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2011: We Won't Succumb to Blackmail, Says EFCC
•Northern group alleges intimidation
By Yemi Adebowale in Lagos and Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday described as "cheap blackmail" attempts by some politicians to link its on-going investigation of multi-billion naira fraud allegations in some states of the federation to the 2011 elections.
This is coming on the heels of a statement by the Northern Political Leaders Forum also known as "G15" decrying alleged use of the EFCC to intimidate governors "who are against the 2011 aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan."
The commission in a statement said insinuations in media that it was targeting pro-zoning governors ahead of the 2011 elections were aimed at freezing its hands.
It however vowed that no amount of propaganda or campaign of calumny would stop it from carrying out its statutory responsibilities of investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes in any part of the country.
The statement read: "We have a legitimate duty to investigate and prosecute all forms of economic and financial crimes in all parts of the federation. This, we have been doing since the inception of the commission in 2003 and will continue to do within the ambit of the law.
"It is on record that the Commission has continued to investigate various fraud allegations in several states of the federation, local government councils, federal agencies and private establishments.
"As such, our on-going investigations of multi-billion naira fraud allegations in Kebbi, Kwara, Imo, Jigawa and Rivers States are not different from what we have done in other states before now."
The commission said rather than making desperate moves to blackmail it by imputing illogical meanings to its legitimate duties in a bid to freeze its hands, the brains behind this propaganda should answer several key questions.
Some of the questions raised by the EFCC are: Are there allegations of fraud against their officials? Is the EFCC empowered to investigate such fraud allegations? Is there any law barring EFCC from investigating fraud allegations before, during or after elections? Should election time be taken as a holiday period when law enforcement agents would have to close their eyes to the looting of public treasury?
The commission said answers to these "pertinent questions" would expose "the hidden agenda of those behind the plot to frustrate the nation's anti-graft war."
"We will like to re-assure the public as has often been stated long before now by the leadership of the commission, that the EFCC is not under any pressure from the Presidency or any other quarters to do anyone's bidding on any issue.
"Attempts to link our operations to political considerations remain a blackmail which will not stop us from doing the needful within the ambit of our statutory responsibilities," said the EFCC.
The Northern Political Leaders Forum in a statement, signed by the former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, said that much as they are against corruption and corrupt tendencies, they suspect political intimidation because of the political actions of the affected governors.
The NPLF urged President Goodluck Jonathan to enthrone a regime of tolerance of political opposition and to desist from using the EFCC "to intimidate and harass governors and political leaders who are opposed to his ill-advised attempt to subvert the agreed zoning formula by seizing the Peoples Democratic Party ticket in next year's general elections."
The statement reads: "The NPLF wishes to draw the attention of all Nigerians to the inherent dangers of turning the EFCC into a political gestapo of a particular candidate. The NPLF recalls that this is the same tactics former President Olusegun Obasanjo employed in the pursuit of his failed Third Term agenda.
"It is becoming clear to all that Jonathan's candidacy for 2011 despite the PDP's affirmation of the principle of zoning and rotation is a return of tenure elongation of President Obasanjo, which Nigerians unanimously rejected.
"The NPLF wants to make it clear that this development raises serious questions on President Jonathan's repeatedly stated commitment to free and fair elections and by extension the survival of the nation's democracy."
The NPLF said in as much as it was not opposed to the fight against graft, "it is, however, manifest that the current onslaught against state governors and political leaders is part of the measures at checking those not well disposed to the bid of President Jonathan.
"While we stand shoulder to shoulder with all our elected courageous governors in the current struggle, we call on the Presidency to retrace its steps by tolerating opposition without which there can be no enduring democracy and rule of law.
"We call on governors and all genuine lovers of democracy to close ranks and stand up against this strain of dictatorship," it said in the statement.
Operatives of the EFCC were in Rivers State this week, during which they took some government officials to Abuja for further investigation of alleged corruption. In response, Governor Rotimi Amaechi alleged that the EFCC raid was politically-motivated.
Source: This Day, 4th September 2010.
Can EFCC wield the Hammer?
Olayinka Oyebode, Lagos
LAST week's declaration by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that some politicians standing trials over alleged corruption would be barred from the 2011 elections may be desirable. But legal constraints may hamper the body's planned clampdown, writes Assistant Editor OLAYINKA OYEBODE
MANY political camps felt a little stir last week when the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri, disclosed plans by the anti-graft agency to bar some politicians standing trial for corruption-related offences from participating in the 2011 general elections. Mrs. Waziri said the commission would work with other security outfits and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop the indicted politicians from seeking election into public office.
Although, the EFCC boss did not mention any name, she said many of the affected politicians had started pasting campaign posters preparatory to the 2011 election, adding that it was the duty of the commission to stop them so that they would not buy their ways into government with their ill-gotten wealth. "So, you can imagine what is happening. How do we allow these people to come back and say they are going to be the leaders, the world will laugh at us?"
This is not the first time the commission would make efforts to disqualify alleged corrupt politicians from contesting national elections. The commission had, in 2006, announced that no fewer than 33 state governors were being investigated for corruption related offences. It also named former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida as having a case to answer. But the trend died shortly after the 2007 election, making many to speculate that the move had political undertone.
Also ahead of the 2007 election, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) also tried to get some politicians who were notorious importers of fake and adulterated drugs disqualified. The agency intended to work with INEC to get such criminals barred from holding public offices.
But, while groups, including the Transparency International (TI) and the Code of Conduct Bureau believe that efforts must be made to deny certified corrupt politician from elective positions in the country, many are quick to point at the legal and political dimensions of the planned action.
Chairman of TI in Nigeria, Major General Ishola Williams (rtd) has advocated for legislation that will bar indicted politicians from holding sensitive public office. Many believe that such a ban can only be got through the court and not through an agency of government such as EFCC.
According to lawyers under the umbrella of Democratic Watch, the EFCC plan could be another tool for witch hunting. The group's leader, Mr. Kola Kolade, cautioned the anti graft body against going against the laws of the land in the planned action, as the decision could lead to wrongful exclusion of some candidates from the election, with dire consequences. Aside, he said persecution of a suspect does not necessarily lead to his disqualification in an election, pointing out that Senator Iyiola Omisore (Osun East) contested and won a senatorial seat from prison custody, while still standing trial for alleged complicity in the murder of the late Chief Bola Ige, former Attorney General of the Federation.
Many who are opposed to INEC wielding the big hammer on alleged corrupt politicians believes that all the country required is a well sensitized electorate that can stand between such corrupt leaders and elective position. Chairman Board of Trustees, Nigeria Transformation Party (NTP), Dr John Dara says a well structured voter education would take care of the development. According to him, it is time to educate and sensitise the voters on how to use their votes wisely and not to surrender it to the highest bidder. Dara says no matter how desirable the INEC position might be, once it does not have backing in the laws of the land, it would not work.
But Mrs. Waziri insists that the body would work within the precinct of the laws of the land to nail corrupt politicians. "Legally, I will say we are empowered to look into the issue", says the EFCC boss, adding "we will use the issue that they have a pending case and that they are standing trial for obvious reasons and we are not going to allow them."
Even though she did not mention the specific portion of the law that empowers the commission to disqualify candidates in an election, many believe the EFCC boss might inadvertently be relying on Section 137 of the 1999 Constitution which stipulates the grounds on which a candidate can be disqualified from an election.
Section 137(1)(i) of the 1999 Constitution provides thus:
"A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if:
(i) he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a Tribunals of Inquiry Law or any other law by the federal or state government which indictment has been accepted by the federal or state government.
Lawyers argue that the purport of the section is that though a person may be disqualified if indicted by any of the panels enumerated in Section 137(1)(i), such indictment is subject to review by a court of law including a Magistrate Court.
During the pending of such an appeal for review to the court, the indictment will remain in abeyance and unless upheld by the court, the indictment shall not be a ground for disqualification.
According to a senior advocate, Prof Itse Sagay, the law is clear on the power of the EFCC, which, according to him does not include disqualification of candidates based on alleged corruption charges. "What EFCC can do is to prosecute and leave the decision for the court", says the prominent constitutional lawyer.
Whereas Sagay shares the sentiment of the EFCC boss over the need to rid the polity of corrupt politician, he says the situation will be a bit difficult for EFCC, as it can only prosecute suspects. "The suspect is seen as innocent until the court pronounces him guilty, so, really, it is beyond EFCC, Sagay says.
National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh believes that both the constitution and Electoral Act are clear on the matter. He however regretted that a good number of corrupt politicians still find their ways into government. While saying that voter education was necessary, the APGA boss also believes that political parties should also find a way of screening their candidates so that only the credible ones are fielded for elective positions.
It is taken that while the Waziri-led EFCC can not unilaterally disqualify a candidate, the body might want to recommend such to INEC which, will in turn, carry out the disqualification based on security report.
But, as noted by Sagay and many other lawyers, the Supreme Court ruling in the case of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's disqualification from the 2007 election by INEC is instructive.
The Supreme Court had ruled on Monday 16th 2007 that the electoral body had no power to disqualify candidates, clearing the way for a late bid by Vice President Atiku Abubakar in April 21, 2007 presidential election.
Source: The Nation, 1st September 2010.
