Lionel Messi and Frenkie de Jong inspired FC Barcelona to a 4-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to win the Copa del Rey for a record 31st time.

The Catalans picked up their first silverware of the season and gained revenge for their Spanish Super Cup defeat by Athletic Bilbao in January with a convincing victory.

The Basques, who lost the postponed 2020 final a fortnight ago also at La Cartuja in Seville, have not won the cup since 1984, when they beat FC Barcelona.

Ronald Koemans side, in search of their first trophy for almost two years, started well and almost went ahead when De Jong fired against the post from Messis cut-back.

It was the best opportunity of a first half which they dominated, without creating too many clear-cut chances.

Messi had a shot blocked and a free-kick which hit the wall, while Inigo Martinez flicked an effort inches wide at the other end.

Antoine Griezmann should have broken the deadlock in the second half but was denied from point-blank range by Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon.

The Spain international pulled off an even better stop moments later, denying Sergio Busquets from similarly close proximity.

Eventually FC Barcelona broke the deadlock on the hour mark, with Griezmann making amends for his earlier miss by sweeping home from De Jongs cross.

The Dutchman headed home the second to end Athletic Bilbaos resistance, before Messi struck a superb brace to give new Club president Joan Laporta the first trophy of his second reign.

Its very special to be captain of this club, where Ive spent half my life, said Messi, whose contract expires in the summer.

Its a very special cup for me to be able to lift. Its a pity we cant celebrate with our fans.

It was a hard year for us and to be able to celebrate this and try and win La Liga is very important. Its a transition year, and with a lot of young players, the team has become stronger.

Messis future is unknown but in the present he is still proving decisive for his club.

The Argentines first goal was a work of art, playing a one-two with De Jong and finishing coolly, while the second was a well-taken effort from the edge of the area.

I hope its not (Messis last trophy for Barca, added coach Koeman. I hope that he stays with us.

The Dutchman does not know if he will be at the club next season either, with Laporta not confirming if he is planning to keep Koeman on FC Barcelonas bench.

But this emphatic cup victory will do his chances no harm.

It was the perfect way for FC Barcelona to recover from last weekends Clasico defeat in La Liga.

But, there, they still have a good chance of deposing leaders and reigning champions Real Madrid. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sheffield Uniteds miserable season was capped after relegation was finally confirmed following a 0-1 defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.

The rock-bottom Blades will play in the Sky Bet Championship next term after Willian Joses second-half winner.

Under caretaker manager Paul Heckingbottom, Sheffield United are 19 points from safety with six games remaining and have won just four times all season.

The Blades have lost 26 of their 32 games, having finished ninth last term, with their two-year stay in the Premier League over.

They rarely looked like earning a stay of execution, although Enda Stevens was denied by Rui Patricio.

Mid-table Wolves also struggled to find serious momentum in a forgettable game, but Oliver Norwood did head Willy Bolys fortunate first-half effort off the line.

Newcastle Uniteds late win over West Ham earlier in the day had left Sheffield United needing to avoid defeat to delay their inevitable return to the second tier.

There was little intensity from the visitors in a drab first half though, and Wolves came closest to an opener after 21 minutes.

Rayan Ait-Nouris corner-kick was chested down by Jose and John Egans clearance ricochet off Bolys heel to loop towards goal.

But a combination of Norwood and the crossbar kept the ball out.

Daniel Podences half-volley flew over after half an hour but Wolves firmly stuck in mid-table failed to convince they would break the monotony.

The biggest flashpoint came nine minutes before the break when Ait-Nouri was lucky to avoid a red card.

The defender landed on Rhian Brewsters ankle when trying to shield the ball but VAR did not intervene and it was Brewster who was booked for the challenge.

The game meandered into the break and there was nothing to suggest the scoreline would change during a low-key start to the second half.

Yet, belatedly, Sheffield United did conjure their first chance of the game after 59 minutes only for it to lead to Wolves winner.

Brewsters low cross found the unmarked Stevens and his low strike was blocked by Nelson Semedo.

Immediately, Wolves broke with Semedo and Podence combining to send Traore away.

