement on what they have in the time past benefitted from the foundation. He said the benefits the people will enjoy from his foundation will cut across health, women empowerment, provision of assistance for the widows, job creation and skill acquisition programmes and many more.

Oshodi said he will use his international exposure to attract a lot of goodies to Ose/Owo federal constituency in the new year.

Akpabio’s contribution to Niger Delta development unprecedented – Youth leaders

Youth leaders from the Niger Delta region on Tuesday applauded Senator Godswill Akpabio for conceiving and implementing projects in line with well-defined vision and strategies.
‘’The evidence so far is that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio. is well-informed of what is expected of him and he is rising to the occasion admirably’’
At a meeting in Owerri, the youths commended Akpabio for giving priority to the basic infrastructure like roads, electricity, education, drinking water, health, land reclamation, construction of jetties and canalization.
‘’Senator Godswill Akpabio is offering permanent solutions to the Niger Delta problems. He is giving succour to the afflicted, building bridges of friendship across the region and giving the people a sense of belonging’’.
The youth leaders spoke on the 3 per cent contribution of oil companies from their annual budgets to NDDC, the huge debt owed the commission by International Oil Companies, IOCs, operating in the region, Akpabio’s doggedness and sincerity and the financial resources to meet NDDC recurrent and capital expenditure,
In an address read on behalf of Youth Groups in the Niger Delta by the President, Coalition of Progressive Niger Delta Youths (CPNDY), Mr Chukwuma Nwabueze, the youth leaders praised Akpabio for properly and efficiently managing the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
They also applauded the former governor of Akwa Ibom State for galvanising the people into lending full support to the government in the campaign to transform the region.
‘’Godswill Akpabio’s strategy of development is aimed at breaking the ground for a dynamic growth of the Niger Delta’’
The youths emphasised proper coordination, distribution pattern of projects across the nine states of the region and completion of some abandoned projects.
They cautioned that there was great danger in constituting the NDDC Board
‘’Our attitude to the call for the constituting of the board for the Niger Delta Development Commission in 2021 is one of extreme caution. We also urge President Muhamadu Buhari not to yield to the temptation of constituting the NDDC Board now’’
The youths also highlighted the on-going East West Road project, the 1050 bed hostel in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, human capital development, skills acquisition centres in all the 9 states of the Niger Delta and the 132kv substation in Ondo state, which will supply power to about 5 local governments.
‘’The good people of the Niger Delta have suffered from the myopic advice of The Ijaw Interest Advocate (IIA). We feel strongly that Mr Musa Saidu is a busy body that chose to cry where there is none. We urge the general public to disregard the lies, rumours peddled by the Izanzan Intellectual Camp, Saidu and other unpatriotic elements’’.