₦airaland Forum

Desric: They are in PHC for your information, that's how you guys go around spreading false rumours and lies causing so much disaffection among unsuspecting citizens. If I open a Religious thread now and say that "Christianity is evil", you'll be the first to attack me but I can bet you that most of the lies and rumours that causes plenty of heat being spread in Nigeria are spread by Christians why? What's the lies and misquotations for, what do you stand to gain at the end of the day?
N:B: Please I am not in anyway scorning my Christian brethren, just used the phrase to buttress my point, no harm intended and I don't mean to get on anyone's nerve thank you so much for understanding.

Desric: I think this quote of Amaechi is incomplete, the OP didn't deem it fit to complete it, because he/she was too busy looking for cheap lope hole to discredit the young man. Amaechi said " there is no revolution without blood, the only revolution without blood is through reforms". There was no time he urged the people to fight or spill their blood, besides, he's already spilling his by all the persecution and curse he's getting, he only asked the people to stand up for their right because only then will our leaders become responsible and realise that power indeed belongs to the people, not money, official power or in some individuals.

awodman: I would have appreciated it if you picked out the specific sections as listed by the reporter and prove his "satanic lie" by providing valid contrary evidence...

ba7man: You are here chasing bush rat when your thread on the East-west road completion is being picked apart by correspondents on ground.

awodman: There is this saying that no matter how far LIES have travelled the TRUTH will eventually overtake it...Let the PHCN be handed over next week(Oct 2 precisely),then we will even witness more positives...

Demdem: I can confirm that Work is currently going on inside rivers part of this road. though ridiculously slow but SETRACO is on site. Next week, i will drive the whole stretch and confirm how far they have gone.

Tolexander: taharqa, you read this ^^^?

kingoflag: OP, earlier today Nigerian Senate said they don't know how N500Billion that GEJ claimed to save from subsidy disappeared in less than 6 months. Plus another $1Billion missing from Sure-P that Gej also set up. Thats what we should be talking about, not this rubbish you've set up to distract the populace with.

omenka: Look at it this way. A sinner who accepts Christ becomes born again and by extension, a child of God. Now substitute PDP member for sinner, APC for God, and 'child of God' for progressive! Daz all.

PointB: True talk. Some people are busy chasing bush rat when their house is on fire.

Contrary to wrangling by commuters and some critics of the Federal Government, the reality on ground shows that the most talked about project, originally contracted under the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo and re-contracted under Goodluck Jonathan’s, being handled by Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe, is fast reaching its completion[/b]. In addition, a detailed and strategic format has been employed to ensure that the December 2014 deadline for commissioning of the project is met .

The 338km dual carriage East/-West Road – which spans Warri (Delta), Kalama (Bayelsa) to Port Harcourt (Rivers) through Eket to Oron (Akwa Ibom State) – is the main road project in the Niger Delta. The project, which was first awarded at the cost of N200bn in 2006 and later reviewed upward to N349bn due to inflation, drew a slew of media attention, mostly negative. CHRISTIANA ESEBONU, who was part of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Niger Delta’s oversight tour to the project site writes on her findings.

Since the award of the contract for the East-west Road contract, Nigerians, in fact, some lawmakers, as well as the opposition have continually sought clarification on issues ranging from completion of the project (initially slated for 2010 but later shifted to 2014) to the nature of its awarding (initially awarded at N35.6bn, was later reviewed upward with N31bn added, while Section 4 awarded for N26bn initially had N9.5bn added after variation) and several other allegations (engagement in unethical practices with contractors, for one) were also leveled against the Minister.

Contrary to wrangling by commuters and some critics of the Federal Government, the reality on ground shows that the most talked about project, originally contracted under the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo and re-contracted under Goodluck Jonathan’s, being handled by Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe, is fast reaching its completion. In addition, a detailed and strategic format has been employed to ensure that the December 2014 deadline for commissioning of the project is met .

LEADERSHIP observed that the Construction of the road has been carefully divided and proportioned into sections and sub-sections to ease construction works and traffic.

Section 1 of the road stretches from Warri in Delta State through Kaiama in Bayelsa State, with a capacity of nine 11m-wide Bridges across Rivers; the length of each bridge ranging between 30m to 850m. The 850m-long bridge spans a length of up to 95m and pier height of up to 20m above the pile caps. The bridge is being constructed using the balanced cantilever pre-cast, pre-stressed segment erection method.

Though the contract for the dualisation of the highway was transferred from the Federal Ministry of Works to the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs in April 2009 to fast-track its completion, several sections of the project has been completed.

