Minister assures contractors of adequate funding for Abuja-Kano highway

 The Minister of Finance and Co-Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has assured contractors of adequate funding for the Abuja-Kano highway.

The minister gave the assurance in a statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Stephen Kilebe, on Saturday.

The Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road forms a critical part of Nigeria’s highway which runs from north to south, enabling the movement of people and products across the country, thereby, uniting Nigerians and the economy.

It also connects Nigeria to North Africa via the Lagos-Algiers Trans-African Highway.

To address the poor condition and deterioration of this major road, the Federal Government contracted the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the 375.9km of the dual carriageway to Julius Berger: from the Federal Capital Territory Abuja through Kaduna, excluding the Kaduna bypass, to Zaria and further north to Kano.

However, Edun noted that the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway is a viable project, adding that he does not doubt the completion of the project on time by the contractors.

The statement read, “The Minister of Finance and Co-Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and his Federal Ministry of Works counterpart, Senator David Umahi, have embarked on the inspection of the Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Dual Carriage Way.

“In his remarks, the minister said they were at the inspection of the project today under the mandate of President Bola  Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to examine and hear from the contractors and see their commitment, encourage and support them to the early completion of this all-important project and to urge them to do more.”

Edun reiterated that infrastructure was a critical priority of the Tinubu-led administration “in order to get food prices down, ease transportation of agricultural produce, movement of people freely across the country, and stabilize the economy.”

The minister assured the contractors of the availability of funds for the early completion of the road project.

He said, “We have come, we have seen the level of commitment of the contractors to the completion of the project as soon as possible.”

The minister, who commended the level of progress made on the project, said the ongoing attempt was to improve domestic resources mobilization available to highly viable projects such as this.

Earlier, Umahi disclosed that Tinubu had directed that they “must ensure that work is completed on this project in 24 months.”

He added that “the two ministers are sorting out the payment modalities and ensuring milestone completion of the project.”

Umahi also thanked him for making critical decisions about the completion of the projects.

The Umahi also thanked him for making critical decisions about the completion of the projects.

The Programme Manager of Julius Berger, the contractor handling the project, Mr. Benjamin Butt, disclosed that the company was using a construction methodology known as recycling technology in the rehabilitation of the road. Manager of Julius Berger, the contractor handling the project, Mr. Benjamin Butt, disclosed that the company was using a construction methodology known as recycling technology in the rehabilitation of the road.

I’m quitting music, says singer Terry G

 Nigerian singer, Gabriel Amanyi, also known has Terry G, announced on Saturday that he is quitting music for personal reasons.

The ‘Akpako Master’ crooner disclosed this in a video posted on his Instagram account, with the caption “It’s Been A Journey .”

In the video, he said, “I’m about to say a big thank you to all my fans for staying with me through all the years, back to back. I really appreciate you all.

“I’m about to make a big announcement, I know it’s gonna hurt a lot of people but I have my personal reason.

“I want to say that I am quitting music. I no dey do again. I’m done and I really appreciate you guys.”

Earlier in an interview with Saturday Beats, Terry G had disclosed his plans for 2024 saying, “I will be putting out new content. My single will be dropping early this year with a video. I will also be releasing an album.

“I want to shoot my own movie too. I am writing the script, and I’ll act in it. I am also writing a book about my experience. The book, which is titled, ‘Chante Chante: The Book of Ginjah’, will shed light  on the meaning of my supposed ‘nonsense’ words,  so people can understand and appreciate my music more.”

While stating that he created a genre in the music industry, he said, “I will not change but I will keep evolving.”

Supporters welcome Bauchi gov after S’Court victory

 Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on Saturday, thronged the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, to welcome him on his return to the state after the Supreme Court judgment which validated his election.

The Supreme Court affirmed the election of the governor on Friday.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Sadique Abubakar’s efforts at the two lower courts to unseat Mohammed were not successful.

Abubakar, a former Air Chief, had alleged massive non-compliance with the Electoral Act during the poll at the two courts. His petition at the tribunal and appeal at the appellate court were dismissed for lack of merit.

The two courts held that he did not prove his allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

Reading the lead judgment on Friday, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa resolved all six issues against the appellant and held that the appeal was devoid of merit. The crowd wielded placards and banners with various congratulatory messages.

The chattered aircraft which conveyed the governor landed at the airport around 12.15 pm. He was accompanied by his wife, Aisha; his Chief of Staff, Aminu Gamawa; former Speaker of the state House of Assembly and  Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Abubakar Suleiman; Commissioners and Special Advisers including party stalwarts.