He then breezed past Egan for Jose to sweep in his first Wolves goal from six yards.

Stevens quick turn and shot forced a good save from Rui Patricio as Sheffield United woke up but it was too late.

Aaron Ramsdale denied Romain Saiss from point-blank range with seven minutes left.

Fabio Silva then shot straight at the goalkeeper and Traore sliced wide on the break as time ran out on Sheffield Uniteds top-flight stay.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Zainab Oyekan

Mr Thomas Muopshin, the Project Coordinator, Plateau Potatoes Value Chain Support Project, says the project has significantly boosted the state internally generated revenue.

Muopshin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos that it was estimated that the potato market would generate about N18 million monthly.

The coordinator said that the value chain project built markets and handed over to the local governments and communities to manage.

He said that constitutionally, markets are under the control of the local government councils and every bag of potatoe brought into the market has a cost on it.

However, he said that records needed to be kept and markets to be well organised to realise any meaningful income.

Muopshin further said that with the help of African Development Bank, a tissue culture laboratory and three processing centres had been built in the state.

The procurement and installation of machines in the processing centres will come up in June/July.

The tissue culture lab has the capacity to produce six million plantlets yearly to meet the demand for high-quality tubers.

It is from this plantlets that we now have the small tubers that will be multiplied in the field and sold to the farmers, said Muopshin.

According to him, the processing centres will solve the problem of glut as potatoes could be processed and preserved in various forms.

Product from the processing centres are to generate revenue in the form of Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise duty.

Potatoes could be processed into potato food products, feed for cattle, pigs and chickens, processed into starch, and re-used as seed tubers for growing the next seasons potato crop.

We can also have it as frozen potatoes, French fries in super markets, chips, flakes, a source for alcohol production and snacks, he listed.

He disclosed that the tissue culture lab had attracted entrepreneurs and investors from abroad who are interested in the intervention going forward. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Stakeholders in the building industry have attributed the high cost of cement in Nigeria to forces of demand and supply caused by monopoly and low production levels of major producers of the commodity.

A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in states in the South -West of Nigeria -Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara showed that the cost of a bag of cement ranges from N3500 to N4000 depending on the brand and the area.

The high cost of cement, it was also discovered, had impacted on the construction industry with some people with building projects either temporarily suspending work for now or reducing the level of work.

Speaking to NAN on the issue, Mrs Funmilola Adeboje, a cement distributor in Ibadan, said cement companies have reduced the number of distributors to only a few who get the commodity directly from the source.

She said that the few distributors selected, now called major distributors, have monopolized the market and thus the hike in price of the commodity.

Only a few distributors have access to cement directly from the producers and because of shortage in supply the force of demand has also made the price to increase.

In time past, I booked directly from the company, but I was told I can no longer book to get the cement, that I should come and buy it when cement is available.

We dont know how much the companies release the products to the major distributors but we buy at varying prices; N3,500 to N3,600.

We only gain N100 on each bag and sometimes you can get as low as N20 on each bag and this was not how it used to be before now, she said.

A sales representative of one of the major cement companies, who pleaded anonymity, said the issues affecting sales of cement in Nigeria are many.

He explained that production plants of two major cement producers had not been working at full capacity since the middle of 2020, and the companies have just been patching things up.

The plants when repaired can work at full capacity for a while and then it will break down again.

Due to shortage of supplies, the market force took over in dictating the price because of high demand over supply and some other factors such as limited access given to distributors.

The selected few also have to tip some people to get the commodity because of shortage in production and that increases the overall cost of selling cement in Nigeria.

Lafarge has its own issues and also Dangote with producing optimally. So, the major distributors are maximizing the situation to their advantage.

The cement companies would care less about the price as long as their commodities are being sold. Government might need to regulate the issue to rid it of corruption, he said.

The source said one bag of cement is sold at from Bodija market for between N3,700 to N3800, but from the distributor it goes for N3,400 to N3,500.

According to him, the companies most times are discreet or not forthright with the actual price of the commodity, but a bag was sold for between N2,500 and N2800 in time past.

