₦airaland Forum

CHAIRMAN1: The
Rivers State Governor, Gov. Ameachi have been dropped as the chairman
of the Governor's Forum and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill
Akpabio is now the new Chair. Got this on 93.7FM News Port Harcourt
this morning.

GEJ aint smiling!

It is PDP-Governors Forum and not the Nigeria Governors Forum. Get your facts straight and stop misleading people.

Stupid thread and a complete waste of space... go get a real job aka Native Dr

mapet: @Omo_Tier1,

1. I don't know if it is plain ignorance of endemic Nairaland flu that you've caught.
2. I'm tempted to believe you don't even know how a club system operates or what is the rubbish arguement you're putting up here? comparing a church to a golf club is plain ridiculous. I wonder how I can even explain
3. Let me tell you some facts. The only reason Oloye could barge into Benin golf club is because the perimenter fence is barb-wired, hence you can see through. It is a private property and what goes on INSIDE the club is nobody's business.
4. Have you heard any governor's officer barge into Ikeja, Ikoyi, Dolphin, Abeokuta, Asaba, ShellClub in Warri, Ewekoro golf, IBB clubs and put them under lock and key because of environmental Sanitation exercises? Have anybody gone to Ibom, Ada, Nike lakes etc which are Hotels and Golf Clubs and put them under lock and key because it is environmental sanitation?
5. You practically lost me with your dumb "Igbo-trader" argument and there is no way you can comprehend the issues here......not worth it.

@BOLD, what sort of stupid reasoning is this? Does the sanitation law prevent private enterprise from not observing sanitation? You excuses are so lame to say the least! Instead of you to be ashamed that you are glorifying law breakers you are still here spewing rubbish.

Is Benin club bigger than Edo State? Why can't they observe the sanitation hours of just 6am to 10am? Is it too much of a ask? Some of you just care for your own myopic and self centered interest and barely think of the wider consequences. Those folks playing golf at the club don't they have homes to keep tidy? Big man my foot

kelvincoll: Ok Oga Maku, back to Oshobaba now.. Can you prove Labaran wrote your Govt for money or it was a slip of tongue?

@east west road. I wonder why sectraco had a slice in that road contract. I never liked the way dey execute their project, was in warri sometime back and saw d substarndard thing dey call road. FG should sanction them or revoke d contract

I think you have to blame those supervising the project. The same Setraco completed Sepele road in Benin and are not also in charge of Airport road. Sapele road was done to a very high standard and anyone who has driven on that road will attest to the quality of the job done there.

How do you expect Setraco to perform when the minister for Niger delta Oruebebe must have collected 30% of the contract sum as kick back?

[quote author=Neo-XVI]They are still evolving. There is hardly a need for ideology right now. What we need is a government that will invest heavily in infrastructure and get us out of needing basic things, then we can talk about ideology. Ever heard of Maslow's hierarchy of needs? You first deal with food, clothing and shelter before you start talking about self actualization. That's our case presently.

If eventually we get to a two party system and the current parties survive, PDP would lean conservative and APC would lean liberal, I think.[/quote]PDP lean conservative Wonder shall never end !!!

mapet: 1. I think the Oloye went overboard or he's an illiterate....
2. Golf courses are private properties, well secured and not in anyway disturbing the public peace or affecting the environmental sanitation exercise.
3. In Lagos, all golf courses are fully loaded during environmental sanitation exercise, because that's even a good time to play as the course will not be busy, hence you can enjoy your game.
4. For me the pertinent question is, when is it part of our laws that government official storms private property to demand people partake in environmental sanitation excercises.
5. Benin Golf Club should sue Oloye and Oshiomole fast......we are not in military era-----that's if the story is true.

But I guess the club would have been opened by now and the oloye guy would have been warned in strong terms; going by the number of influential people that play golf, he'll be suprised that his warning would even come from military quarters

@ bold, if you claim golf courses are private properties, so churches should be allowed to hold weddings, services during environmental hours as they are also private properties? No . Why should an igbo trader on mission road be asked to close shop for much of the day to do cleaning of His environment and some 'above the law' few will be golfing away on the green? Are they not citizens of the state who should obey the law too? Can't the golf club management take time to also tidy up the environment around Osadebe avenue? Go to the golf course lane and see how untidy it is!