On arrival, the governor and his entourage were received at the airport by top officials of the state government and bigwigs of the ruling PDP led by his deputy, Mohammed Auwal-Jatau, and his wife.

From the airport, the governor embarked on a rally around some major roads within the metropolis.

As soon as he got to the popular Awalah Hotel Roundabout, he alighted from his official vehicle and entered an open truck which conveyed him around the metropolis.

From there, he went through Ran Road to the Central Market roundabout, through the Emir’s Place to the Ministry of Education roundabout. From there, he went through the Nasarawa Road to the Central Bank roundabout and the Government House.

It took the governor over three hours to get to the Government House.

After the rally, the governor went to the Government House where a reception was held in his honour.

AFCON: Peseiro dismisses concerns Super Eagles are top-heavy

 Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, on Saturday, batted away concerns the Super Eagles’ attacking prowess is not matched in other areas of their team as they prepare to begin their Africa Cup of Nations bid.

The three-time champions open their campaign against Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan on Sunday with a team spearheaded by African footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen.

Even with a series of withdrawals, Nigeria can call on some of Africa’s best attackers, including Kelechi Iheanacho, Terem Moffi, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman.

But there is nothing like the same strength in depth elsewhere, with concerns in particular about the goalkeeping position.

Francis Uzoho of Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus has been the first-choice goalkeeper in recent matches.

Peseiro said, “I believe in my players, in all of them from the goalkeeper to the striker,” Peseiro told reporters in Abidjan.

“Every team sometimes has more power in certain positions. It happens to all national teams.

“It is my job and responsibility to create a good organisation, but the main point is that I believe in them.”

Nigeria has been hit by injuries, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, Real Sociedad’s Umar Sadiq and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi all pulling out close to the kick-off.

Peseiro confirmed that Moffi, of French Ligue 1 side Nice, will not arrive in time to feature against Equatorial Guinea, while Iheanacho and late addition Paul Onuachu had only just landed in Ivory Coast.

“Kelechi arrived at 4 this morning and so he is completely recovered,” Peseiro said.

“Boniface is injured but Moffi arrives tomorrow at 8 p.m. Sadiq is injured also, and Onuachu arrived at 4 a.m. this morning.

“The (injured) players are sad, but we have 25 players with quality.”

All eyes are on Osimhen, described by Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa as “the king of Africa.”

Yet the Super Eagles have not convinced recently, losing to Guinea in their last warm-up game.

Their chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup finals have already been compromised after draws in qualifying against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November.

“The last game in World Cup qualifying was not good, but until now we have only lost one (competitive) game, at home to Guinea-Bissau, in which we created many opportunities,” insisted Peseiro.

Nigeria will face Guinea-Bissau at the AFCON and will have the chance to avenge that reverse in qualifying in Abuja.

“Playing for Nigeria is not easy, with the history, the stress, the pressure. The people of Nigeria want to win, like us.

“I am not afraid for me and my team. They need to answer on the pitch. We need to understand the criticism. We have been playing well, but the results in those matches are in the past. This is a different competition,” he stated.

Three die as truck crushes motorcycle in Lagos

 

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has disclosed that it found two dead bodies under an empty diesel truck at the Barracks Bus Stop along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to PUNCH Online by the Public Relations Officer, LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, on Saturday.

Taofiq further revealed that the accident occurred at the same location where the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recently ordered the arrest of a soldier for disobeying traffic laws.

Taofiq said the motorcycle rider died at a hospital near Satellite Town, while the other two passengers died at the scene.

Preliminary findings revealed that the truck driver lost control of his vehicle due to a burst tyre, causing him to crash into a motorcycle that was travelling in a one-way direction along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

Following the collision, the truck driver fled, but the two dead bodies were removed by police officers from the Onireke Police Division.

The acting General Manager, LASTMA, Bakare Oki, cautioned truck drivers to avoid speeding and also urged motorcycle riders to refrain from riding on all state-wide restricted routes in a single direction.

The statement partly reads, “The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq confirmed that the two recovered dead bodies were passengers on a motorcycle riding in a direction prohibited by law, ‘One-way,’ on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

“While these two motorcycle passengers died instantly, the rider later died at a hospital around Satellite Town.”

The statement added, “While the truck driver ran away after the accident, policemen from Onireke Police Division took away the recovered two (2) dead bodies.”

A truck driver had died on the Ojuelegba Bridge in Lagos on Monday when he got trapped in a multiple collision involving two other trucks.

His assistant escaped unscathed, however. as announced by the Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.