A distributor that gets maybe 20 truck loads of cement in time past, but due to the situation on ground now gets two to five trucks and so they want to make the profit of 20 trucks from a few trucks, he said.

Mr Rotimi Omoniyi, a building contractor, said the increase may be due to foreign exchange or production inputs, which has affected the selling price.

I dont think there is anything we do in Nigeria that has no connection with foreign exchange and that increases the cost of production.

The masses are at the receiving end of high cost of production of goods in Nigeria, he said.

Cement sellers in Osun have attributed the hike in the prices of the product to scarcity and activities of middle men.

They said due to the unavailability of the product since 2020, the prices had been fluctuating.

In Osun, Mr Ibrahim Awolola, a cement distributor in Osogbo, said the increase in the price of cement in the market was due to its unavailability because of a sharp drop in production.

Awolola explained further that manufacturers of cement were also complaining of unavailability of raw materials for production, which in turn affected its availability

He said that the situation was simply in line with the law of supply and demand, the more scarce and unavailable a commodity is, the more expensive it will become.

Awolola also said that cost of logistics and transportation the hike in the price of cement in the market.

The cement distributor said a bag of Dangote cement is sold between N3,600 and N3,700, depending on the location

He, however, assured that whenever there is improvemen in the production of cement and supply exceeded demand, the price would definitely come down.

Speaking in the same vein, another cement retailer in Osogbo, Mr Adewale Adeyemo, said that the scarcity of cement was the major factor that forced the price up.

Adeyemo said that information also made available to him revealed that haulage companies which provide trucks for the supply of cement have withdrawn their services, while the few ones working are the ones dictating the price of transportation.

In Akure, Mr Godswill Chima, a landlord in Oba-Ile, urged government to allow other investorys to engage in the production of cement rather than leaving the product in the hands of Dangote and BUA alone.

There is too much of monopoly of cement production. Government needs to encourage other local producers by giving them license with low tariff, because high rate of tariff is also discouraging those willing to invest in cement production.

In March, I bought a bag of cement at the rate of N3, 500 now it is N4, 000, which is too bad for majority of people building houses, especially civil servants.

If care is not taken, many landlords will increase their house rent because they have no choice than to increase it, he said.

Mrs Labake Lijoka, a cement trader in Okitipupa, said that she was surprised at the increase in price of cement to N3,600 from its former N2,500.

She appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the matter by prevailing on the producers of the product as the high cost has affected business and customers are no longer patronising them.

Also speaking with NAN in Ilorin, Hajia Ayo Bello, a cement dealer, disclosed that a bag of cement sold for as high as N4, 000 to N4, 500, a couple of months ago.

She however said that a 50kg bag of Dangote cement now sells for N3,700 or more depending on the area.

The cement dealer said that Elephant cement sells for N3,700 per 50kg bag, Ashaka cement is N3,750 and Bua cement N3,700 to N3,750 depending on the area.

Bello also attributed the high cost of transportation and some government policies as equally responsible for the increase in price of cement in Ilorin and across Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Lawal
Gov. Atiku Bagudu says his administration has secured a 70 million dollars World Bank Grant to strengthen Adolescent Girl-Child Education.

Bagudu disclosed this at the 5th Kebbi State Women Ramadan Lecture Series held in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Theme of the lecture is: The Fundamental Role of Women in Islam.

Bagudu said with the grant, women in the state, especially adolescent girls would be taught more skills, coupled with both formal and non-formal education.

The governor also stated that such skills would enable the girls to be more productive and self reliant, even in their matrimonial homes .

Bagudu said: The good news is that, the more we invest in women, the more prosperous our society will be.

The grant will complement the various programmes and policies aimed at making life better for the girl-child, women and other vulnerable groups in the state.

Bagudu stressed the need to legislate and appropriate more money for Girl-Child Education and other related welfare schemes .

The governor noted that women must be supported to play their societal roles, just as it has been ordained by the Almighty Allah.

He observed that women play key roles in the routine running of the society, apart from their respective family responsibilities.

If we religiously heed to the various Islamic injunctions as regards our entire lives and family bonds, we will live in a more healthier, safe and peaceful society .