[quote author=Adeniyi A.]i watched it for a while b4 phcn perfor
md dea enterprise,infact d gov suppose bury his head in shame cos there was no single word of commendation neither from those who sent messages nor those present,but complaints and requests.
gradually i think d gov is going d ibori way.
judging from wat happened,clearly it showed that d gov is a failure having lost d whole essence of governance[/quote][size=28pt]PDP =SHARE THE MONEY [/size] ... . Abeg, they should do a U-turn and head to Nnewi and leave Edo State to continue to trail blaze Delta with their small budget!

thelastPope: We were all ignoring the guys fooolishness, you now went on to complete it! LOL. Its a PPP project with the private guys taking the bigger share of the cost. The onus is on the private guys to deliver on time. For every minute the project is delayed, they are loosing money. They will normally take loans to fund it. These loans have a grace period before interest starts counting. The private guys will have to complete the project on time so they can start making money and paying back their loans. That is the beauty of PPP. This is half way into GEJ's tenure. How can he be making election promises now? Funny how some of you reason, walahi!

This comment of yours show how ignorant you are! So just because it is a PPP, Nigerians have no reasons to know the cost of the project, the time it would be delivered and what means it would be paid for? If anything, that it is a PPP means the contract should be heavily scrutinized by the people who will end up paying for it in the long run.

Like I said previously, you have not lived in an organized society in all your life so you would not appreciate why these comments. You are used to jungle way of living where anything goes.

And someone would have me believe we have a serious government in this country

[quote author=Sheriff©]This is a likely response I envisaged while penning this piece- Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think my after thought had corroborated your assertion as to how the Govt unestimated our export stat. We have serious issue(s) computing statistics in this country. Each time I read from agents of the Govt that the economy grows; or that inflation rate decreases or increases; or that our CPI is so so and so, like most Nigerians, I question the verity of such statistics. The NBS is not even helping matters. It spuriously churn out doubtable data and think it could force them down our throat. One thing Nigerians fail to realise is that these data/statistics generated by the NBS determine our future; they are used for planning. Figures in other climes matter and they are, with precision, generated by near efficient agencies.[/quote]Very true indeed. Sadly, millions are too ignorant of this fact that these fraudulent numbers arrived at by the NBS is being used and will be used by the National Economic Planning in their outlook of Nigeria's future.

To underscore the seriousness other nations place on statistics reeled out by government agency, just last year, a UK government agency and the British PM was openly rebuked by the chief statistician for putting in the public domain unverified and slightly misleading data and the PM was forced to make some pronouncement.

On the issue of GDP figures, the fact that we can not determine to a level of accuracy how much we produce in the country clearly underscores how serious we are as a nation. It is like a family man who hopes to improve His fortunes yet does not know how much He earns, saves or spends day to day.

So pathetic a situation we find ourself as a nation. I think the death of most local authorities in the country has further compounded the situation as these officials who are so innately corrupt and of worthless value to the nation state barely understand what their duties and responsibilities are anymore.

If you look at most developed nations, local authorities are so closed to the day to day activities of their citizens within their authority that it is so easy for them to track so many information about several aspect of the local economy. They generate their own data, forecast of local growth and jobs data. These data are corroborated by the government in central by their own projections, hence when they talk about their GDP figures, they do so with very high degree of accuracy. From those figures, they know which sectors are propping the economy, which affects a region the most and the knowledge gotten from such exercise also goes to form the national economic policy put in place by the government in central.

It reminds of a discussion I was having with a fellow manager at work during early morning coffee chat, how Southern France is so heavily dependent on a particular sector that the French government had vowed to be a major player globally so as to ensure that they are amongst those dictating the future as far as that sector is concerned.

Okay.. time to go watch rugby..... Gunners 4 life ..anyway

I cant believe Arsenal has been reduced to the level that we are panicking over a lower table team like villa.. WENGER has to go! What on earth was He doing on the bench seeing Giroud, Theo being useless on pitch

[size=28pt]WENGER OUT [/size] He is clueless....

Sincere 9gerian: All these LONG STORY is just to CONSOLE yourself.

OBJ had 8 solid years to achieve WHATEVER he wanted to achieve. Yar Adua had 3yrs to achieve WHATEVER he wanted to achieve.

The FACT is, railways was DEAD before but GEJ brought railways back to life in just under 3yrs. We see trains ON A DAILY BASIS today. No need for long stories, propaganda or bringing up 1960 documents. This one, we can see it with our korokoro EYES

Anyway, this thread is not about railways. Let me not join in derailing the thread

This is the kind of propaganda that makes people take you less serious on NL. Government is continuous and it would be fool hardy for any one to say GEJ brought railways back. If anything, all the wagons used today were purchased by Obasanjo under a FG contract with GE.

