. As excited residents hail construction company

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has hailed Nigeria’s leading engineering construction company as a very understanding company that has been committed to the development of infrastructure in the state, and indeed the country.

The governor spoke during the historic commissioning of the Emohua-Kalabari road constructed by the company weekend.

Reacting to remarks by the Deputy Regional Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr. Rimon Marisho, the Governor said, the company’s representative may have deliberately refused to state the obvious on the cost of the contract because of the understanding the company has shown in all their undertakings across the state.

He said, let me also say it here, maybe, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC was being economical with their presentation. On my table as I am talking to you, there is a request for variation of the cost of this project.

This is because, as at the time this project was awarded, and while the project was on-going, there were serious exchange rate differences. But I told them not to worry that they should go ahead and complete this project, and I assured them that we will sort them out and they accepted.

Amidst overwhelming ovation for the company, the governor added that the position the company took on the matter showed patriotism worthy of emulation by other companies working for government.

Earlier in his presentation, Morisho, said the Emohua-Abalama-Tema Junction Road project was awarded to the company in February, 2023, with a completion period of 18 months.

He continued: because of our company’s commitment to meeting contractual obligations, we ensured delivery of the project in good quality and ahead of schedule.

He added: Julius Berger is proud  to have contributed significantly to the development of infrastructure in this region, and we are grateful to Governor Fubara for the opportunity, including the trust reposed in them to be part of his success story.

Commenting on the project, Governor Fubara said it was awarded on February 18, 2023, by the immediate past administration at the cost of N21.2 billion but only paid N6 billion.

Governor Fubara stated that his administration paid the remainder of N15.2 billion and completed 70 percent of the job to confidently claim it as part of his projects delivered for the good of the people in Kalabari land.

So, let me thank the four local government areas which co-operated to make this project a success: Emohua, Asari-Toru, Degema and Akuku-Toru. And let me also thank the traditional leadership of the Kalabari Kingdom, please just be peaceful, everything that we desire, by the special grace of God, will definitely come our way, he further said

In his short presentation, the Permanent Secretary of Rivers State Ministry of Works, Atemea Briggs, said the Emohua-Kalabari Road is 15.24 kilometres in length, and was awarded at the cost of N21.26 billion by the previous administration, which paid only 28 percent of that sum, which amounted to N6 billion with work left at preliminary stage.

Briggs said other features of the road that is serving as major access into Kalabari land include its width as 5.3 meters, with asphalt thickness of 100 millimeters – made up of 60 millimeters concrete asphaltic binder course and 40 millimeters asphaltic wearing course, with a median divide of 600 millimeters and installed street light, now completed and fully paid.

In her welcome address, the Vice Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Mrs Tekena Daphne Wokoma, recalled that the road, which was properly constructed with bridges first in the 1990s, eventually collapsed few years after.

CSR: Julius Berger pleased with unforgettable partnership with Nigerian Army

. Donates housing units, camp facility, office, others to military

In furtherance of its acclaimed Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR activities, leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigerian Plc, last Tuesday handed over a newly built Life Camp Quarters to the Nigerian Army at Jaji Barracks, Kaduna State.

The Quarters comprises 45 fully furnished one-bedroom housing units, an administrative office, a gym house and a Club house among others.

In his address at the event, the Head of Corporate Security and Compliance, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr. Poul Nielsen who described the occasion as fulfilling said, the partnership between Julius Berger and the Nigerian Army has certainly come to stay and it goes way beyond here. Today, we are here to donate 45 fully furnished 1 bedroom housing units, a camp facility administrative office, Gym House, and a Clubhouse. On behalf of the Management of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, we are indeed appreciative to the Nigerian army for this unforgettable partnership.

Brig. General AS Bugaje who represented the Infantry Corp Commander, Major General OO Oloyede commended Julius Berger for the quality of work done while also thanking the company for the donations made to the Nigerian Army. He said, we commend Julius Berger for the excellent quality it has put into this work even as he prayed for stronger ties with the engineering construction company.

“On behalf of Major General OO Oloyede, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Julius Berger for this donation. Like Mr. Poul rightly stated earlier, this relationship has come to stay. Once again, we say thank you,” he added.

The Julius Berger CSR Team to the event included Julius Berger Head of Corporate Security and Compliance, Mr. Poul Nielsen supported by the Executive Project Director, Civil, Engr. Benjamin Bott, AKR Project Manager, Mr. Schiffner Sebastian, Project Coordinator, Engr. Yusuf Ibrahim, Uzoma Olivia and Ayomide Sunmonu.

