The governor, on Thursday, led members of the state’s Executive Council to the project site on an inspection tour, following the re-mobilisation of the contractor handling the construction back on site.

The Adiyan II Waterworks project started in 2013 during the administration of the former Governor Babatunde Fashola to provide safe drinking water to more than five million Lagos residents.

The project was in 70 per cent completion before it was abandoned.

Sanwo-Olu said his administration decided to complete the abandoned water project because of its strategic importance to the wellbeing of the people.

He said the revival of the project would help his government to address the causes of poverty and fight diseases.

He said: “When this water works project is fully completed, it will be the biggest of its type anywhere around Nigeria and we will be raising the capacity of our potable water supply by 330,000 cubic metric tons per day, which is more than 70 million gallons.

“The commitment from our side is for us to see how we are going to finish this project on time and as much as possible within the budget. The contractor has said it is committed to see how the project will be completed in the next 18 months. Our government will work with the contractor and the project consultant to deliver this project on agreed time.

“If we achieve this within the next two years, we would be achieving one of the key items of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is also a strategic pillar of our development agenda in the area of provision of safe drinking water to over five million citizens of Lagos.”

Sanwo-Olu said his administration would be awarding contract for the commencement of the second and third phases of the water project, which are reticulation works and construction of 8-kilometre water intake conduits from Akute to Adiyan.

The governor added that some of the impediments encountered in the project, including compensations and right of way, would be addressed to allow the contractor finish the project on record time.

He said: “We will award contracts for the second phase of this project, which is reticulation that will take the water to parts of the state, which include Ikeja, Alimosho, Surulere and to as far as Yaba.

“The third part of the project is construction of an intake mechanism, which is about 8 kilometres from Akute Water Intake site. Some parts of the construction work were suspended because of issues around the right of way with the residents and the Ogun State. We are also going to finalise on that. We would pay all the compensation to ensure that they can lay the pipes.”

The Adiyan II Water Works is sited on 210 hectares of land in a borderline community between Lagos and Ogun states.

Dr. Piero Capitanio, Managing Director of Salini Nigeria Limited, the contractor handling the project, assured the governor that the waterworks would be delivered in 18 months.

Sanwo-Olu also inspected the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC) infrastructure in Iju-Akute axis, with the objective to rejig operations and turnaround output of the state-owned water facilities.

The governor assessed the distribution facilities of Iju Water Works built in 1914, after which he led members of his team to inspect water intake machinery and power station built to serve the of Lagos water stations on the axis.

Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Sanwo-Olu expressed worry over the state of the inspected facilities, but promised to source for private funding to revamp the infrastructure.

He said: “We have gone around the major water plants in Lagos and we’ve seen the issues for ourselves. Part of the things we noticed is that we need to try and raise money, get new investment to be able to improve the input of these important facilities.

“On the power plant, we also need to scale up and get another ready one ready for Adiyan II Water Works, which will be ready in 18 months. So it’s a total eco-chain we are looking at. We have to start the planning from now to ensure that the new water works we are building has power to make it functional.”

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Yusuf Idris, the Director-General on Press Affairs to the governor, confirmed the incident in a press statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Gusau.

Idris said the accident occurred along Funtua/Gusau Road around 6pm on Thursday.

He said Police Inspector, Aminu Usman and Sgt. Nura Mohammed lost their lives instantly at the scene of the accident.

He narrated that the deceased had escorted the governor to Abuja on a five day official trip.

Idris said that while they were returning with the governor, one of the vehicles in the convoy broke down in Zaria, Kaduna State.

“The two policemen were among the seven persons left behind to oversee the repairs of the broken down vehicle before coming to Gusau.

“About two hours later, however, the sad news was brought to the governor that those left behind were involved in the crash while driving in a heavy downpour and that the two policemen had died.

“Amidst tears, the governor directed the evacuation of the wounded persons from Funtua General Hospital where they were receiving treatment to a referral hospital for better care under the supervision of the governor’s personal physician.

“The Doctor was also directed to update the governor on the progress of the treatment,” Idris stated.

He further explained that while one of the victims escaped the accident unhurt, the remaining four sustained varying degree of injuries.

Idris said the governor had condoled with the families of the deceased and said the state government would pay all medical bill of those hospitalised.

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The Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, confirmed this in a statement on Saturday in Kaduna.