The project, under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Works was initially awarded to four different contractors: Section I, Warri-Kaiama (87.4km) in Delta State, to Setraco Nig Ltd; Section II, covering Kaiama-Port Harcourt (101km) in Bayelsa/Rivers states, to Julius Berger Nig. Ltd; Section III, stretching from Port Harcourt to Eket (99km) in Rivers/Akwa Ibom states, to RCC Nig. Ltd; and Section IV, Eket to Oron (51km) in Akwa Ibom State, to Gitto Costruzioni Gen. Nig. Ltd.

Section II, which was handled by Julius Berger, was terminated by the Federal Ministry of Works after the company abandoned the site over alleged insecurity; before it was transferred to the Niger Delta Ministry who re-awarded it to Setraco in April 2009.

Investigations further revealed that at the completion of the final design and drawings, the firm produced 42 bridges and 786 culverts of which 36 bridges and 756 culverts have been completed. With the development, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has attained over 60 per cent completion on the road.

A break-down of work done shows that the 87.4km Warri-Kaiama stretch has 65 kilometres asphaltic binder and 98 kilometres earthworks completed. Of the 19 bridges in the stretch, 18 have been completed while 75 per cent of the Patani Bridge sub-structure and pre-fabricated box girder segments have also been completed.

In the 54-kilometre Kaiama-Ahoada area of the road, 10 kilometres have asphaltic binder and 15- kilometre earthworks while seven of the 11 bridges have been completed. Similarly, the 47-kilometre Ahoada-Port Harcourt stretch has 15-kilometre asphaltic binder and 28-kilometre earthwork completed.

The Section III covering Port Harcourt-Eket stretch and handled by RCC has 124-kilometre asphaltic binder and 149-kilometere earthwork with four bridges completed while Section IV, which runs from Eket to Oron, has 24 kilometres asphaltic binder and 35-km earthwork completed while five of the six bridges are also completed.

The project, initially scheduled for completion in December 2010, automatically got a new completion date of December 2014, due to fund paucity, insecurity and heavy rainfall. LEADERSHIP gathered that out of the total contract sum of N349.868bn, only the sum of N170.64bn (comprising budget release to the ministry and SURE-P contribution) has been paid for work done.

While the amount required to complete the project is N179.225bn, it is worthy of note that the combined ministry/SURE-P budget for 2013 stands at N71.520bn, a short fall is still evident. This is inspite of the Federal Government’s recent acquisition of a-yet-to-be-released loan of N47bn loan from the African Development Bank Group, expected to be obtained and injected into the project before the end of October 2013. With this arrangement, the amount required in 2014 for the project is N141bn.

Speaking at the weekend after inspecting the road with the Minister Orubebe, members of the Senate and House of Representatives committees led by their chairmen, Senator James Manager and Hon. Warman Ogoriba, respectively, told journalists that the federal government needed to explore alternative funding sources to ensure the completion of the all-important road.

Interestingly; overwhelmed by the impressive height attained with the completion of road, the National Assembly advised the Federal Government to go the extra mile in acquiring the remaining N141bn required to help the ministry clear certificates generated by contractors and thus, meet its December 2014 completion timeline.

The lawmakers also believe that due to the nature of the project, the 2015 completion target should be pursued to ensure quality, bearing in mind the funding challenges, the topography of the region and weather factor.

Hon. Warman Ogoribo who observed that the minister had so much confidence in the yet-to-be released N50bn loan from the ADB, as well as complementary funding from the SURE-P and its 2014 budgetary allocation, maintained that even if all these were achieved, the ministry will record a short fall, as an indication of a carry-over to 2015.

The minister has promised to hand over the road by 2014 but we have our doubts as a committee. My argument is that, if the federal government fails to get the extra funds needed, this ministry will not deliver this project on the said date.’

On his part, Senator James Manager advised that instead of drawing up an impossible schedule given the topographical and funding challenges the ministry is faced with, the timeline for the commissioning of the flag-ship project should be spread over to December 2015, since it is not a ground field project where there are no impediments.

The project engineer handling bridges constructed by Setraco (one of the contractors) Mr Raed Saliba, expressed optimism that the Patani Bridge in Bayelsa would be completed by December 2014. Saliba promised that the new Okoso Bridge would be completed “within the next few months’’.

Orubebe, bent on ensuring that the aforementioned deadline becomes a reality, disclosed that his ministry is working “round the clock” and has secured a credit facility to the tune of N50bn from the African Development Bank,(ADB) to complete the flag-ship project.

So far, it is evident that despite the wrangling of the various stakeholders, some work has been done – to a large extent, too. In all the wrangling, the people of the region are at the receiving end and, surprisingly, all they need is the completion of this gargantuan project which will better their life.

The average Niger Deltan is not concerned about how much has been expended upon the project or who the contractor is; he is not interested in the length of the project and the number of states which it spans; he is not interested in the politics of contract awarding; he is not interested in the power-tussle which has underlined the project, so far; he is very much unconcerned by the payments which have been affected by inflation; rather, he craves one thing – the completion of the project for his own betterment, be it in 2014 or 2015. He cares so little.