EFCC Insists on Stopping Corrupt Politicians
By Ben Agande & Chris Ochayi
ABUJA— CHAIRMAN of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, yesterday, vowed that the agency would collaborate with sister anti-graft agencies in the country to ensure that politicians with corruption cases were prevented from seeking elective offices in next year's general elections.
She also admonished Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega to beware of dubious contractors who may resort to blackmail and petition writing if they failed to win contracts from the commission.
Mrs. Waziri who spoke at the opening of a training programme on Anti-Money Laundering/Control of TerroristFinancing being organised by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, for EFCC operatives and other law enforcement officers at the Commission's Training and Research Institute, TRI, Karu in Abuja, said corrupt politicians would be denied further access to loot the nation's treasury.
Mrs. Waziri said: "We are not going outside the rule of law but we have powers to do certain things. I mean, if you have a case in court and we know very well that we charged you to court and the case is ongoing, you have not cleared your name but you want to take another corner and be relevant, there are many ways that we can stop you.
Source: Vanguard, 31st August 2010.
2011: We'll stop corrupt politicians, Waziri insists
From FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri has insisted that nothing will stop the agency from working with other sister organisations to ensure that public office seekers with corruption cases hanging on their neck are denied further access to loot the nation's treasury.
She restated this determination yesterday at the opening ceremony of a training programme on Anti-Money Laundering/Control of Terrorist Financing being organised by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI for EFCC operatives and other law enforcement officers at the Commission's Training and Research Institute (TRI), Karu Abuja.
Speaking while fielding questions from journalists at the ceremony, Waziri said: "We are not going outside the rule of law but we have powers to do certain things. I mean, if you have a case in court and we know very well that we charged you to court and the case is ongoing, you have not cleared your name but you want to take another corner and be relevant, there are many ways that we can stop you.
"You see, you know the law, a man is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. Now you don't publish names that these people are disqualified by mere publishing names, you will be violating their fundamental rights.
"But as I told you, there are ways of working out all these things which we will let you know.
"I don't want a situation where we will be seen as misusing our powers to publish the names. Of course, we have the names of politically exposed persons whose cases are pending in court for the past five years. With the brief on the cases, this is not violating anything; we are just telling you that we have these cases pending. But once you published a name that this man is banned, it is a different thing. But we can't do that. How we will do it along with others in the best interest of the law and the nation, we will keep it as a strategy for now."
She further explained that the collaboration with the FBI on the training of EFCC operatives as part of on-going partnership between EFCC and its counterparts outside the country. She dismissed impressions being created in some quarters that foreign partners had stopped supporting the Commission as mere propaganda by a clique for selfish reasons.
In her words, "Yes, we are collaborating with FBI. I just came back from the US where I had four sessions with the Department of Justice. We talked about many things including capacity building, sharing of information and intelligence."
I also went to the Under-Secretary of State and we had a session in the presence of our Ambassador to the US , Prof. Adefuye. We have been cooperating.
"You see, that statement that the EFCC had fallen-off was misinformed. For obvious reasons I knew where it was coming from. But it was really not the situation at all. And I am sure that by now they have realized that we are trying our best. They have seen figures and cases filed that they can crosscheck. So, it is not story telling."
"The cooperation has always been there with the FBI, European Union, the UNODC, German Police, French Police, Met Police and many others in so many areas."
In his remarks, FBI representative leading six others for the training, Victor Mc Collum corroborated Waziri and said "my experience since I came here is that the cooperation has been very large between the Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the FBI that I represent. The relationship has been outstanding. Everything we have tried to accomplish here so far, we have been able to do. We have had great cooperation from the institutions we have worked with. They have opened up doors for us. Likewise, we have been able to provide the institutions with some assistance and a lot of collaboration.
"We have worked together on criminal investigations and terrorism matters. So, the cooperation is good. Our perspective is that the Nigerian law enforcement agencies are willing, just as we are willing on the US side.
"Of course, we still have a long way to go because traditionally law enforcement agencies tend to be behind the criminals, we are always trying to catch up. So, we have a long way to go. But we have worked together moving in the right direction. In my perspective, the cooperation has been very, very satisfactory. We just really have to step up to move forward and do the things we need to do to help maintain peace and security not only in Nigeria , not only in the US but in all parts of the world as well.
"Historically because criminals are always initiating the action, and we are to react to the action, it is difficult to get ahead of them. However, two things like following the money of criminals and terrorists allows us to stay with them pre-empt them or even be ahead of them or prevent something from happening."
The two-week training programme which drew about 40 participants from the EFCC, the Nigeria Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and the State Security Service, SSS, would be facilitated by six officials of FBI and one from Internal Revenue Service, IRS.
Femi Babafemi
Head, Media & Publicity
30/8/2010
Source: Daily Sun, 31st August 2010.
EFCC has powers to stop corrupt candidates, Waziri insists
Yusuf Alli, Abuja
ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission Chair Mrs. Farida Waziri Monday insisted that the commission is legally empowered to stop corrupt candidates from contesting next year's election.
She also said that Nigeria is prone to terrorism and could not afford to take chances.
She however said that the Metropolitan Police will determine the extradition fate of ex-Governor James Ibori.
Mrs Waziri made the submissions while fielding questions from reporters at the beginning of a two-week training in Basic and Advanced Courses in Anti-Money Laundering and Control of Terrorist Financing for 40 officers, which was organised by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in Abuja .
The officers were drawn from the Police, EFCC, State Security Services (SSS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA).
In a reference to protest against move to stop corrupt candidates, the EFCC chairman said there is no going back on the commission's plan.
Although she ruled out publication of a list of those affected, she said she would unveil guidelines soon on how the corrupt elements would be stopped from participating in the poll.
Waziri said: "I will in due time. But go and read our establishments Act, there are so many things that the law empowers us to do including even the power to sue and be sued. We have a lot of powers to exercise to ensure that things are right and we are working on it. We will give you the guidelines as we progress.
"But you cannot say that such an establishment will lack power to do certain things. We are not going outside the rule of law but we have powers to do certain things.
"I mean, if you have a case in court and we know very well that we charged you to court and the case is ongoing, you have not cleared your name but you want to take another corner and be relevant, there are many ways that we can stop you."
Asked if an advisory list of corrupt candidates would be published before the poll as the case in 2007, the EFCC chairman said the commission would not do so.
She added: "You see, you know the law; a man is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. Now you don't publish names that these people are disqualified by mere publishing names, you will be violating their fundamental rights.
But as I told you, there are ways of working out all these things which I told you that we will let you know.
I don't want a situation where we will be seeing as misusing our powers to publish the names. Of course, we have the names of Politically Exposed Persons whose cases are pending in court for the past five years. We have the list in EFCC's magazine on my two years in office.
"With the brief on the cases, this is not violating anything; we are just telling you that we have these cases pending. But once you published a name that this man is banned, it is a different thing. But we can't do that."
On terrorism, Waziri said the little signs of violence in some parts of the country have confirmed that Nigeria is prone to terrorism.
She said: "Of course, we need to be pro-active. A few cases have happened in this country to point to. One day, we just woke up and we had Maitatsine riot, we woke up again we had the Boko Haram and we have been having recurrent problems in Jos. These are little signs that things are not well and could escalate to anything. After all, I think it was the First World War that started with a street fight or something.
"So, you don't take chances in a nation as big as Nigeria with 150million people with diverse languages and culture.
"And of course, you saw the sad incident of the Mutallab. We cannot just wait until these events happen and say had I known.
In a separate address, she said the training demonstrated "the continuing partnership between Nigeria and the United States in the fight against the twin evils of money laundering and terrorist financing.
"Since the tragic events of 9/11 it has become clear that no country is immune to the evil consequences of money laundering.
"The terror networks that use dirty money to promote misery and death around the world must be recognized and treated as enemies of humanity.
On the fate of ex-Governor James Ibori, she said: "Are you expecting him in Nigeria ? I don't know, it is left to the Met Police. They are filing papers and we are waiting for them. We don't have Extradition Treaty with the UAE."
The Representative of the FBI in Nigeria , Victor Mc Collum said: "My experience since I came here is that the cooperation has been very large between the Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the FBI that I represent.
"The relationship has been outstanding. Everything we have tried to accomplish here so far, we have been able to do."
"For developing country like Nigeria , money laundering is like the bleeding wounds of an anaemic patient. In a country where most of the people live on less than a dollar a day, millions of dollars are drained from public health and educational projects.
Source: The Nation, 31st August 2010.
FG Warns EFCC Against Rights Abuses
By Akin Oyedele, Abuja
The Federal Government has warned that it will not tolerate unnecessary exuberance and brazen use of force by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, handed down the warning to the graduates of the commission's Cadet Course 5 and Intermediate Course 2 at their passing out ceremony, in Abuja, on Thursday.
The ceremony took place at the EFCC Training and Research Institute, Karu, where 114 senior and 85 intermediate graduating cadets were formally discharged from the college.
Adoke reaffirmed the Federal Government's support for the commission, which, he said, was in furtherance of President Goodluck Jonathan's resolve to keep the fight against corruption and economic crimes on track.
The AGF reminded the graduates that their calling as law enforcement officers required them to maintain utmost decorum in the discharge of their duties.
He said that the government was committed to strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for the right of citizens and foreigners alike.
