Tinubu Seeks Construction Industry Stakeholders' Support For Infrastructural Development

The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, has asked for the support of the Federation of Construction Industry in Nigeria (FOCI) in order to achieve his administration's target of massively developing the country's infrastructure if elected president. 

Tinubu made this known during his consultative session with FOCI held at Wells Carlton Hotels in Abuja on Thursday. 

"We must work together and collaborate to look at the bottlenecks impeding the realization of the full potential of the construction industry and take realistic efforts to address them," he said.

The APC candidate said he would further the developmental feats achieved by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the sector. 

He said: "God willing, as we assume the mantle of leadership, we shall build an even more prosperous economy. This means additional investment in relevant infrastructure: Roads, Bridges, Rail, Airports, Schools, Power facilities, Hospitals and more. These will enhance efficiency, support industrial growth, spur trade and investment, and improve the Ease of Doing Business.

"My commitment to increase annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth will  heavily depend on the quality of the infrastructure we shall build to facilitate and sustain growth in all facets of our national life."

He said his administration would focus on transportation infrastructure, building more roads, rails and improving water transport for easier movement of humans and goods.

"Overall, the transportation sector is valued at NGN37 trillion. Transport activities contributed 1.84% to real GDP in Q2 2022.  Sustaining the political will and technical capacity to move people and goods in a safe, affordable and accessible manner will create a better future for Nigerians. 

"We will, therefore, work hard to improve our various transportation systems and, in the process, unlock the value chain of opportunities therein," he added. 

The former Lagos State governor said his administration would continue the rehabilitation and expansion of existing federal roads and expressways, accelerate construction of new roads as well as the rehabilitation of existing ones through already established funding mechanisms, including accessing capital markets.

Fielding questions from members of the association, he said he would consider the Construction Bank proposed by one of them, but added the problem of the industry is the paucity of long term funding instruments.

On insecurity, Asíwájú Tinubu said he would confront the problem from all angles including introducing technology, recruiting more personnel into the army and police and engaging in training and re-training of personnel. 

He also said," If there is employment opportunities, good education and other opportunities for advancement, security would improve."

On rail infrastructure, he said, "My government will enhance the use of our railways to reduce the cost of moving goods and services across the nation. We will sustain the investments already made by the Buhari administration and deepen ongoing reforms in the sector. Apart from its cost-effectiveness, enhanced rail use will reduce strain and congestion on our roads and expressways thereby significantly lowering the number of vehicular accidents. My administration will also encourage State Governments to build public transportation or metro systems in their capital cities.

"The metros will link with existing national rail lines and revolutionize urban transport in Nigeria. This will boost commerce and contribute significantly to GDP growth." 

He added that this was involve promoting greater private sector inclusion and working with the National Assembly to review the organization, structure and operations of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. 

He also said his administration would prioritize the completion of critical ongoing national railway projects such as: Lagos – Kano; Benin – Abakaliki; Port Harcourt – Maiduguri; Lagos - Calabar; and Kano – Maradi. 

"In addition, we shall deploy technology and security assets to protect travellers and ensure the safety and integrity of our railway infrastructure," he added. 

Tinubu further promised that his administration will help decongest Apapa Port by modernising other existing ports.

"I commit to realizing the immense opportunities inherent in the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the first new Sea port in decades, which is more than 90 per cent completed." 

Minister of Works Babatunde Raji Fashola noted that infrastructure is the backbone of a nation's economy, adding that if elected Asiwaju Tinubu would continue with the infrastructure rebuilding started by President Buhari. 

President and Chairman of FOCI Council, High Chief Vincent Barrah, thanked the APC candidate for honouring the invitation of the body to interact with him, saying his presence confirmed the high regards he has for members of the federation and the importance of the role of the body in the scheme of things in the country.

He said the construction industry is the largest employer of Labour in Nigeria after government.

Also speaking, both the Minister of Mines and Steel Development and Minister of State, Works and Housing, Olamilekan Adegbite and Umar Ibrahim El-Yakubu respectively expressed confidence that the country would be better under Asíwájú Tinubu given his track record of performance as governor of Lagos State.

