When the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, said “He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual”, it appeared the American founding father had the Muhammadu Buhari administration in mind.

Otherwise, how else can one describe the completion of projects started by administration of Goodluck Jonathan by the present government without giving due credit?

From Abuja-Kaduna Railway, new terminal at Port Harcourt Airport, Abuja Light Rail project, commissioning of Air Force drone earlier launched by Jonathan as well as claiming credit for commissioning state projects in Lagos, Ogun, Zamfara, Cross River among others, the list is endless.

Thursday, December 20, 2018 witnessed the unveiling of one of such projects by President Muhammadu Buhari: the commissioning of the new International Terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.


Unknown to many people, the project was the brainchild of former Minister of Aviation and Senator currently representing Anambra North in the National Assembly, Stella Oduah. She served under the Jonathan administration.



As an insider, I can confirm that the former Minister spent sleepless nights to ensure that Nigeria’s airport terminals which became glorified bus stops had a facelift.

Her efforts paid off in 2012 when she obtained a concessionary loan from China Nexim Bank for the construction of five new international airport terminal buildings in Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu.

It is instructive to note that Thursday’s commissioning of the new International Terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by President Buhari is one of the projects, of which concessionary loan was obtained for from China by the then Minister. Although the Chinese initially rejected Federal Government’s request, her efforts paid off after she made a presentation on the benefits of the projects.

The N106 billion approval by the Federal Government in 2012 also involved the construction of six other airports for perishable cargoes in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Asaba, bringing the total number of airports to 11.

The story was reported by Premium Times, Channels Television and other media organisations.

Also, the transformation of the nation’s aviation sector under Oduah’s watch witnessed the reconstruction of 11 airports in Nigeria namely: Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos; the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa; the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu; and the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

Others are Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar; Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos; the airports in Yola, Kaduna and Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.



In an interview in 2017, Oduah had narrated how she took charge as Minister of Aviation, and started the immediate turn-around of the nation’s bus stop-like airports into those that meet international standards.


She said that when she assumed office as minister, she met decay and a huge gap in the industry, and that with the support of stakeholders, a master plan was developed as roadmap to grow the sector.

“Because we knew that aviation business is viable, whatever you spend it is recoverable, that gave us the impetus to develop the Aviation Master Plan.

“This master plan guided us on the A-Z of rehabilitating the aviation sector and we did our best with the resources that we had.

“I believe that today, if we still maintain that master plan, knowing that aviation is the catalyst for economic growth of any nation, the goals will still be accomplished.

“We started by looking at the impediments, one of which was the airspace – how to make it safe that it will be commercially viable.

“The same way for the terminals, where you board and where you sit; as much as we wanted it to be safe, we also wanted it to be comfortable.”

In the interview, Oduah went down memory lane to recall how many people could not use the rest rooms in the airports and how they looked like motor parks.

She added that based on the master plan, and with permission from then President Jonathan, she went all out to source for funds to reshape the aviation industry in Nigeria.

Without mincing words, the former minister said categorically: “Record has it that my achievements as the Aviation Minister are unbeatable till date.

“As the Minister of Aviation, I committed myself to the service of my country to the very best of my ability and as it is widely acknowledged, my record and performance as the Minister of Aviation remain laudable and unbeatable.

“What we did in aviation was so far reaching that it had never been done before, it was so unprecedented. If you remember how just Abuja airport used to be: one used to literally find it impossible to use the rest rooms there. To get into the lounge where people sit was impossible, most motor parks were better than what we had at the airport whether it is Lagos, Abuja, Sokoto.

“I challenge anybody to just do a spreadsheet; how aviation was before, How I made aviation and how aviation is today. In all honesty if the person does not give me 120 percent it means that they cannot add”.

Yet shockingly, she is being persecuted for doing the unprecedented; making Nigeria proud.