Adoke said, "The career path you have chosen for yourselves requires impeccable integrity, courage and the highest sense of patriotism.
"You must be prepared to suffer inconveniences and discomfort in the discharge of your duties. At all times, you will be under the searchlight of the public and anyone found wanting will be held personally liable."
The director of the training school, Dr. David Tukura, said that the freshers had swelled the rank of EFCC operatives trained by the institute to 540.
With the anticipated addition of 200 students undergoing the Executive Conversion Course, he expressed optimism that the commission would not require more than two more courses to attain full autonomy in operational matters.
For those that entered the college with accounting skills, he said they had undergone training in forensic accounting and auditing to detect fraud, while he said lawyers among them were imbued with prosecutorial skills.
Buoyed by its standard facilities, he appealed to the FG to upgrade the institute to become the first law enforcement university in West Africa.
The Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, said that the event marked a steady progression towards the eventual autonomy of the commission, when policemen would be phased out of its operations.
She noted that the commission's dependence on security personnel seconded from other agencies had posed a serious challenge to the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC boss disclosed that they would undergo another 12 months mentoring training at the commission's operational offices.
At the end of the training, she said only those that passed a qualifying competence and integrity test would be formally commissioned as officers of the EFCC.
Source: Punch, 20th August 2010.
Ministries, Agencies Canvass Holistic Strategy Against Corruption
EDITOR
MINISTRIES, departments and agencies of government met recently at the second Inter-Agency Retreat on the national strategy to combat corruption, and further highlighted the need for a more holistic plan to combat the phenomenon.
Those in attendance were drawn from the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Justice, as well as, Office of the Auditor General for the Federation, Bureau of Public Procurement, Bureau for Public Service Reforms, Central Bank of Nigeria, Code of Conduct Bureau, Corporate Affairs Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Nigeria Police Force, Public Complaints Commission, the National Council of Women's Societies - Nigeria, the Zero Corruption Coalition, the Integrity Organisation, and the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms
At the end of the retreat, they stressed the need for robust internal and external assessment mechanisms within law enforcement, regulatory and other anti-corruption agencies, as well as collaboration and coordination of efforts among agencies for:
They proposed Joint investigation, and where possible and appropriate, joint prosecution of corruption offences; Joint trainings/capacity building of staff within agencies on issues of common interest; as well as Joint public enlightenment and engagement.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the retreat, participants advocate the development of a criminal database and information sharing and the review and passage of relevant anti-corruption laws. They also want a review of the Evidence Act, to enhance admissibility of cyber evidence amongst others, passage of the Freedom of Information Bill into law and
urgent need to put in place a whistleblower and witness protection mechanism, pending the passage of appropriate laws.
Source: The Guardian, 1st August 2010.
Back
The Trouble with Opposition Politicians, by Utomi
SEYE OLUMIDE
THE Protem Chairman of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), Professor Pat Utomi, argues that opposition politicians are not necessarily better in their conduct than those of the ruling party. He spoke to Seye Olumide in Lagos. Excerpts:
What is your assessment of the current challenges facing the country's democracy?
Politics in Nigeria today lacks principles. We are currently in an era where carefree politicians are running government. They have lost the sense of governance. The politicians of these days lack shame and their conducts are not guided by principles. What makes the whole matter frightening is that at a time the country is facing a life and death issues, our politicians are busy parading themselves in a way that can plunged the country into revolution. If we are not careful with the present set of politicians there might be serious anarchy because Nigerians are weary of governance.
This is the time those who care for the country to rise to the challenges. We are in a saddening condition. Election is very near nobody is discussing issues. There must be coalition of voices to stop this situation.
The country is lying prostrate, every nation the size of Nigeria, giving global trends in the past 25 years is making effort to develop, but we are still lying low and our politicians are less concerned. Unfortunately the media itself is dominated with stories of looted billions, this is quiet disturbing. Recent newspaper publications showed some senior legal practitioners, one after the other who expressed loss of confidence in the politicians. It was so shocking some of them said they were afraid and warned against the possibility of outbreak of revolution in this country.
Very few among our politicians are really pondering over issues and development. In another recent publication, a senior legal practitioner regretted that he did not know that their agitation for democracy would be hijacked by bandwagons of thieves and vagabonds as it is at the present. When learned people are saying these, what would you expect from those of us that were beating and harassed by the former Head of State, late Gen. Sani Abacha when we took him on for civil rule. It is saddening that the process has been hijacked and turned into personal aggrandizement by the set of politicians we have now.
Progressives in the country must come together and put pressure on the masses to demand for change. Despite the high rate of poverty in the country, our enormous resources are being spent lavishly by the politicians on themselves and not for the development of the nation.
The poor state of education is nothing to them. I have always said, if we get our education system right, the chances for Nigeria becoming a super power within the next 20 to 30 years is very possible. But there is no political will to do it. Population of the advanced world is ageing and their youths cannot sustain the level of development they had attained, so they device a means of offering free visa lotteries to attract young African people. What is wrong with us? Why can't we offer employment to our younger generation? Our politicians are not thinking in this direction. Their concern is to run around for contracts. A huge population like Nigeria needs to focus on agriculture, manufacturing and ultimately tourism and other services. Nothing like this is in our economy. For instance, if we open up all the coastal roads from Lagos to the East and beyond, build hotels and construct eight or 10 lanes roads, foreigners will fly in with their hard currencies and we will generate serious revenue and also create employment in tourism alone. Instead of thinking positively, our politicians are busy collecting chieftaincy titles and preparing ground for revolution.
It is obvious that majority of them do not know what governance is all about. A situation where constitutional lawyer like Prof Ben Nwabueze could open up and say revolution is inevitable. Then something urgent needed to be done to prevent it.
When people were warned in Sierra Leone that revolution might happen, even in Liberia and Somalia it sounded like joke, but today what has happened? Nigeria is gradually moving towards similar direction.
It is expected in many quarters that things may start getting better if the general elections next year are free, fair and credible, don't you agree?
Let me tell you frankly, Nigeria can never have free and fair election next year. It is not possible; we can go ahead and debate it. The system we have now cannot give room for free and fair election. There is no seriousness shown to the commitment of free and fair election. It is about system, the appointment of one man into INEC will not translate into any miracle.
If we want a positive election next year, we should ask ourselves, if there are efforts on ground to change the old pattern that was responsible for past and faulty election results? I wonder if the new Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega will change the system or the system will change him?
That is why we are warning the politicians that Nigerians are helpless, they are tired about the attitude of our politicians and unfortunately there is nobody they could turn to for assistance. With time the unexpected could happen.
Nobody is ready; INEC is not ready, people are not being educated differently, and PDP has done nothing different. Tell me, if we are not doing things differently now how do you expect us to get good result next year?
In this regard, what is your assessment of opposition politicians?
This is another unfortunate challenge to the nation. The so-called oppositions are probably as bad as the ruling class. Egos have prevented us from realizing that the country is greater than the individual. Some of us are yet to realize the need to set aside our pride and work together to rescue the country. Many of the opposition are also busy running around for positions and contracts; some were even decamping to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It is painful.
Can't opposition politicians put their act together?
There is a work in progress on this. I have tried to reach out to many opposition leaders so that we can work together. I can tell you that the PDP explicitly instructed its members in the National Assembly to vote against the issue of two party states. They knew that when they allow many parties, individual politicians egos would split their ranks and consequently prevents them from working as a team to challenge PDP from doing more damages to the country.
President Jonathan must first realize that the critical crisis before the country now is not free and fair elections, but the bad conduct of politicians and misplaced priorities of PDP. I will suggest to him to organise an All Politicians Summit as urgent as possible. A forum we can tell ourselves the truth on why the country is lying prostrate.
President of Botswana sometimes ago in the congress hall of Hilton Hotel, Abuja said our problem is the flashy lifestyle of politicians. We should be able to jail a politician if we found him living above his income not because we caught him stealing. Politics should be about sacrifice. All policies must focus on the development of the country; we must agree that election must hold and politicians must belief in elections.
Today, Nigerian politicians do not believe in elections, there is need to look critically at political violence. How was violence been curtailed in the English soccer? Simple, any club whose supporters foment trouble during competition is seriously penalized. In Brazil they came to conclusion that if your followers misconduct themselves during elections you are completely disqualified.
There is need to reduce the cost of governance in the country. This is a big challenge. I have always suggested that Nigeria does not need full time legislatures. We only need part time legislatures, professionals that will take time in a month or as agreed, meet and make laws and then return to their jobs, there is need to reduce the paraphernalia of office. Public servants should not be going about blowing sirens on the highways. These and other issues should be the agenda of such summit.
What is your reaction to the on going zoning debate?
I don't want to dignify the subject by discussing it. It is a shame, of all the challenges facing us as a nation our politicians are debating whose turn it is to do damage. Let us have the summit and agree on what we must do to safe this country. Let us agree on how to make progress, we would then know who is responsible for the situation we found ourselves and look for a way out. Zoning is simply about power and not progress. In principle, my belief is in representativeness of all people, having a fair chance at being involved in decision affecting them.
You have always expressed concern about electricity, what remedy would you suggest to addressing the frequent power failure in the country?