Our various families, diligently anchored by our wives, mothers and daughters will be able to surmount all the formidable challenges and survive any economic turbulence, he added.

Bagudu commended the convener of the lectures and First Lady, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu and the other active collaborators for making the event a huge success.

On her part, Shinkafi-Bagudu said successes of Ramadan period depends on women contribution not just to their homes but to the society at large.

The governors wife extolled the efforts of husbands, fathers, sons and brothers for supporting the family.

We must also appreciate the tireless efforts of our husbands, fathers, sons and brothers, especially during this month where we seek Allahs blessings and reward.

As Muslim women, we contribute a lot to not just our homes but to the society at large and a huge part of the successes of Ramadan period depends on us.

That means, we can do more to ease the month for many who may not be as blessed as some, she said.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zarau Wali commended the governors wife for organising the lecture.

She also commended Gov. Bagudu for giving favourable and enabling environment for women in Kebbi State to achieve their potentialities.

Speakers who spoke at the event included; Sheikh Abubakar Giro, represented by Dr Attahiru Ahmad-Sifawa, Dr Ismail Mufti-Menk who joined virtually with Sister Naima Robert and Dr Jabir Maihula.

Tooic discussed include Innovative Islamic Ways of Management in COVID-19 Era, Family Obligation of Wives in Times of Economic Hardship and Curbing Gender Based Violence.

The lecture was attended by former Speaker House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Samaila AbdulMuminu-Kamba and othe top government officials.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that the countrys COVID-19 active cases increased by 39, bringing the total number to 7,821.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Saturday.

It, however, recorded 60 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 164,207.

The agency noted that the newly recorded infections were reported across nine states, with Lagos state leading with 22, Rivers 15, Bayelsa 7 and Kaduna 5 cases.

Others were Ogun 4, Akwa Ibom 3, Osun 2, Kano 1 and Ebonyi 1.

The NCDC said that no death was registered as at April 17, while the countrys total fatalities stood at 2,061.

It disclosed that 21 people had successfully been treated and discharged from various isolation centers across the country in the last 24 hours, bringing the recovery number to 154,325.

The agency said the country had also tested 1,838,174 people since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced on Feb. 27, 2020.

It noted that a multi-sectoral National Emergency Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, had continued to coordinate the national response activities in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 100 million people globally have been infected 16 months after the detection of the coronavirus.

According to a tally by Johns Hopkins University published on Saturday, the number of global deaths that can be traced to COVID-19 have risen above three million.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,408,245 as of Saturday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

It said the death toll from the pandemic stood at 117,378, while 3,951,191 patients across the continent had recovered from the disease.

South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Egypt are among the African countries with the most cases on the continent, according to the Africa CDC.

It noted that Southern Africa was the most affected region, followed by Northern Africa and Eastern Africa regions, while central Africa was the least cases.

South Africa has recorded 1,564,355 COVID-19 cases, Morocco 504,847, while Tunisia was ranked the third on the continent with 281,777 COVID-19 infections. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Nigeria after a 16-day medical trip to London, preaching compassion to Nigerians as he resumed his high profile job.

Buhari, who returned just in time to join his compatriots to observe the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, pleaded with privileged Nigerians to show generosity and to help the poor all the time.

The 78-year-old president, flew out of Nigeria on March 30 for routine medical checkup. He returned on April 15.

At an airport ceremony on his return, Buhari responded to questions from reporters, challenging the new service chiefs, including the acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba, to work diligently to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

Oh yes, the service chiefs have been in the system all the way. They know what is wrong. They know what is right and I think they are doing their best.

I hope their best will be good enough for Nigerians, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Buhari as saying.

The president, who earlier announced the acting I-Gs appointment while he was in London, revealed that due process was followed in the selection of the new police chief.

Well, we went through the system. There was a committee by the minister of police affairs. They gave me some names and Baba happened to be the one chosen.

He knows his job. He has been in it for a long time, he went through all the trainings. He has the necessary experience.