Sabo said on August 23 at about 2300hrs, Divisional Police Officer, DPO Malali reported that he received a distress call that armed men in military uniform blocked access road to Babatunde Fashola Housing Estate, Danbushiya Village, at the outskirt of Kaduna and intercepted a Honda Accord with registration number, LND 753 AL and five other vehicles and kidnapped seven persons.

According to him, patrol teams within the metropolis led by the DPO were quickly mobilised to the scene of the incident but the hoodlums had already escaped with the victims.

“However, due to pressurised patrols within the general area, two of the victims were later found released by the hoodlums.

“The two released victims alongside the vehicles were recovered to the Police station,” the spokesman said.

He also disclosed that “upon search, the sum of $10,000 US Dollars and N647,300 cash were recovered in one of the vehicles.”

He also explained that combined teams of police Anti-kidnapping Unit and Vigilantes were later dispatched to the scene for search operation with a view to arrest the perpetrators and rescue the remaining five victims.

“The IGP’S IRT were also contacted for technical support in tracking the hoodlums,” he added.

Sabo said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ali Janga, has assured that the incident would not deter the command from its collective determination in the recent war against criminals.

He therefore called for continued support by all well meaning citizens of the state.

Source:  NAN

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Image shows (left to right) representative of S&W corporation, Orji Orlo Imoh, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zigma Limited, Funmi Ogbue, and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in a warm handshake with the President, S&W Corporation, Jung Woo Jin, after a meeting.

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The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, made this assertion on Saturday in Sokoto, just as he said that banning them would also improve their lives.

He spoke with journalists shortly after attending the wedding ceremony of the son of Senator Kabiru Gaya, Ibrahim Khalil.

His words:  “No better way to improve their lives if you don’t prevent their migration from the north to the central and southern parts of Nigeria.

“Fulani migration should be banned otherwise they would continue to suffer and the security challenges in the country would continue to exist.”

The governor also spoke on the implementation of RUGA in the country.

According to him, the idea was for states which could cater for the interest of the Fulani.

He said the idea was to make herdsmanship a socio-economic investment not a socio-cultural issue.

The governor argued that it would be wrong to ask states other than those with Fulani indigenes to set up the settlement.

Said he:  “So, states where indigenes are not Fulani cannot be asked to implement RUGA, as such it is for states that can cater for the Fulanis and wish to improve their herdsmanship.

“That is why we are developing RUGA in Kano State so that Fulani people can be in one place and enjoy all the social services like other people of the state.

“The type of herdsmanship the Fulanis are doing now will be improved so that they can produce more cows, more milk and ensure more economic prosperity to themselves.”

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The police explained that the kidnappers abandoned their victims and ran away after its team on the rescue mission put so much pressure on them.

The rescued expatriates are Yasin Colak, 33; Senerapal, 40; Ergun Yurdakul, 35 and Seyit Keklik, 25.

They were rescued on Friday after spending six days in captivity at Gbugbu community in the state.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, made this known while speaking with journalists at the police headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Egbetokun who explained that the police worked with members of the Miyyeti Allah and the vigilance group in the area disclosed that one of the kidnappers had been arrested at Gbugbu Village.

One AK47 riffle was reported to have been recovered from him.

This is apart three other persons who were arrested in connection with plans to collect the N100 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

He said following the pressure put on the kidnappers by the police, they ran away abandoning their victims.

It would be recalled that the Governor of Kwara State, A

bdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Sunday declared that efforts were ongoing to rescue the four Turkish expatriates.

He said he was working closely with the security agencies to ensure prompt rescue of the expatriates.

The Turkish expatriates said to be working at Instabul Concrete Limited were kidnapped at a local drinking joint in Gbale Village.

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The investigation was commenced on the order of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, who ordered the arrest of the senator and his orderly.

The investigation is being carried out by the Federal Capital Territory police.

An investigative team has been set up to that effect by the Police Force headquarters in Abuja.

The news of the attack at the sex toy shop went viral and has caused the public to criticize the action of the senator.

The video was recorded by the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) installed in the shop, and was shared on the social media.

The video shows the Senator Abbo beating up the sales girl, and ordering his police orderly to take her away.

The action of the orderly has been considered to be an embarrassment to the police authority.

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The Islamic human rights organisation cited Adolescent 360 and 9ja Girls as examples of such projects.

The alarm is contained in a press statement issued by the Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Tuesday.

“Our young ones are being corrupted but Nigerians are silent over this. What will become of a nation whose mothers of tomorrow are being actively encouraged to think little of general promiscuity and marital infidelity?