Credit: Joseph Omowale


Editor’s Note: Joseph Omowale, a public affairs analyst based in Abuja, writes on the newly commissioned Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, stressing that the project is the brain child of the Jonathan administration, highlighting with emphasis, the immense contribution of the former minister of aviation, Senator Stella Oduah.


https://autojosh.com/opinion-jonathan-oduah-unsung-heroes-of-new-airport-terminals/


Lalasticlala
Mynd44
Ishilove
Marpol
Semid4lyfe
Obinoscopy
Seun

Same people Yoruba droves out from office. Yorubas are the cause of every single problem in this country.

Karma awaits APC....they should know that power is transient.

what credit?? .what legacy??.don't be fooled by her story.. she was a legendary looter during GEJ misruled..

.

Left to PDP, these projects will never be completed..

Zik’s mausoleum set for commissioning 22 years after

By Praise Necherem
The Muhammadu Bu­hari-led administration has recorded another giant landmark following the com­pletion of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum. The project initi­ated by the federal government twenty-two years ago, was awarded by the late Sani Abacha regime shortly after the death of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owelle of Onitsha and the first president of Nigeria.

The project, as it were, was targeted at honouring the first Premier of Eastern Nigeria and founder of the University of Nige­ria, Nsukka (UNN), in recogni­tion of his immense contributions to national development and the country’s independence.

Located at the heart of Onitsha, commercial city of Anambra state, the mausoleum, regrettably, had suffered series of neglect and abandonment by previous administrations. It also underwent various reviews of the contract sum until it was taken over by the Buhari‘s administra­tion to see to its completion.

Minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, had during his visit to the state in May, told the contractor to en­sure the completion of the project before the end of October.
Fashola had expressed dissat­isfaction over the slow pace of work and threatened to revoke the contract, if the contractor failed to deliver on schedule.

The chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnae­meka Achebe, had, during the minister’s visit, described as an embarrassment, the delay in the completion of the project after decades. He called for the speedy completion of the mausoleum.
The project, however, finally came to completion, 22 years after its initial commencement and is ready for commissioning soonest.

Bouygues Construction Nige­ria Limited (BNL) the firm han­dling the project, assured that work has been completed on the project and ready for handover.

Speaking to Orient Daily, the project manager of the firm, John Ameh, said the project was actually completed towards the end of September. “We met the minister’s deadline of October ending, but because the client has not taken over, we cannot just lock up the place and leave for security reasons. We wrote on October 11, notifying them to come and take over the proj­ect.
They are likely to visit this week,” he said.

Ameh described the mauso­leum as a “land mark project’’ for the people of South-East and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. According to him, “it is a project that has spanned so many administra­tions before it was awarded to BNL in 2014 while work started in 2015.

“This administration was courageous enough to take it to completion and should be com­mended.”
Also speaking, the site engi­neer Mr. Paul Odigie, said the mausoleum is made up of the main building, administrative block and a residential house.

“We took over this project in 2013 as the last contractor. We were neither the first or the second. I believe the work started twenty years ago.
“Actually, we’re through with the project. We’re just waiting for the commissioning which will take place any moment from now,” he said.

The building is uniquely posi­tioned to serve as a tourist site as the structure has a central tower. There is jubilation and excitement among residents and visitors alike to the commercial city of the state as the mausole­um is now wearing a new look with assorted paintings and art works waiting its formal commis­sioning.

https://orientdailynews.com.ng/cityscope/ziks-mausoleum-commissioning-years/

Nigeria completes Itakpe-Warri rail line after 34 years


Published on 19.11.2018


The Itakpe-Warri rail line has been completed after 34 years, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said.Amaechi explained that the rail line, which was abandoned would have been the first standard guage line in Africa if it was completed.

He said on Sunday in Abuja that, “based on the president’s instruction, I did a memo; I thought we will borrow money from China; but the president refused. He said we should use our internal funds to execute the project.

“People saw me on social media on train service from Warri to Itakpe. I got to Warri 8pm because I was going from one station to the other,” he said.