PRESS RELEASE

‘WE’VE LOST OUR FINEST PUBLIC SERVANT IN LAGOS’ — SANWO-OLU PAYS MOVING TRIBUTE TO HIS LATE DEPUTY COS

• Accolades, testimonies as LASG holds Night of Tribute for Soyannwo

• ‘He was the revolving door for our Govt’ — State EXCO

Testimonies poured out in torrents for the late Deputy Chief of Staff (DCoS) to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Gboyega Olumade Soyannwo, as colleagues, friends and relatives gathered, on Tuesday, at a Night of Tributes to share memories of their moments and encounters with him.

The accolades, profound accounts of the deceased’s professional conducts and virtue of his generosity shared by those who had encounters with the deceased literally became the consoling legacy left for the bereaved family, just as the good testimonies dispersed the pall of grief that had enveloped Alausa — the seat of the Lagos State Government — since the passing of the State’s Executive Council member.

Soyannwo, 55, breathed his last on May 15, after a brief illness. He is survived by wife and two children.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, led members of the State Executive Council, members of the State’s legislature and the judiciary to the Night of Tribute held at Alausa Sports Ground, as part of the funeral programmes organised for the deceased.

Sanwo-Olu, in an emotive tone, described the late Sayannwo as the “rallying point” in the Governor’s Office, extolling the deceased’s commitment and his dedication to any cause to which he had conviction.

The Governor, who said Soyannwo’s death was a personal loss to him, revealed that he and the deceased had been together for 20 years, as they both had their stints in the banking sector, before moving to Government together.

Sanwo-Olu recalled that the late Soyannwo was the first staff in his team immediately he declared his intention to run for governor, noting that the deceased showed up in his house 24 hours after with a well thought-out strategy to go about party primaries.

The Governor said: “From the moment I was sworn in till today, Gboyega had made me a better manager than I was. He helped me to be a better Governor. He managed my daily itinerary and understood what the job entails. For once in the last five years when I appointed him as my Deputy Chief of Staff, I never had the cause to raise my voice at him because he fully understood the dynamics and tedious tasks of his office. He was the rallying point of my office.

“Gboyega made indelible impacts in the lives of each and every one of us. In the classes of the past and current cabinet, we have just lost our strongest confidant and a true bridge builder. Gboyega would call me 33 times in 25 minutes and each call would be quick to get my final approval for tasks listed in my itinerary. I’ve lost a great friend, brother and cherished colleague. Lagos has lost one of its finest public servants. I will forever be thankful to God for making our paths cross.”

Sanwo-Olu said the late Soyannwo was “fiercely loyal” and never coloured his official duties with friendship throughout his career.

The Governor said smooth organisation was not only the late Soyannwo’s main skill which stood him out as a professional banker.

“Give him a very difficult spreadsheet to analyse or transactions that anyone has no idea to unravel, Gboyega would resolve it in a simplified way. That’s how he started in banking industry,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He continued: “I certainly will not be here to mourn Gboyega’s death, but to celebrate his life and legacy left behind in service of our great country. He has done more than anyone can expect of a 55-year-old. He showed us there is reward for hard work. Gboyega taught all of us how to live well and make lasting impact on humanity.”

Dr. Hamzat recalled his first meeting with the late Soyannwo in 2018 ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primaries, pointing out that the deceased was a man who was careful with promises.

The Deputy Governor said the late DCoS never used any word carelessly, noting that his words were his bond.

“Any agreement reached with DCoS is cast in stone, he would never shift ground on agreed terms,” Dr. Hamzat noted.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, broke down in tears, as she made a moving tribute on behalf of the Executive Council members, describing the late Soyannwo’s death as “painful loss”.

She said the late Deputy Chief of Staff was the revolving door of the Sanwo-Olu administration that interfaced with all ranks and streamlined the governance process for smooth flow of Government’s programmes.

“DCoS was a team player for the good of our principal. His ability to inspire and galvanise others for result-oriented actions was unparalleled. He left an indelible mark on our administration and the State. The Executive Council will miss his intellectual contribution, his camaraderie and sense of humour. As we bid farewell to our departed brother, we take solace in the memories we shared together as one family,” Salu-Hundeyin said.

Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, eulogised his deputy, noting the late Soyannwo left at the time he had so much to offer to humanity.

“He was a dedicated, meticulous and committed public servant who was always passionate to serve the people. His loyalty was total and he never chickened out of agreed decisions,” Ayinde said.

Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro, who attended the same primary school with the deceased, recalled the late Soyannwo’s astuteness and problem-solving ability since their days as schoolchildren.

“The late Gboyega would not look out for himself alone; he would look out for others and take their wellbeing personally. He was a gifted and extraordinary problem solver. If you share any problem with DCoS, he would properly analyse it for you as if he initiated the problem and he would proffer two solutions, not one.”

SIGNED

GBOYEGA AKOSILE

SPECIAL ADVISER – MEDIA AND PUBLICITY

22 MAY 2024