“MURIC wishes to alert parents to the danger posed by these online projects which, ostensibly, are for economic empowerment of teenage girls but they are actually exposing the girls to corruption. Adolescent 360 is executed as 9ja Girls for unmarried girls in Southern Nigeria and as Matasa Matan Arewa (MMA) in Northern Nigeria for married adolescent girls.

“Under the guise of giving vocational training to teenage girls, sex and sexuality are actively encouraged. According to the website of Adolescent 360 (https://www.psi.org/special-project/adolescents-360/) the project ‘aims to increase voluntary, modern contraceptive use and reduce unintended pregnancy among adolescent girls between the ages of 15 and 19 in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania’. Adolescent 360 is a baby of an international NGO, Population Services International (IPS)

“As for the 9ja Girls project, its website says, ‘When a girl walks into a 9ja Girls space, she feels emboldened. Inside, amidst affirming notes from girls, glittery walls, and caring health workers, she can learn a new trade, have an honest Q&A about her body and feelings, and even take up a contraceptive method—all of this discreetly and on her terms’ (https://www.ideo.org/project/9ja-girls).

“In essence, our teenage girls are being ‘emboldened’ to make dangerous sexual moves and to have premarital sex as underage girls under the guise of vocational training. Parents are deceived into releasing their teenage girls thinking that such girls are going for some training that will add value to their lives. Unknown to such parents, their underage daughters are being initiated into the world of sexual recklessness. It is a betrayal of trust. It is atrocious, outrageous and insidious.

“We call the attention of the Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to this ugly phenomenon. In particular, we remind the Ministry of Education that the Society for Family Health (SFH) brought the Zip Up project for 15 to 19-year olds around 2004 ostensibly to promote abstinence. It was on the basis of the Zip Up project that the Ministry later decided to partner with SFH.

“But is the Ministry of Education aware that the same SFH is involved in Adolescent 360 whose project categorically contradicts abstinence? Is this not the hidden message in the nomenclature of the project? Are Nigerian teenage girls not being turned around 360 degrees? Is Adolescent 360 a shortened form of Adolescent 360 Turn-Around? MURIC is just thinking aloud and we hope Nigerian parents are not fast asleep.

“Also, does the Minister of Health know that the Community Health Workers approved to now insert IUCD in areas where nurses are insufficient are now doing it to these teenagers who are meant to abstain? Have we totally lost our family values? When did premarital sex cease from being an anomaly in African culture? Should 15 to 19-year olds be allowed to make such important decisions like being sexually active or using contraceptives?

“We must act fast. The activities of these groups are not restricted to online alone. Since its launch, 9ja Girls project has opened thirteen (13) sites across nine (9) states, serving 12,438 girls with modern contraception from January through August 2018. It is expected that by the year 2020, this projection will reach 69,000. It is the bomb!

“MURIC appeals to the National Assembly to investigate the activities of these online projects and the extent to which SFH is involved. No serious nation will leave the fate of its teenage girls in the hands of alien groups whose values and norms stand in contra-distinction to her own. The Nigerian society is sitting on a keg of gun powder as long as the authorities fail to do the needful in matters like this. It is a disaster waiting to happen.

“As we draw the curtain, we appeal to Nigerian teenage girls to reject dangerous and misleading online projects and groups. We affirm that abstinence is possible. We warn teenagers not to allow morally bankrupt individuals and groups to mislead them. We charge parents to rise to their duties in loco parentis. In particular, parents and guardians should get closer to their children and wards and continually emphasise sexual discipline.”

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AbdulRazaq said talks had reached an advanced stage for the state to be considered for the funds that would establish innovation hubs in the area of high-end movie production and textile manufacturing.

“We are talking with the CBN on the innovation hub and I’m glad to inform you that our proposal to access the fund is receiving favourable ratings,” AbdulRazaq told a delegation of Kwara Youth Centre (KYC) who visited him in Ilorin, the state capital, Wednesday night.

“When these hubs are created, they would generate at least 2000 jobs in the area of movie production and textile designs,” he said.

KYC is an umbrella body of young people, especially professionals, who research into the challenges in various communities and offer short and long term solutions or interventions.

The governor said the hubs would attract European and Chinese firms and lead to technology transfer to the indigenous workers.

AbdulRazaq said he envisioned a state where government would create the right environment for individuals to create wealth and employment rather than anyone relying exclusively on the government to give them job.

He restated his commitment to agricultural value chains, especially in the area of cashew and sugarcane.