Where GEJ is to be commended is that He did not side track what was on ground to start another white elephant rail project of His own but allowed the contracts executed under past governments to be completed, and the Lagos-Kano rail is one of those fruits.

It is also not true that trains began running the rail lines after GEJ took over. Those that live in the north will testify of this.

thelastPope: Hahahahahahaha! You are really trying sooooo hard to take the credit away from GEJ aint you? Hahahahahahahahahaha! You guys are amazingly partisan! Bwahahahahahahahahaha!

90% completed before GEJ? Bwahahahahahahahahaha! It is amazing that suddenly everything was completed before GEJ but we are just seeing these things come to life. Na wao! Railway: completed before GEJ! Power: completed before GEJ! Airports: completed before GEJ! Niger bridge: completed before GEJ! FOI bill: completed before GEJ! Electoral reforms: completed before GEJ! Agric reforms and cargo ports: completed before GEJ! Afcon throphy: completed before GEJ! This my post completed before GEJ!

Two years from now, it will be, over 10000MW: completed before GEJ! Standard rail track across the country: completed before GEJ! National Health Bill: completed before GEJ! LOL!

Stop acting stupidly. There is no doubt that there are things GEJ has done that deserves commendation, but certainly, not those you have mentioned with the exception of power and agriculture. As for the airports, if you knew what is going on in the airports today, you would weep big time.

If anything, the major reason GEJ would not command much commendation as your type expect is largely because of the monumental corruption and the lackadaisical attitude His government has shown in fighting corruption. More so, the projects He has embarked upon, most of them are done at x3 times the amount it would ordinarily cost elsewhere and I use the remodeled GAT in Lagos as an example which was done at a near cost of N1bn with home consumer unit type A/C used to cool the airport

Sincere 9gerian: I can see some mischief maker are here to confuse themselves by bring up the issue of the N325million contract of the second Niger Bridge that was awarded last year.

Let me make this clarification for the purpose of fair minded Nigerians. The N325 contract was not to build the second Niger Bridge. Rather it was for the transactional advisory for the project since its a PPP.

The report below says it all:

“Council considered and approved the memo by the minister of works for the award of contract for transactional advisory for design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) on the 2nd Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta states in favour of Messrs Roughton International Limited in the sum of N325,638,828.00 with 16 months as completion period”
http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/latest/42587-fg-awards-contract-for-design-of-2nd-niger-bridge

Whilst I agree that the sum mentioned is too sum an amount to build that bridge anyway, does N325,638,828.00 for just feasibility study not amount to fraud Why would a company be given such an amount to do such a study and yet JB was awarded the contract #JUSTASKING. Shouldn't someone be asking what that money was spent on? Is there not department in the Ministry of Works with employees paid huge sums monthly that are suppose to carry out such studies on behalf of the FG? Or what are there no Engineers in that ministry who can undertake such jobs?

[quote author=GARRI (x7)]The project actually started over a decade ago, as to if it has been completed, the portion that crosses the Ovwian-Ubogo-Otor Udu Rd (which is‎​ close to Aladja) was complete the last time I passed. Much of the work done on the project was done before GEJ came to office (I'll estimate 90%). However he should do his part to finish it off and also revive the Steel Industries that were killed by Obj and his cronies...[/quote]At bolded, I completely agree with you. Government is continuous, hence who ever find himself or herself at the helms should do the much they can to get things started, and completed or complete the ones they met on ground. What I find unacceptable is the propaganda that this present government began all the rail works that were moribund for years. The truth remain that Obasanjo began the revival of the rail networks in the country and it is good that Yar'dua and GEJ have sustained the project and I will commend them for doing so. However, this is not where we hope to be and we must not get carried away with mediocrity. This government has so much goodwill going for Her so excellence is what is expected not sub-per.

People often mistake valid criticism of GEJ for hatred, and that is one absolute trash and ignorance people keep displaying on NL. If anything, GEJ is just another soul on the face of the earth and His success or failure affects the whole of Nigeria than himself, so why wouldn't one want him to succeed in the first instance? I personally want Him to because Nigeria will be the better for it when He does succeed!

thelastPope: I see that you are too thick to get it so let me break itt down for you.