Power is so central to modern life, its economy, its pleasures and its social organisation efficiencies that are unfathomable that the leadership in Nigeria in the last 15 years has not been able to reverse the downward spiral of the sector in spite of the availability of enormous cash flow from high crude oil prices. With each World Bank Group Private Sector Assessment Report (PSA), and Doing Business Report, which indicated that Nigeria is one of the worst places to do business in the world and that the power situation is a big part of the problem you would imagine the leadership would approach the problem with great determination and sense of mission. Instead, the more we get promises that power failure will soon be ancient history the worse things become.
In my view, the problems of power are the problems of strategy, commitment, corruption, human capital and faulty project management. At the level of strategy it seems clearly that the emphasis on a centralized system focused on a National grid has been at the heart of the failure to make progress. This obsession seems to flow from the general departures from the principles of subsidiary and federalism.
I have on several occasions encourage state Governors to promote the building of ring fenced 10-15 megawatt power plants with an off-grid licence. At modest costs of one million US dollars per megawatt they would lead Nigerians from darkness into light with only two towns in their states serviced by 10-megawatt plants. Many of them spend more than that on unnecessary travels.
It is centralized and more complex National grid based initiative that has highlighted the human capital challenge. The management flows that have characterized the process have been legendary as were highlighted by the Ndudi Elumelu House of Representatives probe panel's work that revealed logistics and sequencing nightmares. The need for project management skills showed through as machinery for the power schemes were lying at the Ports for reasons such as the bridges on roads to their final destination being inadequate, to problems of sequencing with several contracted parties to the implementation not being well synchronized.
Then there is the almighty corruption. It certainly is more attractive for corruption to do huge centralized projects than to manage smaller plants. Yet Vietnam has quickly overcome post war challenges by building many of such plants. Even Brazil with many other options has so many of such plants.
As stakeholder, professionals need to call both the people at the central and in the state to account for their stewardship on the power question in Open Town Hall Meetings such as this.
Source: The Guardian, 13th August 2010.
Utomi traces cultism to primary schools
Miriam Ndikanwu
To get to the root of cultism in the country's tertiary institutions, you must dig down to the primary and secondary schools. That was the submission of Prof Pat Utomi, economist and politician and now pro-chancellor of the Pan-African University. Utomi blamed the neglect of primary and secondary schools for the menace of cultism and other vices in the nation's tertiary institutions.
Utomi, who was the guest speaker at the 12th Valedictory Service/Prize-Giving Day of Good Shepherd Schools, Meiran, Lagos, said the basic educational foundation, which is primary school and then secondary school had been bastardised. The result is suspect products pouring into higher school.
According to him, "the challenges we face now is the neglect of the primary and secondary education which makes university education difficult. Impacting proper values in the children is the best investment parents can make,"
He explained that the quality of tertiary education in the country was fast decaying, adding that in 1960 a commission was set up to find ways of moving education forward and that the commission really excelled which made the nation's education to rank among the best in the world.
"Today, the situation is worse. It is frightening to see what our primary and secondary schools have become. Teachers don't pay attention to students anymore. The private initiatives like Good Shepherd Schools and few others are doing well," he stated.
Utomi, who spoke on the Process and Product of Learning, stated that "what we are is a product of refinement which is what education is all about. God's purpose was for man to move creation towards perfection.
"If man wants to be impressive, he must learn. The process of education is to prepare us to go through life. The life of human being revolves round three stages namely, dependence stage, independent stage and inter-dependent stage," he stated.
According to him, the dependence stage was a stage where the child depended on his parents totally for everything while at the independent stage, the child wanted to have some form of liberty and that at inter-dependent stage, the child had grown to full adult to decide for himself.
Utomi added that "we can't be effective in life if we don't have knowledge and a sense of service towards others. Great leaders make people do things out of compassion and this is what the modern school should help people to become.
"Nothing is more important than paying attention to the values of knowledge to transform the society. Leadership is about sacrificial giving.
"As we prepare young people for the world, the process of learning must move them to keep pace with the changing world," he said.
He urged youths to avoid deadly social sins such as education without character; religion without sacrifice; pleasure without conscience; commerce without morality and service without humanity.
"If youths develop values that sustains, they will be able to develop potentials to change the world," he stated.
Director, Good Shepherd Schools , Dr. Bayo Oyeyemi said the school frowned at all forms of examination malpractice and other social vices that would retard the development of the students.
"Our goal is to offer qualitative education without corruption to all irrespective of race, colour, ethnicity and religious affiliations. Our vision is to remain a world class educational service provider for the overall intent of raising a godly generation of achievers," he said.
However, the school graduated 135 students from the Junior Secondary three and 65 students from the Senior Secondary School three and gave award to deserving students who excelled in their academics.
Source: The Nation, 5th August 2010.
Tragedy Of Recurring Building Collapse
Written by Chika Otuchikere
The embarrassing phenomenon of building collapse in Nigeria appears to have come to stay. Nigerians are quickly getting used to the ugly reality of the unreliability of the houses built by the country's building contractors. As it stands presently, the death toll of victims of building collapse is fast increasing, sending fear across the land and the message that nobody is safe any longer.
The last ten years has seen an increase in buildings collapses. This period incidentally coincides with the number of years the country has experienced uninterrupted civil rule. It presupposes that most of the buildings could have been built during the military era. But that has not been the case. The number of uncompleted buildings which caved in within this democracy leaves everyone with the impression that the country's professionals threw caution, codes and ethics of their profession to the wind during civil rule than democracy. That is not to aver that there were no building collapses during the military eras. The point being stressed is that there have been more building collapses within the last ten years than in any other period.
There is no disputing that Lagos State, the nation's acclaimed commercial nerve centre and Abuja, the current seat of power, enjoy the lion share in the cases of building collapse. For the case of Lagos, anyone could argue that most of the buildings had worn out with age leading to their collapse. Although this argument is lame since there is provision for constant refurbishment of structure as they advance in age.
The case of Abuja, the country's young capital however is inexplicable. Nigeria had long discovered oil and so the general belief is that the city was built primarily on oil money and so should have been better equipped. But if statistics are taken it would be found that Abuja has suffered more building collapses than Lagos State or any other state in the country. This is embarrassing not only to the government which is always trying to pretend that they are doing the right thing, but it is also embarrassing to the residents who fear that the government is not enforcing the appropriate laws on building and so allowing the citizens to fall victims whenever there is a building collapse.
Within a short space of time there were series of building collapse in Lagos just as it was happening in Abuja. Other major cities like Kano, Port-Harcourt, Enugu, suffered a similar fate. A four-storey residential building collapsed in Lagos near Ojuelegba leading to loss of lives of construction workers and those taking shelter from rains: The collapse of a multi-millionaire building in Ajah Area, the collapse of a mosque in Mushin killing some Arabic scholars: The collapse of a storey building in Kano accommodating some Islamic students, similar in scenario to the Oworonshoki building collapse a few days after where eight people were feared dead: The collapse of a storey building behind Federal Capital Territory Police Command in Abuja, reportedly killing 14 people working; the collapse of a 3-storey building awaiting finishing works at Ikeja behind Juli Pharmacy, where over 40 people were trapped in the building: And the Abuja building collapse killing over 40 people, were just a few cases which occurred in 2009.
What makes the case of building collapse in Nigeria even more tragic is that no solution has been found from any corner to put an end to the nightmare, leaving many concerned Nigerians with the unpleasant conclusion that for the next building collapse, it is only a matter of time. Rather, what is observed during every incident is that those in authority want to capitalise on the tragedy to make some money for themselves.
According to a building expert and contractor with the Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Muyiwa Akinwande, Nigerians have shied away from hitting the nail on the head on the issue of building collapse and as a result, the country will continue to experience building collapse for sometime to come. He pointed out that while many Nigerians have continued to lay the blame for building collapse on the structural engineers and builders, the actual blame must go the government's insensitivity to the plight of the people and the inability of government agencies and ministries to strictly enforce crucial rules which guide building structures.
"It is indeed unfortunate that lives are lost at every incident of building collapse, but the truth remains that the government does not want to put an end to the spate of building collapse in the country. If the government really wants to end it or at least reduce to its barest, then they should look inwards and ask themselves why the problem has defied solution over the years.
"Everyone knows that one major problem we face in this country is that we are an import dependent nation and so we import nearly everything we use in our construction industry. Then also the things which we manufacture in this country cannot in any way be compared with the ones manufactured outside the country in terms of quality. Of course, we must also not lose sight of the problem of importing some of these building material from countries which also manufacture substandard building materials products.
"The construction of a building is expected to be managed by qualified professionals including structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, etc. Site supervision is very important as it is required to ensure quality control of all the materials used, and compliance with approved plans and standards. Non-qualified people have however infiltrated the building industry at all levels leading to poorly constructed buildings across the country.
According to a member of the Institute of Building, Mr Madueke Sunday, every well meaning engineering project must of necessity pass through several stages in the course of its development, including but not limited to conceptualisation, planning, design, construction and maintenance.
Structural failures, he pointed out, occur when one or more of these stages of project development are omitted, usurped by incompetent hands or even completely eliminated. He lamented that nearly everything in the country has been politicised instead of professionalised. This, he said, created room for political thugs and all manner of persons to take over the supervision of building construction even when they know little or nothing about what to look out for. He described this as the reign of mediocrity in the country.