The governor said Kwara State, with the right investment in infrastructure, had the potential to be the number one producer of sugar in Africa.

AbdulRazaq said Kwara under him would pay counterpart funding to access funds set aside by the Federal Government and multilateral institutions to drive growth in the grassroots, especially in the area of education and provision of basic amenities.

Referring to his meeting with the Directors of Personnel Management (DPMs) in the local government areas where the executive and committees were suspended, AbdulRazaq said he would pursue e-governance to fast-track governance.

“I told the DPMs that everybody wanting to work with government must be computer literate. We have to do things differently. We’ve got to run efficient government,” he said.

Kayode Oyin-Zubair, Convener of KYC, said they had come to bring AbdulRazaq up to speed on the activities of the group which the Governor had long been supporting.

The group urged the governor to focus on empowering the youth in various ways and establishing economic clusters for different categories of entrepreneurs, artisans and creative sector.

It also called on AbdulRazaq to open up Kwara with access roads, saying that was the only way to boost agriculture and other initiatives of the administration.

The governor later inducted the KYC as an advisory board to the government.

The Governor, meanwhile, has directed the DPMs to henceforth run their respective local government areas following the recent suspension of the executive and legislative committees.

AbdulRazaq urged them to bring development closer to the grassroots in line with the constitutional mandate of local governments.

He, however, warned them against mismanagement of public funds, adding that his administration would frown at anybody making away with public resources.

AbdulRazaq also said his administration would henceforth refer any case of ghost workers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

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The action was carried out by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, on Monday.

The union locked the offices of the commission in Abuja to prevent the former DG’s reinstatement.

It would be recalled that Gwarzo was indicted over alleged abuse of office and corruption in a probe carried out by a panel headed by Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Also, Gwarzo was indicted by the ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives which investigated his suspension by the former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

However, on Thursday, the National Industrial Court, Abuja, ordered the immediate reinstatement of Gwarzo.

Justice Sanusi Kado, in his judgment, held that the Minister of Finance, named as second defendant in the suit  lacked the power to suspend the claimant.

Kado, who dismissed three issues raised by defence counsel through their preliminary objection, ruled that the suit was not status barred.

He held that since there was cause of action in the claimant’s suit, hence he (claimant) had the right to commence the suit by way of originating summon.

Kado further held that the issue in dispute was not about the position of the claimant as the DG of the Commission, but that the bone of contention was who had the power to suspend him.

The judge held that the second defendant (Minister of Finance) did not have the power to suspend the claimant since he was not an employee of the commission.

He said that the minister, in the absence of the board, only had supervisory power, which did not include disciplinary power to suspend the DG.

Kado held that it was only the Permanent Secretary in the of Ministry of Finance, on the directive of the president, who had the power of suspension.

For emphasis, he said, “the minister’s role was that of recommendation.”

Kado, in addition, said the Administrative Panel of Inquiry that indicted the claimant was not a court of law neither was it a quasi-judicial body, but just a body set up for a fact finding duty.

He therefore declared that the suspension of the claimant was null, void and of no effect.

Kado also declared that the recommendation of the Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up by the second defendant, be set aside.

The judge then ordered the reinstatement of the claimant as the DG of SEC to complete his five year tenure.

He further ordered that the claimant’s salaries, allowances and entitlements accrued be paid to him in full.

Former Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on November 29, 2017, suspended Gwarzo and set up an administrative panel of inquiry to investigate allegations of financial impropriety levelled against him.

The SEC DG was accused of collecting severance package worth N104.85 million while still in service in violation of the civil service rules.

The minister said Gwarzo was suspended from office to allow for an unhindered investigation.

Gwarzo, however, in June, 2018 approached the court to challenge his suspension.

He sought for various reliefs from the defendant amongst which was an order of the court reinstating him as the DG of the Commission.

He also sought for an order of the court for the payment of all his entitlements, emoluments, allowances and other perquisites of the office of DG of SEC for the entire period he was under suspension.

Gwarzo equally sought for an order of court setting aside the entire proceedings of Administrative Panel of Inquiry constituted by the minister.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, had charged Gwarzo with an Executive Commissioner in the commission, Zakawanu Garuba.

They were arraigned on a five-count charge of alleged misappropriation to the tune of about N115 million and conferment of corrupt advantage on a public officer.

Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of FCT High Court, Maitama, however, on April 16, discharged Gwarzo of the alleged charge.

Joined in the suit as co-defendants were SEC, Minister of Finance and Attorney- General of the Federation.

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