So, we have high expectation from him, added the president, who was received on his return by top government functionaries at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Earlier, Buhari in a message to mark the commencement of Ramadan, prayed Allah to accept our sacrifices and increase the unity, solidarity, peace and prosperity of the nation.

The message was signed by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu.

Buhari was also quoted as urging Muslims in the country to exercise patience and tolerance and to reject voices that seek to divide Nigeria.

The president also urged citizens to remember those displaced by conflicts in their prayers during the fasting season.

Muslims around the world are expected to fast for 30 days in observance of Ramadan, an annual event in the Islamic faith.

On April 14, the presidency reassured beleaguered parents and Nigerians that the missing students of Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, remained constantly in the mind of government as they remained in the minds of their parents.

The re-assurance was given in a statement by the presidential spokesman, to mark the
seventh anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls.

The statement assured that the release of the remaining Chibok girls was still work in progress.

No one is giving up hope. Efforts to secure their release through various channels and activities of the security and intelligence agencies remain on course.

The school girls were abducted on April 14, 2014 by jihadists, fighting to enthrone strict Islamic code in parts of Northern Nigeria.

On his part, the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on April 14, presided over a virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the State House, Abuja where a one-minute silence was observed in honour of a former Minister, Mr Mahmud Tukur.

Osinbajo also participated in avirtual forum, organised by a leading American Christian University, Liberty University with theme, Equity for Africa: Transforming the World through Judeo-Christian Values.

The event was hosted by the universitys School of Business, where the vice-president criticizedvaccine nationalism and advocated fairer global cooperation.

According to Osinbajo, in building a fairer world that takes into account the interest of the poor, the principle of fairness must be applied by leaders in addressing challenges in health, the economy and other issues.

On April 15, the vice-president participated in the virtual launch of the Ogun State Digital Economy Empowerment Project as well asthe Africa Regional Commonwealth Leaders Roundtable, led by the Prince of Wales at the Council Chambers of the State House.

He assured that internet access and broadband penetration would become commonplace in the nearest future and would determine Nigerias competitiveness in the global economy.

Also on April 15, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies met behind closed doors with the chief of staff to the president in Abuja.

The NGF appealed to striking judicial workers to call off their ongoing strike in the interest of the nation. The judicial workers commenced their strike on April 6, to seek autonomy for the Nigerian judiciary.

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the NGF, made the appeal when he responded to questions from State House correspondents.

Tambuwal had earlier led officials of the Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

On April 16, Buhari sent a condolence message to the president and people of Nigerias northern neighbour, Niger Republic on the death of 20 school children, following a fire that engulfed a primary school in Niamey, the countrys capital.

In the message to President Mohammed Bazoum, Buhari expressed sorrow over the tragic incident.

Victims of the fire incident were mostly kids of between three to five years. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Tunis, has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters by the Cuttington University, Bong County Liberia in recognition of his contributions to the ECOWAS Sub-region.

The doctorate degree was conferred on Tunis on Saturday at the universitys 14th commencement convocation of its School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the degree was conferred on him by his Alma Mater for his contributions to the ECOWAS sub-region as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Speaking with newsmen shortly Tunis, who was elated on the conferment, pledged to continue to do more in advancing the cause of West Africa and its citizens.

He said that he would use his position as Speaker of the Parliament to bring ECOWAS closer to the people and the community Parliament.

I feel very happy. Apart from being the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, this is also my Alma Mater.

I graduated from Cuttington in 1989 and today I have been given this honour and I thank the Almighty Allah for his blessings.

When I took over as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament in 2020 I said that I would bring the ECOWAS Parliament to the people.

And, with this honour today I will continue to ensure that ECOWAS reflects indeed that of the peoples parliament, that of the community parliament, Tunis said.

Earlier in his address of commencement, Tunis urged the graduating students to see themselves as a tool for an integrated Africa, stating that the youths are the future of Africas development.

He also commended their resilience for pushing through their academic year amidst the unique situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As you graduate today, see yourselves as a realisation of Dr. Kwame Nkrumahs call for a more integrated Africa that is focused on attaining inclusive and sustainable development.

The continents AU Agenda 2063 remains a shared aspiration for transforming our continent into a group of prosperous, equitable, and integrated nations.