There are official channels for diseminating information. NL is not an official channel. When the information is diseminated, the responsible and patriotic press carries it and delivers it to the public. If you want to get information on government projects, watch NTA and AIT. You can not get any info if you keep watching TVC and reading sarharareporters. They will never carry such news. They are only interested in sensational stories and rumours. Get it?

Can you not see how stupid you sound when you are quick to condemn TVC and SR yet blind to the fact that NTA and AIT are yellow journalism newscorp? If anything, a major construction work as the second Niger bridge should be a news article the ministry of information will collaborate with the ministry of works to ensure that every Nigerian gets to know that the FG is finally doing something about.

For a bridge as important as the second Niger bride, while should the President who claim to have brought facebook to Nigeria not deemed it fit that Nigerians in diaspora would also like to have details of this contract made known to them on the web? Even the Ministry of Works website have no details about this contract..

Sincere 9gerian: This report throws more light on the issue:

"Put at a cost of N100bilion, the second Niger Bridge, which measures 1,760 meters and designed to have a six-lane carriage and a toll plaza, is scheduled for completion in three years with payment spread accordingly"
http://www.compassnewspaper.org/index.php/editorial/57-editorial/791-the-imperative-of-second-niger-bridge

If FG brings N30billion while private company brings N70billion and one toll plaza will be created, its fair enough.

Given that you are the spoke person of GEJ on NL, is the bridge being awarded to JB the same as that designed by the brilliant minds at NSE? I ask this question without any prejudice.

thelastPope: Are you a comedian? Or your hate for GEJ is making you delusional? Project completed in 2010 and it has not be commisioned or used till now? LOL! You are very funny!

Seriously, you have become too predictable. Whatever GEJ achieves, you try to belittle it or discredit it. Where you cannot discredit it, you try o attribute it to OBJ or Yaradua. LOL! You are too predictable. Try another strategy!

FYI, that information is from a Federal government owned agency and I took it from their website. You can distort the facts but you can not hide the truth. Jonathan has not awarded any Railway project in this dispensation save for the Lagos-Ibadan contract which was finalized during Obasanjo's regime put on hold due to contractual funding by China's EXIM Bank.

Also, far from you misguided truth, where Jonathan has deserved commendation, I have rightly given him that. I will never joined the Niger Delta militants of praise singers here on NL because He is one of our own. Obasanjo was vehemently criticized and chastised by people like us during His reign and today some of the achievement He can point to was largely due to the criticism.

Any sane government would appreciate dissenting voices. GEJ's government is no exception to the rule that where a government is no longer serving her purpose, the people must speak out and condemn every anti-people's actions the government takes.

I am happy to announce to you that I will not relent in my opposition to any form of misrule exhibited by GEJ and I would not succumb to your sentimental attitude and childish disposal to His style of governnance simply because we are from the same south south.

[quote author=GARRI (x7)]Are you kidding??

If true then that's exciting news. I'm actually close to Aladja at the moment. If completed and launched successfully, the socio-economic impact of the project will be unquantifiable..

Sadly though, Delta Steel Company (DSC) which is​ a major factor in the project is‎​ in COMA as we speak...thanks to the Gorilla from Ogun State!!![/quote]That rail line was completed years back and it was vandalized. Go to the NRC website and you will find details of that contract which was awarded during Obasanjo's regime and completed towards the end. Unfortunately, the steel companies it was meant to serve are moribund, and there is no major national railway line cutting across that region that you can link that railway line to to serve as a corridor.

thelastPope: The pictures are in my pocket! It will cost 14 trillion dollars. It will start tomorrow morning and end tomorrow night! Ode! Who is your messenger that will find out for you? Or you want the minister to come and post it on NL? If you are really interested, don't you know the way to ministry of works office? Send a memo to punch or vanguard and ask their business correspondents. Maybe they will answer you. Lol

We your type still parading the landscape called Nigeria, the country has a very long to go! You have never lived in a decent society so I would not blame you for not having the guts to ask the right questions and demand answers. Moreover, you live daily from the handouts of political appointees, so you have no moral rights to ask questions anyway because your daily bread will be threatened.

It has not beckoned on you that the Minister of Works is a Servant of the Nigeria nation who is obliged to dispose His duties as is expected? How do you announce to the Nigeria nation of the award of the contract for the second Niger bridge without any details? Even if it is a PPP, the FG is still obliged to provide Nigerians with details of the contracts, the estimated cost, projected start and completion dates, prototypes and mode of financing of the contract.