[size=16]LEKKI-EPE EXPRESSWAY CONCESSIONINIG/'UN'CONCESSIONING FRAUD[/size]
Smoothest FRAUD in this country's history. Period...


A road that is supposed to cost #50bn (already abnormally costly at #1bn per km, sm would say) to be constructed by d Concessionaires who are then expected to recoup their costs AFTER they must have finished construction tru tolling. After 7 years the road is no where near completion, yet d Concessionaires started collecting tolls illegally in d last 3 years (at an average of #4.2billion annually according to results from Survey conducted by the Concessionaire in 2011). Suddenly, in stead of d LASG terminating d contract Or, at least pressuring d Concessionaire to implement their own terms of d contract, the Govt is amazingly paying them #15bn to 'buy back' this failed Concession, #6.8bn and #3.5bn to pay the Debts and 3rd party liabilities incurred by the failed Concessionaire (yes, LASG is willing to even pay these people's debt!!!) ie more than #25bn in total.

This is apart from d #5bn the Govt initiali paid to d Concessionaires at d start of d scheme. And, WAIT for it: LASG also intends borrowing #87.7bn by raising a bond to then build d road itself . That is more than #103bn in total. This is from a project that was suppossed to cost #50bn (which was considered even too expensive at this figure then)!!! And to make d whole mata worse, d LASG wud still retain this same failed Concessaire, and apparently STILL PAY THEM either to collect tolls on d road or continuing building d road!!!.


THE QUESTION IS: WHO IS BEHIND THIS LCC CONCESSIONAIRE?? Who is chopping these humongous money from Lagos State Tax payers, with impunity? And why the UNIMAGINABLE Hypocritical SILENCE from peeps?

http://www.tellng.com/business/question-over-lekki-concession-buy-back

http://allafrica.com/stories/201308300319.html

UPDATE:

#sorry, the total amount that wud eventuali be spent is more than #130bn, and not even the #103bn I initiali thought: #15bn to 'buy back' d FAILED Concession; #6.8bn and #3.5bn to pay the Debts incurred by the FAILED Concessionaire; #5bn initiali paid by d LASG to d Concessionaire at d start of d project; and of course, d #87.7bn the LASG wud borrow tru placing Bonds to 'complete' d road. Adding all these, plus the monies the Concessionaires have collected since 2011 as Tolls, shld begin to give d fuller extent of d amount involved in this Fraud!!!....

Oh! Shiit: I also forgot to add d #35bn d Concessionaires said they already spent on the largely unfinished road. Adding everything will lead to a total of bw #170- #180bn spent on a 49km Road.
Also, at an Interest rate of bw 10%-15% that the LASG would have to pay (annually?) in order to access the original Principal Bond sum of #87.7billion, the total cost that would be spent to construct this fraud of a road would then certainly cross the #200billion-mark!

I feel SICK in the stomach right now

Tolexander: be on the queue. Still dealing with the homo sapiens!

talktimi: wetin this one dey yarn sef abi na by force to comment ?

koonbey: I refuse to be goaded into anything Partisan right now;you obviously have Beef with Fashola...

donroxy: U too shut-up if U have any chance to be worthy in Nigeria, also reason with those tissues inside ya head !!!

superstar1: Hear yourself and see your folly.

You made an allegation against tinubu and Fashola and you want me to go ahead and be provijng it for you. As long as there are no evidence, they will forever remain allegation. In case of Stella, she was caught pant down - red handed.

Sincere 9gerian: All that you wrote are mere wishful thinking and baseless. Till date, no one has shown that those vehicles can be purchased at a cheaper price.

The kick-back allegation is baseless because all the vehicles were bought under a lease arrangement with First Bank and payment will be spread over 36 months.

Who told you the whereabout of the vehicle is unknown? It seems you've been reading too much poo from Tinubu's newspapers. The NCAA has stated categorically that the armoured cars are in their pool of vehicles.

Losers are just struggling to label the minister of aviation as corrupt and lynch her. She is not a saint either but whatever administrative lapses she may be guilty of does not warrant these magnitude of attacks and onslaught.

koonbey: how is Lagos State THAT MUCH my Business?? I'm not from there,I don't live there...but if I see a Thread about Lagos,Kwara(where I live) or wherever,that I sincerely believe is worth a Comment...I do Post.

Dont try and "particise" this Issue,it wont work;not with me at least.

bloggernaija: Edo state may be grouped under the niger delta geographically but their mentality ,history, core values and culture is very different.
Look at the sort of people who were brought in to attend a strategic conference.
They are not different from the legions of political thugs ,touts,area boy and street urchins you see everyday on TV .
The itshekiris and binis have already made their submissions in AKURE .
Oil block sharing is the least of their problems.