The minister, who made a presentation titled `What We are Building ‘ said that President Muhammadu Buhari, upon assumption of office, directed that old and abandoned projects should be completed.

“The truth is that the country is compelled to make a choice between good and bad. When I was appointed the Minister for Transportation, the president warned–do not start new contracts, go and complete old ones.

He said that the tradition in the past was that once one was elected, one left the old things for the old people and awarded new contracts.

According to Amaechi, the ministry will start commercial service from Itakpe to Warri.

“We completed it but two things are remarkable—we borrowed 500 million dollars to start that project at the time oil was selling at 114 dollars per barrel. We should not have borrowed; you mean this country could not have afforded 500 million dollars?


“I wrote a memo to the president and to the cabinet requesting that he should allow me borrow 500 million dollars from China to buy locomotives and coaches for Lagos-Ibadan, the cabinet under the directive of the president refused.

“He (the president) said 500 million dollars; we can get from here and we are funding it from here; so we did and completed Kaduna to Abuja quickly.”

According to him, another project, Lagos to Ibadan railway, is almost complete—a distance of 156km.

The minister said that application had also been made to construct Kano to Kaduna railway as approval for funds is being awaited.

“We are about to award the central line from Abuja to Niger to Baru from Baru to Itakpe to Warri; the president had approved a new seaport in Warri. We are negotiating with a Chinese company which will build it.

“Do not forget that 2.7 billion dollars is N1 trillion. So, we are looking for money to commence already awarded work on the coastal rail.

“The coastal rail starts from Lagos, it passes through Ogun State, Ondo, Benin, Asaba, and Onitsha. From Benin again, it passes through Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, to Bayelsa, in fact, it goes to Utuoke. From Otuoke, it goes to Port Harcourt,” he said.

https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/nigeria-completes-itakpe-warri-rail-line-after-34-years/

After 6 Years in Office President GEJ only has a drawing of 2nd Niger Bridge to show as his achievement

Yet Nigeria airport was ranked the worst in the world under her supervision. The monies that was approved for renovation was siphoned and laundered into her maid's account with Gej giving her a kiss on the cheek. Whenever they are confronted with their record of failures, they rush to the media to wipe up sentiments.. If she couldn't manage her marriage, how could she have managed a ministry.


Python amaka

Governance is continuum. You don't expect Jonathan to finish all the projects he initiated in 8yrs. I hate duumb people!

PythonAmaka:
Yet Nigeria airport was ranked the worst in the world under her supervision. The monies that was approved for renovation was siphoned and laundered into her maid's account with Gej giving her a kiss on the cheek. Whenever they are confronted with their record of failures, they rush to the media to wipe up sentiments.. If she couldn't manage her marriage, how could she have managed a ministry.


Python amaka

Yes we will never forget PDP years of the locust.

Here is Portharcourt Airport under PDP, rated the worst in the world.

autojosh:
When the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, said “He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual”, it appeared the American founding father had the Muhammadu Buhari administration in mind.

Otherwise, how else can one describe the completion of projects started by administration of Goodluck Jonathan by the present government without giving due credit?

From Abuja-Kaduna Railway, new terminal at Port Harcourt Airport, Abuja Light Rail project, commissioning of Air Force drone earlier launched by Jonathan as well as claiming credit for commissioning state projects in Lagos, Ogun, Zamfara, Cross River among others, the list is endless.

Thursday, December 20, 2018 witnessed the unveiling of one of such projects by President Muhammadu Buhari: the commissioning of the new International Terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.


Unknown to many people, the project was the brainchild of former Minister of Aviation and Senator currently representing Anambra North in the National Assembly, Stella Oduah. She served under the Jonathan administration.



As an insider, I can confirm that the former Minister spent sleepless nights to ensure that Nigeria’s airport terminals which became glorified bus stops had a facelift.

Her efforts paid off in 2012 when she obtained a concessionary loan from China Nexim Bank for the construction of five new international airport terminal buildings in Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu.