Apart from the three ministers, others present at  the consultative session were the Minister of Sports and Youths Development, Sunday Akin Dare, prominent legal luminary, Babatunde Ogala SAN and the two deputy president and officers of the federation.

Business Mogul Sir Kensington Adebutu Loses First Wife, Oladunni

Popular Nigerian business magnate Sir Kensington Adebutu is bereaved. 'Baba Ijebu' as Adebutu is fondly called has lost his first wife, Chief (Mrs.) Caroline Oladunni Adebutu.

She was said to have died on Friday, at the age of 83. She was the Otun lya Laje and the lya Apesin of Lagos in her lifetime.

Late Chief Caroline, it would be recalled, had a mega celebration when she clocked 80 in 2019.

She was married to her business baron husband for 48 years. She was regarded as the matriarch of the Adebutu family. She is the mother of Reps Member and Ogun PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu. Born to the Jaiyesimi family of Odogbolu, Caroline Oladunni Adebutu had her Elementary Education at St Dominic Catholic School, Yaba and St Paul School, Odogbolu, Ogun State.

She attended Methodist Girls High School, Yaba from 1952-57 and started work at the Board of Customs and Excise in Lagos briefly before proceeding on a vocational training at the Federal Training Centre, Broad Street, Lagos. After completing this programme, she returned to the customs again and worked for a little while until January I963 when she travelled to the UK to study at the Pitmas College for a one year programme in Secretarial Administration.

On her return to the Nigerian shores, she was posted to the Ministry of Health from where she was seconded to the Board of Customs in 1967.

She eventually left the service in 1971 on the request of her husband who wanted her to be a full time housewife. Of that decision, she said, "I didn't like the idea that time, but I had no option. My husband had been wonderful since then, tending to family needs while I was bringing up the children. Our marriage, from my own side, was blessed with children. The eldest is Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu, while the youngest is Olusegun, an Economist."

Credit: cityscoopng

We’ve Done Better For Civil Servants Than Previous Government - Makinde

Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has stated that the residents of the state are in for a better life and greater times if he is re-elected as governor of the state in the March 11, governorship election.

The governor, who maintained that he has fulfilled his promises to the people of the state on education, poverty eradication and security in the last 44 months, said that everything he has achieved under Omituntun 1.0 are just the beginning and that more will come under Omituntun 2.0.

The governor added that his administration has done quite well for civil servants and pensioners, noting that his government approved four years promotion arrears left by the immediate past All Progressives Congress (APC) and also paid three years leave bonus arrears.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, on behalf of the Media Committee of the Seyi Makinde 2023 Governship Campaign, indicated that the governor stated this while speaking at Erunmu, Egbeda Local Government, noting that better life is coming for residents of the state, if he is re-elected.

He called on the residents of Egbeda Local Government to vote for him and other candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the National and State Assembly elections on February 25 and March 11.

He named the National Assembly candidates of the PDP in the area as including Chief Luqmon Oyebisi Ilaka as senator respresenting Oyo Central; Hon. Busari Olayemi as member representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency and Hon. Olasunkanmi Babalola as member of the House of Assembly.

The governor informed hundreds of party faithful that his administration has successfully lifted people from poverty to prosperity by sustaining the prompt payment of salaries and pensions to civil servants and retiress for 44 straight months.

He added that the scrapping of N3,000 education levy imposed by the immediate past administration, the distribution of notebooks and exercise books to students and the creation of Amotekun corps to take care of security, were strides achieved by his administration.

He, however, noted that these achievements were in Omituntun Part 1, and that like a season film with many plots, Omituntun 2.0 will usher in greater developments in the state.

He said: "I thank you for the support you are giving to this government since inception. Under Omituntun 1.0, I made some promises on Education. I promised to scrap the N3,000 education levy and I did. I promised our children will be given notebooks, textbooks and kept to it. "And I vowed to organise special extra tutorials for those writing WAEC exam, and we carried that out as well.