We saw an example in Lagos State where the government planned to build a suspension bridge, gave estimate of the cost and what component the state would fund in a joint PPP. The bridge was laster awarded, everyone in the world knew how much the state was contributing, and when the bridge was started and finally at completion everyone saw the bridge being commissioned. Even though not everyone was in complete agreement with the final cost of the bridge at least people knew what went on and where in the execution of that bridge. Why can't the FG do the same?

taharqa: Abeg, add the COMPLETION of the 1st Standard Guage Rail line in Nigeria to that list. Yes! GEJ has completed the Ajaokuta-Aladja-Warri Standard Rail line. A test train pass tru it yterday and was shown on National TV. It wud be 'Keshi' all ova pretty soon.

I thought the rail line was constructed by Obasanjo and was fully functional as a feeder route for Aladja steel company when Ajaokuta was resuscitated by Obasanjo and Yar'dua

As part of president Umaru Yar'Adua's desire to revitalize the transport sector as contained in the seven point agenda, provisions was made for in the year 2009 capital budget for NRC to execute some capital projects.
This enabled the award of several rehabilitation projects with a bid to rejuvenating the ailing parastatal.

The projects in its various state of completion include:
CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE REHABILITATION OF RAILWAY TRACK NETWORK AWARDED TO M/S ROUGHTON INTERNATIONAL UK.


The Consultancy Services for the Rehabilitation of Railway Track Network awarded to M/S Roughton International, UK in July 2009. This contract is for carrying out the detailed condition assessment survey, development of scope of work and Bill of Quantities followed by work supervision for the existing rail network in Nigeria.

The services fall into two phases. Phase I is the scoping phase with three months duration while phase II is the supervision of Rehabilitation phase with a duration of fifteen months, totaling eighteen months.

By the end of February 2010, the scoping study for the entire network has been completed, Bill of Quantities for the Western line (1126km) has been completed and contract for this section has been awarded to two contractors namely M/S CCECC Nig. Ltd and M/S Costain West African Plc.

With these awards, M/S Roughton International has commenced the supervision of the contracts. The two contracts mentioned above are expected to be completed by December 2010.


CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE DESIGN OF TRACK PRONE TO FLOODWATER MENACE AWARDED TO M/S STRATEGIC CONSORTIUM LIMITED.


The Consultancy Services for the Design of Track prone to floodwater menace was awarded to M/S Strategic Consortium Ltd in June 2009.

Certain sections of the railway track network have been consistently ravaged by floodwater over many years. It was then necessary to make a detailed study of these areas and come up with remedial measures that will contain these menace. These areas include the perennial washout sites at Akerri Station near Zungeru town in Niger State, Zaria-Kaura Namoda branch line, Bomala-Zongoma section near Gombe in Gombe State, the Gulley ersion sites at km 54+3 near Aba and km 115+3 near Umuahia in Abia State and Bridge No.18 near Enugu whose abutment and piers have have undergone serious scouring over years. The scope of the contract includes the topographical survey, hydrological survey, soil tests, hydraulic studies, seismic sounding and design of remedial measures.

As at the end of February 2010, all the studies mentioned above have been carried out. The designs of the remedial measures for the Akerri washout site have been concluded.

As it stands now, the project is expected to be completed by March 31st 2010.


CONTRACT FOR THE REHABILITATION WESTERN LINE, TRACK NETWORK LAGOS-JEBBA AWARDED TO CCECC NIG. LTD.


The contract for the rehabilitation of the Railway Network, Western line, from Lagos to Jebba (488km) was awarded to M/S CCECC Nig. Ltd in November 2009.

The contract is for the rehabilitation of the culverts, drains, bridges, changing of rails and sleepers and reballasting of the track. The contract has the duration of ten months. As at the end of February 2010, contractors have fully mobilized to site. About 10% of the work has also been completed.

The work is expected to be completed in October, 2010.


RENOVATION OF 22 NOS RAILWAY STATIONS.


The contract for the renovation of 22 Nos. Principal Railway Stations were awarded to various contractors in September 2009. The duration of the contracts varied from four weeks to thirteen weeks depending on the size and complexity of the station.

The scope of the works include painting, treatment of roof leakages, improvement of toilet facilities, minor masonry and carpentry works, ceramic tiling of first class waiting rooms and supply of furniture items to the first class waiting rooms.