It is instructive to note that Thursday’s commissioning of the new International Terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by President Buhari is one of the projects, of which concessionary loan was obtained for from China by the then Minister. Although the Chinese initially rejected Federal Government’s request, her efforts paid off after she made a presentation on the benefits of the projects.

The N106 billion approval by the Federal Government in 2012 also involved the construction of six other airports for perishable cargoes in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Asaba, bringing the total number of airports to 11.

The story was reported by Premium Times, Channels Television and other media organisations.

Also, the transformation of the nation’s aviation sector under Oduah’s watch witnessed the reconstruction of 11 airports in Nigeria namely: Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos; the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa; the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu; and the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

Others are Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar; Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos; the airports in Yola, Kaduna and Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.



In an interview in 2017, Oduah had narrated how she took charge as Minister of Aviation, and started the immediate turn-around of the nation’s bus stop-like airports into those that meet international standards.


She said that when she assumed office as minister, she met decay and a huge gap in the industry, and that with the support of stakeholders, a master plan was developed as roadmap to grow the sector.

“Because we knew that aviation business is viable, whatever you spend it is recoverable, that gave us the impetus to develop the Aviation Master Plan.

“This master plan guided us on the A-Z of rehabilitating the aviation sector and we did our best with the resources that we had.

“I believe that today, if we still maintain that master plan, knowing that aviation is the catalyst for economic growth of any nation, the goals will still be accomplished.

“We started by looking at the impediments, one of which was the airspace – how to make it safe that it will be commercially viable.

“The same way for the terminals, where you board and where you sit; as much as we wanted it to be safe, we also wanted it to be comfortable.”

In the interview, Oduah went down memory lane to recall how many people could not use the rest rooms in the airports and how they looked like motor parks.

She added that based on the master plan, and with permission from then President Jonathan, she went all out to source for funds to reshape the aviation industry in Nigeria.

Without mincing words, the former minister said categorically: “Record has it that my achievements as the Aviation Minister are unbeatable till date.

“As the Minister of Aviation, I committed myself to the service of my country to the very best of my ability and as it is widely acknowledged, my record and performance as the Minister of Aviation remain laudable and unbeatable.

“What we did in aviation was so far reaching that it had never been done before, it was so unprecedented. If you remember how just Abuja airport used to be: one used to literally find it impossible to use the rest rooms there. To get into the lounge where people sit was impossible, most motor parks were better than what we had at the airport whether it is Lagos, Abuja, Sokoto.

“I challenge anybody to just do a spreadsheet; how aviation was before, How I made aviation and how aviation is today. In all honesty if the person does not give me 120 percent it means that they cannot add”.

Yet shockingly, she is being persecuted for doing the unprecedented; making Nigeria proud.

Credit: Joseph Omowale


Editor’s Note: Joseph Omowale, a public affairs analyst based in Abuja, writes on the newly commissioned Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, stressing that the project is the brain child of the Jonathan administration, highlighting with emphasis, the immense contribution of the former minister of aviation, Senator Stella Oduah.


https://autojosh.com/opinion-jonathan-oduah-unsung-heroes-of-new-airport-terminals/


Lalasticlala
Mynd44
Ishilove
Marpol
Semid4lyfe
Obinoscopy
Seun

Since you started from US, I will respond to you using US scenario.

President Heisenhower started the interstate highway in America, he signed the bill. The original project outlined in that bill was completed 35yrs after it was approved in 1956. That President was dead by then. He was Republican the project was completed under Democrat. It was acclaimed as an American achievement, not a Republican or Democrat.

Fayemi has resumed as Ekiti Governor. He is reviewing projects under Fayose. What is good for the state and the people he has continued it, what is wadteful he is halting for alternative approach. I have heard Fayemi lambasted Fayose and trust Fayose to duly return the favor, but im yet to hear any tit-tat about which party started what or conpleted what.

Is it good for the people?