The Nigeria Institute of Structural Engineers as far back as 1985 came up with findings showing causes of building collapse in the country using the case study of two building collapses.
The report of the investigation showed that: the site of the collapsed building had a bungalow built on it initially; the owner had applied for planning approval which was granted him to erect a new 2-storey structure; the owner-turned developer, went ahead to increase the number of floors from 2 to 5. The building finally collapsed at the fourth floor slab level. The site was discovered to have been a former refuse dump and site investigations were inadequate; the foundations for the building were inadequate being simple strip footings; the retrieved concrete sample sent for strength tests came back with very low results.
In another example of collapses that have been investigated by NIStructE:
Our findings showed that the structure was initially a bungalow, the bungalow was gutted by fire, the owner redeveloped the structure up to second floor slab level where it collapsed on the fateful day. Just like the other case, the quality of concrete and other materials was very poor, the workmanship was very poor and lack of competent structural supervision was evident.
According to the Institution, within the subsequent years the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers has investigated and written reports which were sent to the relevant authorities on many structural failures including the following:-
•A collapsed 8-storey hotel building on Akinwunmi Street, Okupe Estate, Mende , Maryland Lagos. This hotel was completed, furnished and ready for use when it collapsed on the eve of its official opening .
(Report submitted to the Lagos State Government in 1989).
•A 3-storey building that collapsed on the 12th of June 1997 at no. 3 Chime Avenue, New Haven, Enugu, Enugu State.
(Report submitted to the Enugu State Governement in 1998).
• A report on the collapse of Saque Comprehensive Primary and Secondary School Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, in which over 50 pupils died on the 15th of June 1990..
(Report submitted to the Rivers State Government).
• A report on the collapse of the main entrance canopy of the main approach to the Eleganza Ball-pen industry estate along Epe Road, Ajah.
(Report submitted to the appropriate authorities and Eleganza Ball-pen Industries Limited in May 2000).
The institute found from the various investigations a common trend. "From the various investigations over the years, there are generally common trends and the causes of the building collapses recorded can be summarised as due to one or more of the following reasons:-
• Non adherence to the approval regulations.
• Absence of the involvement of a professional structural engineer in one or more of the stages of the project execution.
• Incompetent and low quality workmanship.
• Use of poor quality materials
• Lack of soil investigation and improper interpretation of site conditions
• Lack of professional site supervision.
• Lack of knowledge of the guiding principles concerning construction of the proposed development
• Greed and the desire to maximise profit.
• Excessively rushed construction
• Poor or inadequate form and false work.
• Corner-cutting by the client or the contractor.
• Construction by all-comers due to the perception of engineering projects as an easy access window to make quick money.
• Unethical dealings between project promoters and the relevant planning authorities.
They also came up with recommendations to prevent the incidences of building Collapses.
1. Only structural engineers are trained to do structural engineering jobs, and as such, they are the only ones who should be entrusted with the responsibility for executing structural engineering projects, especially site supervision of construction works.
2. Relevant planning authorities should not approve structural drawings that do not bear the NIStructE stamp along side the COREN stamp to indicate that such drawings have been made and or checked by a registered structural engineer who is a corporate member of the NIStructE, a division of the NSE
3. The relevant planning authorities should formally engage the services of practicing structural engineering firms to veto designs and drawings. They must also be consulted for project supervision, monitoring and control from inception to completion.
4. The relevant planning authorities must not compromise on the standards established for the approval of drawings.
5. Government must, through the appropriate standard organisations, ensure availability of only good quality materials for the construction market. Cost reducing measures need to be employed to reduce the cost of construction.
6. Dealers in poor quality construction materials should be prosecuted.
7. Government must demonstrate adequate interest in project safety by prosecuting, with all seriousness, offenders whose activities result in the collapse of structures.
8. A proper geotechnical soil investigation must be carried out before embarking on any project, for proper foundation design.
9. Building developers must imbibe the culture of engagement of the services of qualified structural engineers on their projects, irrespective of size.
10. All building projects must possess the mandatory COREN project Control Forms (PCF) and all approving authorities must ensure compliance of this.
11. No engineer or related construction professional should carry out work in a speciality of which he is not qualified
12. We note that both the Federal Ministry of Works and the newly created Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development do not have structural engineering departments headed by directors who must, of necessity, be structural engineers. It is strongly recommended that fully fledged structural engineering departments should be established at both the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
13. Public enlightenment should be embarked upon to draw attention to the dangers of sub-standard building construction. The press have a large role to play in this.
It is unfortunate to note that long after that thorough investigation was carried out building collapse have refused to abate. Rather, the incidence continues in torrents leaving in its trail avalanche of deaths and destructions.
A newspaper editorial captured the tragedy of building collapse in the following words "The high incidence of collapsed buildings in the country in recent times is both tragic and a source of national embarrassment. It is tragic because although every death is painful, the death of several innocent lives in avoidable circumstances is regrettable. And it is embarrassing because it depicts another aspect of the nation's systemic rot.
"This tragic trend has exposed the lapses of Nigerian construction sector, and the deficiency of the regulatory agencies. It also confirms that massive invasion of the sector by quacks. Also exposed by the frequency of building collapse is the tendency of some officials of the regulatory authorities driven self-enrichment motives, to collude with unscrupulous developers whose stock in trade is the use of substandard building materials.
"It is shameful that while engineers in other parts of the world are busy designing and constructing buildings of over 100 floors, we are been treated to trauma of collapsing buildings with as little as three to four floors.
"There are both old and new high-rise buildings in Nigeria, so it is not as if we don't know what to do or how to build strong, enduring buildings. What we lack here is the will to do it right. For instance, construction is one particular industry that does not tolerate the use of substandard materials. But many of the developers who murder people and who have led us to national shame cut corners. Not only do most of the builders here use poor and substandard materials, they also engage largely unskilled workmen and pay scant attention to design details.
"Government agencies charged with approval of building plans, site inspection and development monitoring, do not help matters as most of the reported collapsed buildings are known to have 'passed' the compliance test of the various states Ministries of Housing and Urban Development. Quite often, it is not until after tragedy has struck that it is revealed that the builder, who is often a quack, actually procured fake approval documents for the construction. Must innocent people continue to die for the greed of others? Surely, this situation is unacceptable and something must be done urgently to sanitise the building construction industry so that most of these needless tragedies could be avoided.
"We are also worried that there is no proper consequence management in place. Developers who cause their buildings to collapse, killing people, must be prosecuted and seen by all to be prosecuted. Although this will not bring back lost lives, it will serve as the much desired deterrent.
"The building construction sector is so crucial that it has to be placed squarely in the hands of thoroughbred professionals, a categorical imperative that cannot be compromised. Added to this is the need for the Housing and Urban Development agencies at the various levels of government to institute effective and incorruptible building inspection and monitoring procedure to allow for early warning measures.
A Lagos-based city planner, Bunmi Ajayi, painted a grim picture of the scenario by suggesting that more buildings would collapse. He based his analysis on the Lagos State government's isolation several years ago of some 70 structurally defective buildings on the Lagos Island and 586 others on the Mainland...Selah!
Source: Leadership, 20th August 2010.
Back
Murtala Muhammed Airport Road:
The Case Of Irresponsible Governance
BY WOLE SHADARE
When foreigners say Lagos is a slum, many die-hard patriots rise up in defence, arguing that the population of the city -- about 18 million-- can overstretch infrastructure of any country. But the decayed and decaying infrastructure,
particularly roads, are open sores that would convince a visitor or even more discerning residents that the city is one unprepared to earn any credit of a conducive space for decent living or venture.
The MMIA road in deed, is a metaphor on how not to neglect infrastructure over a long period of time.
The Minister of Information and Communications may continue to trumpet teh so-called re-branding exercise to next millenium, the picture on ground, especially in terms of federal roads and facilities in Lagos -- the main point of entry for majoity of foreign visitors to this country -- shows that the current administration is not serious yet about building a truly progressive country.
The infrastructure deficit is so critical that it could prevent Nigeria from achieving the prosperity that finally seems to be within its grasp. Without reliable power, water and a modern transportation network, the chasm between Nigeria 's moneyed elite and its 120 million poor will continue to widen, potentially destabilizing the country.
While many people can forgive the poor road network and bad roads, it is difficult to forgive non-challant attitude of the Federal Government to the gateway to Nigeria — the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency was noticed of late on this road, with bulldozers moving earth. There was hope that at last government had decided to act. No sooner did FERMA's activities start than they suddenly stopped, leaving the road in a muddy mess that the rains have worsened.
The decaying road has made Nigeria a laughing stock among foreigners and those who are visiting the country for the first time. This potholed, two-lane stretch of gritty pavement — the primary access to the airport from Ajao estate is pure chaos.
Cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, taxis, corn sellers, upholstery makers, dogs sellers jostle for every inch of the roadway as horns blare and brakes squeal. Drivers run red lights and jam their vehicles into any available space, paying no mind to pedestrians clustered desperately on median strips like shipwrecked sailors.
Pass through the area into the airport, the loudest sounds you hear are the blaring of car horns, disorderliness that seriously paints Nigeria as a country in need of direction.
The most disturbing of this is that the President, ministers, governors, top government officials of the various ministries use this road, when they are returning to the country or visiting Lagos, where they have liaison offices. Yet, they fail to notice the poor state of this road.