As at the end of February 2010, 20 Nos. stations have been completed. The remaining 2 Nos. will be completed before 20th March 2010.


RENOVATION OF 2 NOS PERMANENT WAY TRAINING SCHOOL, ZARIA.


The contract for the renovation of the 2 Nos. Permanent Way Training School Zaria namely, Training School and Student Hostel, were awarded in September 2009, to Messrs AIMS Nig. Limited and Justy Peters Nig. Ltd respectively. Both have the duration of twelve weeks.

The scope includes painting, treatment of roof leakages, improvement of toilet facilities, minor masonry and carpentry works and electrical works.

The two contracts were completed in November 2010.


Modification of microwave communication infrastructure for signal & telecommunication awarded to Messrs: NERA Microwave (Nig) Ltd.


The scope of the project are modification of the Microwave communication equipment, supply and install Muiltiplier Units, Solar Charger controller, Ssolar Panels, Solar Batteries and Protection of selected solar sites.

The duration is 37 weeks. The expected completion date is 6th July, 2010


SUPPLY OF 10,000 BRAKE BLOCKS


Contact awarded on 15th September 2009. Supply completed in January, 2010. They are used on Locomotives, Coaches, Wagons and Rail Cranes for breaking.


SUPPLY OF 10,000 BRAKE BLOCKS


Contact awarded on 15th September 2009. Supply completed in January, 2010. They are used on Locomotives, Coaches, Wagons and Rail Cranes for breaking.


SUPPLY OF AIR BRAKE PARTS (15 MECHANICAL COMPONENTS)


Contract awarded on 14th September 2009. 8 items completely supplied out of 15 in January, 2010. They will be used on locomotives for braking.


SUPPLY OF AIR BRAKE PARTS (ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND FILTERS)


Contract awarded on 14th September 2009. All items completely supplied in January, 2010. They are used for locomotive braking and filteration of lube oil respectively.

thelastPope: Are you not a funny clown? Don you know where the ministry of works office is? You want te minister to come and post it on NL? Soe of you ttalk like kids, its amazing! What is the job off business correspondents of news houses? Isn't it their job to publish these details and even critic it where applicable? Is e minister hiding any info? Even if e is, isn't there a FOI bill in place? Your rant is very funny really.

I told you some of you have lived a life of mediocrity so you do not know what excellence mean The UK government is planning to build a High Speed rail line. By the time the information was given of the proposal, there was cost estimate provided, pictures, layout, possible impact and amount of jobs it would create! In Nigeria, Federal government announces the construction of a major bridge, no pictures, no cost estimate, no job creation data, no layout, no firm date for the beginning of construction nothing! And you are here celebrating? Imagine the Minister even said Hydrological Surveys is yet to be carried out and you are here shouting and jubilating?

[size=18pt]Weep not my Country [/size]

thelastPope: In fact, he should not believe until obama comes from the white house in company of the pope and they both take a group photo on top the bridge and afterwards, they should allow him to build a shop on top of the bridge. After running the shop for one year, then he can believe! SMH!

Where are the pictures of this bridge? How much will it cost? When will the construction actually start and finish

ISSUES bordering on the very poor state of the River Niger Bridge at Onitsha and the urgent need to build a second bridge across the River took the centre stage at one of the sessions of the House of Representatives last week.

The House passed a motion sponsored by Mr. Ezenwa Onyewuchi, representing Owerri Federal Constituency of Imo State, which observed that the current River Niger bridge which was built in 1965, is at the brink of caving in. In passing the motion, the House urged the Federal Government to engage the services of a competent contractor to commence the construction of a second Niger bridge to support the one presently in use.

Presenting the motion, Onyewuchi noted that the bridge, which links the South-East, South-South and South-West and some northern states, is on the verge of collapse due to its age, over use and lack of maintenance.

[size=18pt]“There is evidence of corrosion and cracks to the structural members of the bridge, which has been stretched beyond its limits and capacity, ” he said, adding that “the promises of constructing a second Niger Bridge by the past and present administrations has been a mirage.”[/size]

Building a second bridge across the River Niger has become an over-flogged issue since 1992 when former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida challenged. Nigerian Engineers to come up with the design of the bridge.

Overbearing deadweight
The River Niger bridge has become a nightmare to commuters mainly due to poor maintenance, overuse, frequent subjection to overbearing deadweight and cannibalisation. The dead weight is a product of the traffic snarl that has become a regular feature at the imposing bridge.