This should be the focus, projects belong Nigeria, not parties.

Yoruba, the most Superior race on earth! We will continue to deploy and disseminate lessons and instructions on politics 101.

freedomforall30:
Same people Yoruba droves out from office. Yorubas are the cause of every single problem in this country.

I thought you would appreciate them for driving out bunch of failures from office. Nevertheless, I expect you to cry because corruption is like honey to your mouth.


python amaka

oyebanji44:
what credit?? .what legacy??.don't be fooled by her story.. she was a legendary looter during GEJ misruled..

Was she not sacked?


Give credit to the hero of democracy abeg.



Apc is an Association of Past Criminals.

ImperialYoruba:


Since you started from US, I will respond to you using US scenario.

President Heisenhower started the interstate highway in America, he signed the bill. The original project outlined in that bill was completed 35yrs after it was approved in 1956. That President was dead by then. He was Republican the project was completed under Democrat. It was acclaimed as an American achievement, not a Republican or Democrat.

Fayemi has resumed as Ekiti Governor. He is reviewing projects under Fayose. What is good for the state and the people he has continued it, what is wadteful he is halting for alternative approach. I have heard Fayemi lambasted Fayose and trust Fayose to duly return the favor, but im yet to hear any tit-tat about which party started what or conpleted what.

Is it good for the people?

This should be the focus, projects belong Nigeria, not parties.

Yoruba, the most Superior race on earth! We will continue to deploy and disseminate lessons and instructions on politics 101.

You are disseminating lessons on politics 101 yet your region is still backward with massive Skull mining business everywhere.


Increasing Ogun IGR through Skullarship.

deji17:


Yes we will never forget PDP years of the locust.

Here is Portharcourt Airport under PDP, rated the worst in the world.

If PDP were a fair party, they would have relocated their Secretariat to that airport terminal. When APC completes the renovation, they will say APC claims their achievement


python amaka

PythonAmaka:

If PDP were a fair party, they would have relocated their Secretariat to that airport terminal. When APC completes the renovation, they will say APC claims their achievement


python amaka

Honestly, PDP is a shameless party. They left abandoned project all over the place after they have looted the funds.
Projects that has been under construction for 30, 40 years are now being completed and instead of hiding their face in shame, they come out to vomit rubbish.

PDP POWER

Metuh:


You are disseminating lessons on politics 101 yet your region is still backward with massive Skull mining business everywhere.


Increasing Ogun IGR through Skullarship.

Yet, an average of 10 economic Igbo refugees pack themselves like a carton of sardines into Ogun state per hour, perhaps as investors in skull mining business.
It's quite difficult for a flat head to make a sense.


python amaka

Is buhari too dull to introduce something new? Nothing in Nigeria today is buhari brainchild

ImperialYoruba:


Since you started from US, I will respond to you using US scenario.

President Heisenhower started the interstate highway in America, he signed the bill. The original project outlined in that bill was completed 35yrs after it was approved in 1956. That President was dead by then. He was Republican the project was completed under Democrat. It was acclaimed as an American achievement, not a Republican or Democrat.

Fayemi has resumed as Ekiti Governor. He is reviewing projects under Fayose. What is good for the state and the people he has continued it, what is wadteful he is halting for alternative approach. I have heard Fayemi lambasted Fayose and trust Fayose to duly return the favor, but im yet to hear any tit-tat about which party started what or conpleted what.

Is it good for the people?

This should be the focus, projects belong Nigeria, not parties.

Yoruba, the most Superior race on earth! We will continue to deploy and disseminate lessons and instructions on politics 101.

Just accept that the dullarrd whom yorubas worship has nothing to show as his brainchild and stop deceiving yourself

deji17:


Honestly, PDP is a shameless party. They left abandoned project all over the place after they have looted the funds.
Projects that has been under construction for 30, 40 years are now being completed and instead of hiding their face in shame, they come out to vomit rubbish.

Evil party..


-python amaka

We miss Jonathan