Again, Nigerians and other users of the road groan under serious traffic hold-up that last over two hours to navigate fromin and out of the airport. Tired travelers are seen driving recklessly to wriggle out of the chaos; a situation that has led to accidents, claiming several lives.
Some diplomats had during ceremony to mark the 1,100 days of the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola held recently, decried the appalling state of the country's airport road.
The diplomats particularly condemned the poor state of the MMIA link road in a country begging for more direct foreign investment inflow, while tasking the Lagos and Federal Governments that it was time to act.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria , Robin Green observed that the ruined international airport road had been a major concern to the international community and was capable of denying Nigeria the much desired foreign investment besides being a shame.
Four years ago, Lagos state and the Federal Governments were embroiled in serious controversy over the repair of the road regarded as a trunk 'A'. This effort was thwarted as a result of high level politics as the Federal Government under Adeseye Ogunlewe as the Minister of Works reportedly claimed that the Lagos State government had no business with the rehabilitation of the road.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which oversees infrastructure around the airport; and which the area belongs to, is helpless and has declared that it lacked the fund to embark on such capital-intensive project.
The agency, says it is presently handicapped financially, as it is owed over N16 billion by its management concessionaires, which the National Assembly has vowed to probe, with a view to canceling them where they are found not to be in the interest of Nigerians.
The Works ministry through its agency, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) moved to site, raising the hope of a speedy completion of the project. But since then, not much has been achieved to rehabilitate a road that practically shown the seriousness attached to public infrastructure.
A frequent user described the state of the road as "embarrassing and a big shame to a country that prides itself as the "Giant of Africa ."
Explaining his experience on the road, he said, "I came back from the United Kingdom two weeks ago with my business partners from London and we were stuck on that bad road for hours, precisely at the Ajao Estate 7 and 8 bus-stop, which has become a huge death trap. My partners were really shocked and embarrassed with the state of the road".
"I made excuses by defending the government but they seem not to be impressed with my excuses and advised that the government should urgently save our faces by total repairs of the road".
Another who gave his name as Oluwole Akerele lambasted government for ignoring the road, alleging that over the years the road had deteriorated and caused a big shame to the country.
Source: The Guardian, 18th July 2010.
Reps, Fashola lament state of roads
BY WOLE SHADARE (LAGOS) AND TERHEMBA DAKA (ABUJA)
Bankole accuses contractors, supervisors of collusion
MDAs get extra N369b to meet MDG targets
HOUSE of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, yesterday came hard on contractors and government supervisory agents, accusing them of connivance to poorly execute road projects.
Over N369,146,879,765 has been provided as additional funds to ministries and other government agencies for infrastructure to meet MDG objectives in the past four years.
Bankole spoke yesterday while opening a public hearing, organised by the House Committee on Works in Abuja, on a proposed law to extend the maintenance of roads after construction to five years before handing over to government.
On his part, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola also yesterday said he was very concerned about some of the bad road in Lagos State, just as he assured that his government's efforts to repair them as a continuous one.
Speaking at the local wing of the Lagos airport, he said the state would give more attention to the roads that carry greatest traffic.
Meanwhile, it has also emerged at another House committee hearing on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that for the Debt-Relief Gains (DRG) appropriated from 2006 to 2010, funds have been allocated every year for federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in key MDGs sectors. To promote public service reform and ensure accountability, each MDA is accountable for its appropriations and expenditures under the DRG.
For example, between 2006 and 2010, N369,146,879,765 was appropriated to provide additional funds to scale up investments towards the achievement of the MDGs in the MDAs. The focus of investments has evolved in response to emerging policy priorities, financing opportunities and the lessons learned from previous investments.
Funding has been targeted at strategic investments that will address national challenges in key MDGs sectors. These are intended to complement the investments being made by State and Local Governments and through other DRG funding mechanisms such as the Conditional Grants Scheme and Quick Wins projects.
According to the provisions of the Federal Highways Act, contractors are expected to maintain roads after construction for a year before handing over to government.
However, the proposed piece of legislation sponsored by Austin Nwachukwu, a member of the Progressives recently suspended from the House specifically seeks for post-construction maintenance period of five years before handing over to the authorities.
Bankole, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Usman Bayero Nafada, said: "The fact that many of these roads that are constructed with hefty sums of public money collapse shortly after their construction and elaborate commissioning ceremonies make Nigerians to wonder if these roads are deliberately constructed by some construction companies to fail."
He said roads and bridges built in Nigeria are not of high quality like those in the developed countries, wondering why it should be so.
He added: "Most roads in Nigeria do not have basic traffic signs let alone providing shoulders at appropriate points for the convenient use of Nigerian motorists.
"The sorry state of our roads as critical infrastructure has justifiably generated much anger from Nigerians at the wastage of enormous scarce resources in the construction of these roads that cost twice, the amount used to build similar roads in neighbouring countries.
"When we juxtapose the billions of Naira expended over the years by government on road construction and rehabilitation against the sorry state of our roads and thousands of lives lost on such roads, it is very depressing and embarrassing," the Speaker lamented, adding that the country can no longer accept to be short-changed
Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Chukwuma Onyema, said the main intent of the Bill was also to punish anyone who fails to do a good job.
But, the Federal Ministry of Works, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and other stakeholders have however opposed the passage of the proposed bill into law.
Works Minister, Sanusi Daggash, while making a presentation, said the overall intention of the bill has already been taken care of by the extant Federal Highways Act.
"The issue of time for road maintenance is under the purview of the honourable minister in charge of roads by regulation," Daggash told the committee.
According to him, there is an existing Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) charged with the repair of roads after construction, noting that bill if passed may upset its functions.
Other stakeholders who spoke against the bill were FERMA, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
Since the beginning of its work in 2006, the DRG has impacted on multiple dimensions of the public reform agenda that will support achievement of the MDGs.
• The investments have contributed to development and deepening of the economy
• Development of requisite human capital through training for knowledge and skills development,
• Infrastructure development through roads, power and agriculture investment
• Economic empowerment through access to micro-credit with focus on women and other vulnerable groups
• Poverty eradication programmes in collaboration with relevant MDAs that have generated demand for services and goods
• Employment generation, including through the Federal Teachers' Scheme and Midwifery Services Scheme
The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President (SSAP) on MDGs functions as secretariat to the Presidential Committee on MDGs and is responsible for tracking, monitoring and evaluating the progress of the DRGs. The OSSAP-MDGs was established in 2005 to oversee the effective implementation of capital projects funded from the DRGs and to report to the Presidential Committee on the Assessment and Monitoring of the MDGs.
Source: The Guardian, 15th July 2010.
NUPENG Issues Deadline to Govt Over Bad Roads, Casualisation
FROM IYABO LAWAL, IBADAN
CITING the deplorable condition of roads across the country as well as the casualisation of workers in the oil and gas sector, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) yesterday issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the problems or risk the suspension of supply of
petroleum products to Abuja.
Rising from its national executive meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, NUPENG's National Chairman, Achese Igwe, lamented the increased cases of death on most of the nation's roads, which he attributed to negligence on the part of government.
He added that the union was ready to stop further supply of petroleum products to Abuja to register its displeasure over the situation.
On why the union singled out Abuja for the action, Igwe said Nigerians are already facing hard times and NUPENG would not want to further complicate issues, hence its decision to face the seat of power.
The NUPENG chief identified some of the bad roads in the country as Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, those in Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Bayelsa as well as in the East, which he said have become death traps where tankers are parked, attacked and burnt, resulting in the death of their members.
"The union hereby resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government with effect from Monday, July 12, 2010, to repair bad roads across the country as well as prevail on the oil companies and their contractors to put in place viable conditions of service for contract workers in the industry. Failure of the government to adhere to our 21-day ultimatum will result in stoppage of petroleum products supply to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja," Igwe said.
On the possibility of the Federal Government repairing roads within 21-day, the NUPENG chief said if roads could be repaired at night in Abuja, then nothing stopped them from extending same to others as well.
"Our politicians do travel out and they see how road construction is done. In Nigeria, they would wait till the roads are terribly bad to such an extent that lives would be lost. They would wait till they claim a huge amount of money for road repair. We believe that the ultimatum is enough. It is sad to note that on Aba road, two tankers somersaulted and burnt two members to death. Not only that, it also burnt other vehicles behind the tanker," he added.
Igwe also frowned at the casualisation of workers in the oil and gas industry, which had left the workers with no job security or condition of service and demanded a review of the exercise.
"We have resolved to ensure that Nigerian workers are given their fair share and privileges as workers in the oil and gas industry. It is very unfortunate that while our Nigerian workers are suffering under the guise of assault, contract and other numerous work reviews which have been introduced by the multinational oil companies, it is painful to say that the Federal Ministry of Labour, which is in charge of labour issues and implementation of labour laws in this country is also collaborating with the multinational companies in short-changing Nigerians," he added.
"It is also very unfortunate that as I speak, most of the contract workers in Nigeria do not have pension. The laws are there that all Nigerian workers who work in this industry must be given a contributory pension system and life assurance. But as I talk to you, these multinational oil companies have only given these workers half condition of service. We have resolved that we will not fold our arms and watch Nigerians suffer," he warned.