In your sundry contribution towards the collective future of the Great Republic of Liberia, your contributions are critical towards this shared continental aspiration especially in the post-COVID era, he said.

According to him, the new Africa will be led by young, innovative, and enterprising persons like you. You have the obligation to control the new economic scramble for Africa.

He said that this would be by ensuring they actively participate in the global economy and can therefore participate as equal partners.

COVID-19 may have slowed down economies and altered lives and livelihoods but your graduation today is new cause for optimism that we will prevail over the worst and triumph with the best.

An African renaissance is possible with young and agile minds like yours and we therefore must celebrate you today as an addition to that critical mass that will transform the future of our continent, Tunis said.

President of the University, Dr Herman Browne while conferring the doctorate honors on Tunis said the institution was honoring him in recognition of his contributions to ECOWAS as speaker of the Parliament.

Brown, however, urged the speaker to continue in his good works and push towards the development and integration of the sub-region.

He commended Tunis for his contributions to global, humanitarian and national movements which had further earned him several recognitions and awards.

Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Parliament delegation, Mr Bertin Some, Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Research congratulated Tunis on receiving the honorary degree.

Some said it was a well-deserved recognition as the Speaker had shown himself worthy through all what he did in heading the affairs of the Parliament.

This is a unique occasion and a wonderful occasion that we have today.

We want to commend his efforts because it is the acknowledgement of all his efforts that made him get this recognition and the ECOWAS parliament is very proud of that.

We want to encourage him to continue to do more in his tenure as Speaker, Some said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Hussaina Yakubu

The Disability Resource Foundation of Nigeria says it plans to distribute electronic canes to 10,000 blind persons in the country.

Mr Salisu Ibrahim, the Chairman of the foundation, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Sunday.

He explained that the white and green canes would be distributed to the blind persons and those with partially impaired vision.

NAN reports that the white cane is used by blind persons and allows the user to scan the surroundings for obstacles or orientation marks, while people with low vision use the green cane.

Ibrahim said that the Own Your Cane project was aimed at promoting independent and safe movement among the blind and visually impaired person in the society.

According to the chairman, the project began in 2020 but was stalled by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that the foundation had been mobilising resources to ensure that each of the 10,000 targeted persons received the cane by December 2022.

Ibrahim also said that the foundation, which was established to provide educational and social services to the blind, would train 500 teachers across the country.

We will also develop and distribute orientation and mobility training guides in our special schools and orientation centres in Nigeria, he added.

The chairman said that the foundation would also educate traffic enforcement agencies on the electronic canes and how to support the users.

NAN reports that the white and green canes cost from N7,000 to N16,000 depending on the brand. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Some motorists and commuters in the South-West zone of the country have commended the Federal Government for its strides in infrastructural development, particularly in the areas of road construction and rehabilitation.

In a survey conducted in states in the zone, comprising Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti andKwara, the respondents lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the provision of good roads to facilitate economic development for the country.

According to the respondents, a number of roads in different parts of the region are undergoing rehabilitation, while some new ones have been awarded and are being executed to ease movement of persons and products.

Two commercial drivers plying Ibadan-Ogbomoso route, Messrs Tajudeen Alao and Isiaka Adebisi, said that the ongoing dual carriageway project in that axis was a testimony of the good work by the Federal Government.

The duo expressed satisfaction with the quality of job done so far by Reynold Construction Company (RCC) handling the project, saying cases of auto-accident would be drastically reduced once the road was completed.

Another commercial driver plying Iseyin-Oyo road, Mr Ajibade Mukaila, said that the palliative work recently carried out on the bad portions of the road had enhanced smooth vehicular movement.

A civil servant, Mr Adunola Ogundare and a trader, Mrs Eunice Olawale, both regular travellers on the Iseyin-Okeho road, said that the ongoing rehabilitation of the road had impacted positively on both commuters and motorists.

According to them, the completion of the rehabilitation work will definitely make travelling on the road smooth and safe.

Meanwhile, the Federal Controller of Works in Oyo state, Mr Kayode Ibrahim, has expressed Federal Governments commitment to completing all the ongoing road projects in the state.