Apart from the observation made by Mr. Onyewuchi on the floor of the House of Reps, fears have previously been raised in many quarters that the bridge may soon cave in. The current bridge which links the River Niger from Asaba to Onitsha, was actually initiated by the British colonial government and completed just before the civil war.

Missing bolts, nuts and other key metal components from the steel bridge prompted the Federal Government to undertake rehabilitation work on it about six years ago. These palliative measures lasted for a short time before the bridge became stressed again. Experts posit that the only solution remains the construction of a second bridge to link the Owerri end of Onitsha town.

Vanguard Homes & Property recalls that due to the persistent calls by concerned users of the bridge who noted that age was no longer on its side and that if nothing was done to remedy the situation, the bridge will, one day cave in, the then Works & Housing Minister, Major-General Mamman Kotyangora, an Engineer, persuaded the Babangida regime to challenge indigenous engineers with the design and construction of the bridge.

The Nigerian Society of Engineers NSE, rose to the challenge and formed a management consultancy company known as NSE PREMS which did the design of the bridge. Unfortunately, the project did not take off as the Federal government later came up with the idea of adding an East -West rail line to the project. This later developed signalled the commencement of intense politicking on the construction of the bridge with successive governments merely pay lip service to the project.

About three years ago, the former Minister of Works, Senator Mohammed Sanusi Daggash raised the hope of millions of users of the bridge when he assured Nigerians that the present administration is desirous and committed to the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge.

He noted that the construction of a second bridge across the Niger had become expedient and assured Nigerians that while maintenance works will continue on the existing bridge, the Federal Government would work assiduously to construct a new one. Daggash was later removed from office and the issue died.

[size=18pt]In August last year, the the Federal Government again resurrected the issue of building a 2nd Niger Bridge. The government said it has approved a contract of N325 million to Messrs Roughton International Limited, a transaction advisory services firm, to design, build, finance and operate the proposed second Niger Bridge.[/size]

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, and his Ministry of Works counterpart, Mike Onolememen, told State House correspondents that the government is targeting the third quarter of this year as the period when the ground breaking ceremony of the project will be performed.

Onolememen explained that the Federal Government approved the project in order to address the problems of accidents that road users on the route face so that there will be free movement of traffic between the South-west and South-east.


[size=28pt]What happened to the N325 million approved to contract Messrs Roughton International Limited to design, build, finance and operate the proposed second Niger Bridge [/size]

Seriously, I came to this thread to see the kind of bridge to be built, the duration of construction, mode of financing, but all I have read so far is the usual blah blah. Aren't you guys tired of mediocrity? In a civilized clime, when a government plans to execute a project either solely or through a joint partnership, they provide as much details as possible to give the project credibility and also give the citizens the belief that they are serious with the project.

River Niger is a very small river that in my opinion, the billions stolen by Ibori, Obi and co could have adequately funded the reconstruction of a mid-way suspension bridge without the FG involvement.

[size=28pt]How politics stalled 2nd Niger Bridge, 21 years after it was designed[/size] ....>>>> http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/how-politics-stalled-2nd-niger-bridge-21-years-after-it-was-designed/

[quote author=Sheriff©]What you are about to read is just an opinion of an enthusiast of economics; thus, I am neither an economist, at least not yet, nor a national accountant. But I believe in books and I read wide, I suppose.

I was prompted to do a little study of the subject of what economists' call GDP owing to the bohemian inverse relationship between its growth and the standard of living of people of Nigeria , which I understand through various available facts is unconventional. And I hope this might possibly ignite an intellectual discussion so that at least more competent economists or students of economics would take it up from here.

The Nigerian 'situation' created a disconnect, as against the conventional direct correlation, between GDP growth and citizens' well-being (or standard of living); this I believe should be a source of worry to the managers of the nation's economy.

For several years now, as a person with interest in the subject of economics, I have always believed as I read from economic texts, mostly backed up with empirical evidences, that a nation's wealth is determined by how well its citizens live and also that the wealth of nations is measured by what economists call GDP- 'Gross Domestic Product'.

GDP being the measure of market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time I read is the best known single measure of economic well-being of a nation. I also believed that a nation with large GDP can afford to cater for the basic needs of its people. Thus, when there is a considerable growth in GDP, it is expected that there should be a corresponding positive change in the well-being of the people, but nay, reverse is the case in my country.