NUPENG also joined in the clamour for a free and fair election in 2011, which it premised on a credible voters' register.
Source: The Guardian, 7th July 2010.
W'Bank Earmarks $300m for Nigerian Roads
From Dele Ogbodo in Abuja
Programme Coordinator, Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF) of the World Bank, Mrs. Tawia Addo-Ashong, yesterday said the Bank had concluded arrangements to invest $300 million for the overall development of
Nigerian roads.
She said the facility was aimed at reducing the staggering number of deaths and injuries on Nigerian roads as well as to elevate its status to meet international standards.
She added that the facility would help develop and improve innovative infrastructure on the state of the roads. The Bank facility, she said, was to help the government in the development of roads and enhancing the development of its capacity.
According to her, the investment strategy will be developed through short, medium and long term initiatives that will help Nigerian road become safe. She said there will be projects or interventions that will be delivered on the basis that will bring about more immediate benefits which will be worked out from investment strategy.
Addo-Ashong made the disclosure when the World Bank Term in collaboration with Integrated Transport Planning (ITP), led by its Director, Mr. Darren Divali, paid a courtesy visit to the Corps Marshall and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, for the World Bank Review of Road Safety Management Capacity in Nigeria.
Acknowledging the staggering statistics of road accidents around the world, she said: "About 1.2 million people are losing their lives annually on the road with 90 percent coming from the developing world."
She said if this trend continues, road accidents, especially in Africa, would become the second leading causes of death by year 2030. She said this was the major reason the World Bank set up the facility to strengthen country capacity to support sustainable death reduction and injuries on the roads.
Towards meeting this objective of helping to build manpower capacity of FRSC and its other activities in the country, she said the Bank had set aside the sum of $10 million out of the total investment for the project nationwide.
Source: This Day, 7th July 2010.
Jonathan Promises Action on Niger Delta Roads
From JULIANA TAIWO, Abuja
President Goodluck Jonathan has again pledged his administration's commitment to rehabilitating existing roads
and initiating action on new highways to open up the Niger Delta region for rapid development. In the same vein, the government of Cross River State has appealed to the Federal Government to treat the case of the displaced Nigerians from Bakassi as an emergency.
They had also urged the Federal Government to see it as an urgent humanitarian crisis which required intense, specific and urgent attention.
President Jonathan gave the assurance while having audience with a delegation of Cross River State leaders, traditional rulers and elders led by Governor Liyel Imoke. He added that demands for the improvement of the transportation networks in the region were genuine and legitimate, and would therefore, receive due consideration from the Federal Government.
President Jonathan assured that all the issues raised by the delegation, including increased support for the resettlement of Nigerians displaced from the Bakassi Peninsula, Federal support for the development of Cross River State's tourism potentials, dredging of the Calabar Channel and refunds to the Cross River State Government of expenditure on the maintenance of Federal Roads, would receive necessary attention from the Federal Government.
Responding to requests made by the delegation in an address presented by former Foreign Affairs Minister and current leader of the South-South Peoples Assembly, Chief Mathew Mbu, President Jonathan said funds would be provided in the 2011 Federal Budget for the extension of the East-West Road to Calabar. The road is currently designed to terminate in Akwa Ibom State.
He thanked the delegation for its pledge of support for Vice President Namadi Sambo and himself, saying that they would be encouraged by the backing of the people of Cross River and other Nigerians to carry forward the enormous task of setting the country firmly on the path to sustainable growth and rapid development.
Chief Mbu had said in his address that the delegation believed that the bold steps already taken by President Jonathan in his leadership of the nation were a reflection of his deep sense of purpose and thorough understanding of the country's problems.
He praised the president's commitment to giving Nigeria a new lease of life, saying that his dedication to free, fair and credible elections in 2011 was a welcome indication that Nigeria was on the right path to good governance and the consolidation of democracy.
Also in his remark, Governor Imoke appealed for government's intervention in the resettlement of the Bakassi people.
"We appeal to Mr. President to consider and treat the displacement of Nigerians the from Bakassi region as a special humanitarian crisis which requires intense, specific and urgent attention," he said.
He noted that the enormous responsibility of resettlement should not be left to the state government alone.
The federal government and the international community which ceded Bakassi should also show more responsibility and commitment to the people of this area. Cross River state as a sub-nation cannot make a request for assistance to the United Nations".
The state delegation therefore requested that the federal government engage the United Nations mixed Commission and other relevant UN Agencies such as the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) to assist in addressing the issue.
In contribution to this collaborative process "the various South-South States involved have proposed to jointly incorporate an NGO, the Bakassi Resettlement Foundation, which will coordinate the exercise on a sustainable basis. We solicit the support of the federal government in our efforts to bring lasting peace by assuaging the agitations of the displaced Nigerians".
Other solicitations made by the delegations which comprised of the three senators, Greg Ngaji, Victor Ndoma Egba and Ewa Henshaw as well the Obong of Calabar Edidem Bassey Ekpo Bassey and Florence Ita-Giwa, include an extension of the East-West road.
The East_West road which is currently under construction was billed to stop in Akwa-Ibom state. Mr. Imoke pleaded with the President to extend the road to Calabar. "We believe that the natural terminus is Calabar. We therefore request an extension from Akwa Ibom to Calabar with its business, investment and tourism" he said.
Sequel to this Mr. Imoke also asked for the a refund of the federal government road project taken up by the state as is routine.
He said "Prior to your intervention the state had spent her meager resources to rehabilitate and maintain the Calabar-Ikom_Ogoja_Katsina_Ala road, the Calabar-Itu roads and the Ikom-Obudu road. In respect of the Ikom Obudu road the capacity of the contractor appears suspect. Nevertheless, now that the federal government is favourably disposed to refund state government expenses on federal roads, we would be glad to be strongly and seriously considered for such refunds.
Source: Sun, 7th July 2010.
For Port Harcourt, It's Zero Potholes
FROM KELVIN EBIRI, PORT HARCOURT
Faced with growing complaints about delays, traffic congestions, injuries and damages to vehicles, the Rivers State government last November inaugurated its Zero-Pothole project. The second phase has begun with
residents asking that their roads be included too.
MOST of the roads in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, are old and the signs are there: potholes.
Except for a few, the rest are over three decades old and yet, have to carry an ever-increasing volume of vehicular traffic.
Hardly is there a two or three- kilometre of road in the metropolis that does not have an unsightly pothole as a reminder of the need to fix Port Harcourt roads.
There are potholes almost everywhere and the consequences are unpleasant.
A resident, Mr. Ibe Wobo, who lives along G.U Ake Road that links Aba Road through Eliozu to the Port Harcourt International Airport Road, narrated his experience to The Guardian.
He took his wife out on her birthday when a pothole along the G.U. Ake Road ruined their night.
"It was dark and before we had a chance to spot this ominous pothole, we were already in it.
"Damage to the car ran into several thousands," he said.
Complaints such as Wobo's led the Rivers State government, through the Ministry of Works to embark on "Operation Zero Potholes" project, the second phase of which kicked off last month.
Already, many potholes have been repaired under the project, which has brought succour to some parts of the city.
The State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, told The Guardian that the aim of the N1billion exercise was to ensure that roads in Port Harcourt and environs were pothole-free and accessible through out the rainy season.
To achieve this goal, Dakuku said his ministry, in partnership with the State Inter- ministerial Committee on Drainage and Deflooding, had given five contractors the task of fixing all potholes that constitute nuisance and danger to road users.
A trader, Uchenna Ndubusi, along Ikwerre Road by Ada George Road, said he was pleased with the intervention of the ministry to fix the potholes.
According to him: " Bad roads drive away customers.
"This section of the road was a death- trap. Consumers avoided here like a plague. But since the Ministry of Works finished rehabilitation of the road, our business is booming once again, I must confess."
Similarly, Jimmy Okara described the repair of one of the most dangerous craters at CFC Junction along Aba Road as laudable, saying it has reduced traffic congestion.
He noted that with the aging nature of roads across the state and low maintenance budgets, government needed to be more proactive in tackling bad roads.
"If we take a proactive approach in maintaining our existing roads like the government is doing at present, we can drastically reduce costly, time-consuming rehabilitation and the associated traffic disruptions in Port Harcourt," Okara said.
Residents around 3rd Avenue at Federal Housing Estate, Rumueme, are also among those relishing the rehabilitation of their once- pothole inflicted road.
Peterside told The Guardian the government was quite aware of the inconveniences experienced by the public owing to bad roads.
He gave the assurance that the present administration was already putting in place a mechanism to ease such inconvenience to the barest minimum.
Mrs. Ijeoma Banc-Lawrence explained that prior to the filling of the potholes along Aganaba Street in old Government Reservation Area (GRA), she plunged into two potholes about one foot apart which damaged her car.
"We earnestly wish government should sustain this road maintenance strategy. Potholes damage cars. It is usually difficult to notice these potholes at night, particularly when it rains.
"The state needs to fix bad roads regularly before they degenerate," she said.
Mr. Sele Digifa, who resides in Borokiri area, which has benefited from the Operation Zero Pothole project, said the intervention has eased hardship suffered by road users.
It would be recalled that the ministry first embarked on operation zero porthole exercise in November last year.
The areas covered then included Elabuchi, Mile 3, Mile 1, as well as some parts of Rumueme.