He said that some of the road projects that needed palliative works had been completed while other major construction ones were at different stages of completion.

Among the ongoing major construction road projects are the 52km Oyo-Ogbomoso dual carriageway, which is at 43.27 per cent completion stage and the 72.70km Ibadan-Abeokuta road, at 79.01 per cent completion stage.

The rehabilitation of outstanding section of the 28.6km Iseyin-Okeho road, with two outstanding bridges, is at 30.68 per cent completion stage.

Also, emergency repair of the one-kilometre Ago-Are-Sepeteri road is ongoing and is at 20 per cent completion.

The emergency repair of the 8.9 km Basi-Agunrege, on Iseyin-Saki road has been completed; likewise the 1.2km Owotoro-Ofiki road.

In the same vein, the special repairs of 14 critical locations on Iseyin-Oyo road are 100 per cent completed. Ibrahim stated.

The controller further said that rehabilitation of the 3.6km NTA Takie to LAUTECH roundabout in Ogbomoso had been completed, adding that repair work on the 25.1km Otte- Ogbomoso south-bound road had been completed.

He said that selected roads in the three senatorial districts of the state had benefitted from the federal governments road intervention project.

Also, the acting Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Osun, Mr Ayodeji Orisaleye, said that the federal government had completed seven roads, while 14 others were at different stages of completion.

Orisaleye listed the completed roads to include: the 4.7km Ipetu Jesa-Apoti-Ondo state border road, the 7km Ilesa-Ijebu Ijesa road and the 7.4kmIfe-Mayfair Roundabout road, with detour to Oduduwa Estate.

Others, according to him, are the 8.5km Osogbo-Akoda dual carriage road, the special repairs of Osogbo-Iwo road, with 12km distance,Osogbo-Iwo roadphase II, with 4.8 km distance and the 8km Osogbo-Iwo road.

Orisaleye also said that work was ongoing on dualisation of 22km Ibadan Road-Lagere-Iremo-Enuwa-Ilesa by-pass as well as the rehabilitation of Osogbo-Ilesa road, covering 31.025 km.

He said that the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa dual carriageway in the Oyo/Osun axis, covering a distance of 112km as well as Ilobu-Erinle roads were being reconstructed, while the 15km Ife/Ifewara road and the 44km Ilobu-Erinle road were also under rehabilitation.

Other roads undergoing rehabilitation and reconstruction, according to the controller, are: the 34.5 Ila-Orangun-Ora-Ile-Ekan Meje road and the Gbongan-Iwo-Oyo road, covering a distance of 32.2 km.

He also listed Ojutu bridge in Ilobu, covering a distance of 0.045 km and Illie bridge in Osun covering a distance of 0.44 km as under construction.

The Federal Controller of Works in Ogun, Mr Olaseni Bakare, also told NAN that rehabilitation works were ongoing on various federal roads within the state.

Bakare stated thatconstruction work was ongoing on the 127 km Lagos-Ibadan expressway, beginning from the former toll gatein Lagos and terminating at Ojoo in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

According to the controller, works on the first 43km, stretching of the road from the former toll gate in Lagos to Sagamu interchange in Ogun, is being handled by Julius Berger Plc and supervised by the Lagos office of the Federal Ministry of Works.

He added that the other 84km portion from Sagamu interchange to Ojoo in Ibadan was being handled by Reynold Construction Company (RCC) and supervised by the Ogun office, stressing that it had reached 58 per cent completion stage.

Bakare, who assured thatthe contractors handling the project were still on site, noted that saying that the federal government had provided steady fund for the project.

On the Abeokuta-Otaroad, Bakare explained that the project was equally undergoing rehabilitation works by Julius Berger Plc.

He added that the rehabilitation of the 77km road from Brewery in Ogun to Abule-Egba in Lagos had received special funding, aside the regular funding from thebudget allocation.

The controller added thatthe 57km portion of the road, which iswithin Ogun corridor, had reached 30 per cent completion level, adding that the contractor was still on site.