The government, year in year out, have always announced incremental growth in the nation's GDP. This conventionally should mean that people's living standards are better off in the year of review compared with the previous year; but that's not the case and one is made to ponder what might be the cause of this. The government and its various ineffectual agencies have tried to expound the possible reason(s) for this. I dare say, instead of trying to explain, which won't put food on the table though, the government should treat this as a phenomenal departure from the conventional proven economic theories and take a critical look as to why Nigeria's should be so.

GDP, fundamentally, is computed by the summation of the nation's Consumption, Investment, Government Purchases (spendings) and the Net-Export (export minus import) in a period. Meaning for GDP to grow, there must be an increase in one of its components. So when the government says GDP (real GDP) growth rate increases by so so and so percentage, this conventionally should mean that either the citizenry had increased incomes which thus increase aggregate consumption as they (citizens) spend on goods and services; or they had increased incomes and decided to save (or invest) for speculative or precautionary purposes; the savings, mind you, engender increase in loanable capitals for industrial investments. Also it may mean that the government had increased spendings during the period or that the nation had a swell harvest which brings about exportation of the excess to other countries; or mostly the combinational increase in all the components.

Thus, deducing from the above, for any of the components, except the government purchase, to move (+ or -), there must be a significant change in the aggregate income of the citizens. And, since the income (both private and public) of the citizenry rarely increase in Nigeria as the GDP increases, one could conclude that the GDP is not growing in the real sense, and this I believe could be the reason why the economy is not even producing jobs. Even if the Government purchases is increased, which ordinarily should stimulate the economy somehow, most of the fund allocated for such purchaeses are never used for what they are meant for. So, why is there yearly growth in our GDP?

To be continue...[/quote]Beautiful and well though out article. You are very much correct with your assertions that the GDP of a nation is directly proportional to the wealth of her citizens, vis-a-viz the purchasing power of Her citizens and the living standards.

You have simply enumerated the major components taken into account in 'estimation' of a nation's GDP and rightly so, you have arrived at a very valid conclusion as to why Nigeria's GDP figures as espoused by the Federal Government remains questionable and very much a suspect.

Of all the four major components you enumerated, it is rightly so that in the last five years, Nigerians have seen very marginal increases in their take home pay either from direct or in-direct employment while on the other hand, the cost of goods and services have increased astronomically over the same period.

However, I would like to differ with your submission in respect to the gross production and net export component, which in my opinion is hugely under estimated by the Federal Government statisticians, hence the GDP figures are skewed farther to the left. Nigeria as a country does not know the net worth of what she produces and exports, hence she's unable to account for the true net worth of this component in estimating her GDP.

It is more disturbing that even with a supposedly astute and World renowned economist as a finance minister, almost two years in the saddle, one can hardly point to any significant major economic policy that has been put in place to remedy this anomaly; where GDP figures in numbers are suggesting the economy is booming yet the average Nigerian feels poorer today that they were two years ago.

Those who for ethnic sentiments voted for a man who clearly by His historical antecedents demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of what it takes to create jobs, promote development and enhance growth are ruing and wallowing in regret today because they failed to heed to simple thoughts that a man is never judged by the clothes He display for you to see but by the characters of His personality.

skidos4u: i dnt knw y d north keps dragin us back as a nation. we were supos 2 v our ndepndns in 1958 yet dis illeterate region said der were nt ready, now its stil d same region dat is stil putin our naija name among d polio case nation. pls i ned an advice on hw we shld handle dis barbarians. dis ppl stil ned feedin bottle an we 4rm oder regions wnt 2 mov 4ward. how we go do naaaaaa!!!

As a Southerner, I believe this statement of yours show you were not properly brought up. Northern Nigeria has so much to offer this country and some of the finest minds Nigeria can boast of today in different field of human endeavour are from that region. Last year, weren't we all celebrating the couple from Zaria who owned one of Canada's three biggest pharmaceutical companies?

Tell me one endeavour of your that has brought pride to your parents, least Nigeria as a whole? If at any point in your life you have ever given a bribe in Nigeria, you are worse and a greater enemy to Nigeria's progress than the North you so ignorantly condemn here.

If anyone ever think that was accidental, then you need your head examined..... Another sold out..

daroz: Then what will we call it, Onitsha Niger?

I do not think Nigeria ever struggle with names for projects..