Peterside said the Operation Zero Pothole has covered some parts of Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Old Port Harcourt Township, Okporo Road, Rumuokuta, Rumubekwe, Rumuomasi, Eliparanwo and Borokiri axis of the city.
" The problem in the Okporo Road axis is drainage, but we have fixed the potholes in that area.
"The junction between Elelenwo and Oil Mill as well as Rumukwurishi Junction were bad, but have now been fixed " he said. ?
Though the commissioner said the vision of the state Government is to ensure that all parts of the city including the rural areas are motorable, residents of Ada George Road and other parts of the city are asking that the exercise be extended to their roads too.
Potholes still dot Ojoto Street, Elechi by Wobo Street, Chindah Road-Rumueme, Tombia Extention, Stadium Road, Ezimgbu Link Road and others.
A business centre operator along Ada George by Agip Estate, Michael Onigwe told The Guardian that the deplorable state of the road was adversely affecting his business and that of others in that part of town.
He acknowledged that though the state government was doing well in the area of road construction and reconstruction, it had become imperative for government to intervene in the interim to save businesses and lives from being ruined.
The computer engineer explained that since a thriving economy required good quality roads for goods and service delivery, the state would continue to lose business if critical roads such as Ada George and others were not maintained. "Our rent in this axis is running and we have to keep paying which depends on what we earn from our businesses. Government should assist us.
" Even if they are working from somewhere else, they should fix here so that our businesses could thrive, " he said.
Peterside, however, told The Guardian that the government had awarded contract for the reconstruction of the whole of Ada George Road to Gitto construction firm since the area was not covered by the Operation Zero Pothole exercise.
Source: The Guardian, 7th July 2010.
Making Roads Safer with New Technology
By Adewale Akande
THE largest gathering of road safety and road equipment exhibition tagged International Road Safety and Equipment Exhibition took place in Spain between October 27 and 30, 2009. This traffic trade fair was organised by IFEMA
and was promoted by the Spanish Traffic Department and Highway Agency.
This year edition which I had opportunity to participate in featured the latest development in traffic sectors which was characterised by its commitment to safety and innovative technology in making roads safer for driving.It was a platform for live motorway outdoor, demonstrations, exhibitions and workshops that offered insight into the future of safe and comfortable driving.This colourful event helped in assessing developments and market trend on transportation, traffic and parking exhibitions.
Also,this fair represents a significant opportunity to enhance brand and product visibility, promote new and existing products to all participants.
It focused on car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communication system. It was indeed a big forum and contest of comprehensive new technologies on roads safety and road equipment in a place and in just four days. This international road safety and equipment exhibition fair have been consolidated in recent years as one of the most powerful and effective marketing tools for development and growth of this sector. More than 200 companies from different parts of the world were present.
Meanwhile, this fair featured a lot of new road safety developments like traffic control and management, the introduction of more classic,brilliant and reflective road signs that can be seen by all motorists from long distance at any time of the day irrespective of any weather conditions.There was display of intelligent transportation communication system,video application for transit and transport,toll-road administration,fare collection system,physical barriers for persons and vehicles. There are new reflective sheeting and printed signs which were specially made in Italy.
This reflective sheeting range is made of a retro reflective adhesive material covered with a transparent or coloured coating which gives to the product excellent protection against outdoor conditions such as rain, hot temperature and so on. There are also new equipment signs for emergency, fire outbrakes and evacuation.
There are new software technologies and security instrument for traffic policemen to enhance their work on road safety and adequate control of delinquents.Also,there are new portable flexible triangle signs that drivers have no excuse but to take along with them.
More than 20 companies exhibited ultra-guide safety gadgets for bridges, guard rails and work zones.There was also display of Glass Bead System for wet roadways. These glass beads will help in making wet roadways to be brighter with optimal reflectivity and visibility, especially in the night.These beads ensure high levels of retro-reflectivity,even in rain or wet conditions.
On the issue of road markings,different companies came with new synthetic paints that give more brightness for dangerous areas or uneven surfaces such as "hot spot" and safety corridor areas, run-off road, narrow road or road without hard-shoulder, and construction areas.
This new generation paint which was made to withstand both very cold or hot weather is also good for vertical surfaces,such as coarse grade, profiled thermo, and rumble strips.This paint have solved the problem of inferior paints.This new product guarantees binder-effectiveness of the adhesion coating-retroreflection in different weather conditions.
There are also fasteners for railway projects by one of the biggest European supplier of nuts,bolts,springs,washers and high resistance fasteners.We have professional manufactures and distributors of fasteners for all rail fixings,concrete as well as wooden sleepers for metro as well as high speed ballasted and non-ballasted tracks.These fastners are also meant for varoius rail catenary electrification systems as well as fixings for tunnel construction. Radar speed display and roadside metreological equipment exhibitions for all drivers were not left out. This radar speed display automatically advise drivers not to overspeed when the vehicles are passing through.
Moreover, it was a big surprise that African governments road safety representatives and private traffic companies were not well represented in this important international trade fair for infrastructure traffic management and safety.They need to be well represented in this event where products and services, including state-of-the-art technological solutions for state and federal road infrastructure are present. Most states and federal roads in Africa are regarded as death traps as they are short of safety infrastructures that needed to reduce traffic accidents.
According to FIA Foundation Organisation, "Every six seconds someone is killed or maimed on the world's roads". The majority of these deaths, about 70 per cent occurs in developing countries.
Source: Vanguard, 7th July 2010.
Aba/Port Harcourt Express Road Claims More Lives, Residents Lament Govt Neglect
FROM ANN GODWIN, PORT HARCOURT
The deplorable state of roads in the country has continued to lead to death of to commuters. About three persons in
Rivers State were last Thursday, sent to their early graves, leaving four badly injured and several vehicles burnt beyond recognition as a result of a fallen petrol tanker that was conveying petroleum product from Eleme Petrol Chemicals to Port Harcourt metropolis.
The tanker fell between the junctions of Old Toll Gate, Intels Office Complex and Fougerlle Company. These portions of the road are cut-off completely and hence, pose great threat to the lives of road users.
Any visitor coming through Aba to Port Harcourt for the very first time would be moved to shed tears over the bad state of the road. The road is a huge project of the federal government linking Aba, Owerri, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Warri and other states in the South-south region.
Eye witnesses said the content of the tanker spilled immediately it fell down when suddenly an incoming vehicle ran into it and its exhaust ignited a spark that caused fire that engulfed the whole area. The incident, which started at about 9a.m caused serious pandemonium around the area, as passengers inside buses were seen jumping out to avoid running into the scene. Two persons sustained fatal injuries in the process, while two others died on the spot.
Between 2008 and 2010, over 200 persons have lost their lives following the dilapidated state of the road, yet the government has paid dead ears to the cries and moans of people in the area. The situation is so pathetic that commuters who come from Oyibo and Aba to run businesses in the capital city now pay twice the normal fare because motorists coming from the area now resort to dropping the passengers at the bad portions of the road and detour.
The helpless commuters would have to pay additional sum of money to touts who exploit the situation to do brisk business by carrying them to cross to the other part of the road to pick another vehicle.
According to the commuters, "we also pay another fare to motorists that park opposite Protea Hotel to finally convey us to the capital city."
Some residents who live in Oyibo, but have their offices in the capital city, said despite leaving their houses as early as 5am everyday, they still get to work late; sometimes they arrive tired and worn out before setting out for the day's task.
A Shell staff, who lives in Oyibo told The Guardian that the situation had stopped him from going to work with his car. He explained that he had to pay for a space to park his car before seeking the assistance of touts to help cross to the other side of the road. He fears that if the federal government does not do something urgently to rescue the road, he may lose his job as he laments that the situation is forcing him to get late to work.
One of the touts said, "we make good money here everyday, especially when it rains. We charge each load depending on the weight N50 and each person N70; so if I come out here early in morning, before evening, I will make like N5,000."
For motorists, it is not only the collapsed road that is a source of worry, armed robbers are taking advantage of the bad portions to rob them and their passengers of valuables.
An official of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) at the spot hinted that some persons recently came and sandfilled some part of the bad portions, but lamented that the situation has worsened with the heavy downpours. He pointed at six state government-owned vehicles that have sunk due to the bad roads.
The FERMA official said the agency is trying its best to control traffic situation in the area. A director in the Federal Ministry of Works, Port Harcourt office, who directed The Guardian to Abuja office for enquiries, after much persuasion, however, admitted that they are aware of the horrible state of roads in the state.
He said they have identified the bad roads and have sent proposals for their rehabilitation to Abuja office for approval, adding that immediately the proposals are approved and funds released, work would commence and the roads would be repaired.
Meanwhile, a road engineer, Mr. B. Benibo, has blamed the failure of Nigerian roads to high level of corruption in government. He explained that before the war, there were two asphalting layers used in the construction of roads – the first layer known as bincord is usually 60mm and the one that is poured on top of it is 40mm. The two asphalting combined gives 100mm, which made roads in those days very strong and last for years.
Benibo pointed out that the government in a bid to save cost stopped making use of the 60mm and was rather using only 40mm, which according to him was not enough to sustain the roads. Consequently he said, "the roads now cracks and cuts off with little drops of rain."
Source: The Guardian, 27th June 2010.
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