He, however, identified poor drainage system as the major cause of some very bad portions of the road like Ewekoro, Tipper garage and Sango area, adding that the portions were being redesigned to address the problem.

Bakare also explained that the rehabilitation of Sagamu-Benin expressway, particularly theSagamu-Ajebandele axis,being handled by RCC was on course.

Bakare described Sagamu/Papa-Lantoro/Ilaro roadas important because it served as the link between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

The design for the road is at an advanced stage at our headquarters in Abuja wherediscussions areongoing with aprivate organisation for the provision ofspecial fund for the rehabilitation, he said.

The controller added that the Sagamu-Ogijo road was also under rehabilitation, adding that the project was beingsupervised by the Lagos office of the ministry.

Bakare explained that Ogun government, at a time, started rehabilitation work on Agbara-Atan road, adding that it was later abandoned.

He, however, noted that the Gov. Dapo Abiodun administration had recently directed contractors to move back to site to continue the project, stressing that Abeokuta-Sagamu road was equally being rehabilitated by Ogun government.

I can tell you that we have several road projects that will soon be awarded because we have sent various proposals to our headquarters in Abuja.

One of such roads is Sango-Ota-Idiroko road, on which we are currently carrying out palliative works, he said.

Also, the Federal Government has embarked on construction and rehabilitation of 751-kilometre roads across the three senatorial districts of Kwara from 2017 till date to boost provision of infrastructure for the residents of the state.

The Federal Controller of Works in Kwara, Alhaji Wasiu Atitebi,told NAN in llorin that he had visited some of the ongoing road projects in company with the acting Director ofHighways for the North-Central,Mr Aganaba Bola.

According to him, all the contractors handling the projects were on sites.

Atitebi said that the federal government was not owing contractors,adding that all the certificates of payment forwarded to government had been settled to enable them make remarkable progress before the commencement of raining season.

He listed some of the ongoing road projects to include: the dualisation of the 110km llorin-Jebba-Mokwa road, awarded at the cost of N80 billion, the 15km Offa bye-pass to Osun state and rehabilitation of llorin-Omu Aran-Egbe in Kogi.

Others, according to him, are Share-Patigi road, Patigi- Kpada road, Kaima-Kishi road, llorin-lgbeti road and construction of Ohan bridge on lgbeti road, among others.

Atitebi advised all the contractors handling the projects to execute the jobs in line with specifications as a way of improving infrastructure in the state.

The controller also said that the federal government was currently embarking on the construction and rehabilitation of 43 intervention road projects in some tertiary institutions across the state.

According to him, the projects were aimed enhancing conducive learning environment and creating employment opportunities for residents within the vicinities of the institutions.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Kwara, Jonathan Owoade, also commended the federal and state governments for their commitments to road rehabilitation and safety in the state.

I still receive complaints from the public and stakeholders on issues bordering on bad roads, especially Idofian-Ajase Ipo road.

I know it is a gradual process. Government will, in no time, look into the remaining roads.

The Kwara government is trying; they have embarked on constant road rehabilitation and maintenance within and around the state capital.

I also commend the federal government, as Ilorin-Ogbomoso road has been under repairs for some months now to ensure that it is motorable.

On the allegations of neglect of federal roads in Ekiti, the Controller, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in the state, Mr Otegbade Oladiran, said the projects already completed and those ongoing were being closely monitored to ensure quality jobs.

He said only recently, some of the constituency projects executed by National Assembly members from the state, in partnership with the ministry, were inspected.

The controller explained that though the constituency projects were initiated and facilitated by the lawmakers for their constituents, the funding and supervision aspect fell within the purview of the ministry.

He said that the essence of the inspection was to ascertain if the projects were functioning after completion and if the contractors had been fully paid after executing them according to specifications.

Oladiran said it was the intention of government to continue to prioritise projects that had direct impact on the lives of the masses for the socio-economic growth of the country.

He noted that the inspection was also to intimate the constituents on the positive results of the collaboration of government with those representing them.

The controller expressed satisfaction with the level of jobs done on various projects, expressing the hope that residents would take ownership of those projects and guide them jealously. (NAN)

Source: NAN News