"I promised that I would take our people from poverty to prosperity and protect lives and property of our people, because there can be no meaningful economic activities without security, and today, you can feel the impact of Amotekun. 

"I am sure you call for their intervention when in distress and they cooperate with you. They have also been cooperating with the federal security agencies.

"We pay workers on the 25th and our pensioners, which the last administration referred to as 'the dead' have been brought back to life and they are doing well under this government, because we equally pay them on the same date.

"This government has awarded the road from Academy through Erunmu junction to Odo-Oba. All of these are being executed under Omituntun 1.0. 

“We will fix the road from that junction to the internal part of Erunmu under Omituntun 2.0.”

Makinde, who responded to a video of an opposition politician accusing his government of not paying the deductions of civil servants’ salaries to their cooperative societies, said he has ordered the payment of two months deductions.

"I was watching a video on social media where one of the aides of the past government was saying that I should address the issue of  salary deduction/cooperative of civil servants. Well, about two weeks ago, I approved two months out of five, and was told that it will be paid today or next.

“But I want you to help me ask them why their government failed to promote any civil servant. I can tell you that we were able to implement four years promotion arrears in just one month when we came in.

"Secondly, they didn't pay leave bonus for three years before we got there and we have paid all the bonus for civil servants. All our pensioners were given 10,000 Christmas bonus. Tell them to stop playing blame game if they don't have anything to say,” the governor added.

The governor had earlier campaigned at the Bola Ige International Market, Gbagi, where market men led by the Babaloja-General of Oyo State, Alhaji Y.K. Abass and the Babaloja of Gbagi, Alhaji M.A. Adebayo, hailed the governor for several laudable achievements including the security of the state. 

Speaking on behalf of the market men and women, Abass lauded Makinde’s efforts on security, education, health and other critical area.

He, however, asked for the support of the government in the area of the setting up of a revolving loan system to assist his members.

While meeting the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Anglican Church, Oyediji, the governor, who appreciated the church for its support, announced the appointment of an Egbeda Local Government CAN leader, Revd. Oyekunle, as the chairman of the Oyo State Rural Electrification Board, which he promised to put in place at Igboora, a few weeks ago.

The governor equally met with the League of Imams and Alfas in Egbeda Local Government at the Egbeda LG Council Hall and also visited the Al-Haqdeen International Islamic Centre, Kumapayi, Olodo, Ibadan, to pay homege to its founder, Khalifah Sheik Dhikrillahi.

Speaking at the Al-Haqdeen Centre, Governor Makinde declared that the Adogba Central Mosque, Iwo Road, which he built with money from his personal pocket, would be commissioned in two weeks and that after that event, he would move on to the Al-Haqdeen Centre’s uncompleted mosque project, which its founder solicited his assistance for.

Ace Mall Boss, Yinka Afonja Rewards Loyal Staff With Car Gift

“Hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, and someday the rewards will follow”.

The above quote by popular author, Allan Rufus succinctly captured the moment on Thursday, 19 January, 2023, as the MD/CEO of Ace Mall, Mr. Yinka Afonja presented a brand new car gift to his outstanding staff, Miss Fatoki Grace Adenike. The event held at the newly opened Ace Mall Oluyole, Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State.

It was such a surprise, not only to the recipient but all staff members of the company because no one saw it coming.

“This will definitely spur other employees in no small measure to be more committed,” Afonja noted.

The noble gesture, according to Afonja, was a move to reward excellence and dedication to duty. As demonstrated by the recipient over the years that she’s been working with the company.

Speaking further during the presentation, Afonja disclosed that the exercise was just another edition of the gesture which has being in place for years. Noting that several staff members had benefitted from the car gift initiative.

He said: “This obviously is not the first time we’ll be doing this, we have given out several cars. But before now it’s been going to the market phasing unit, mostly branch managers. So this is the first time an head office staff would be getting it. It is well deserved. Even more than well deserved because Nike has been Chief Admin, the central admin of Ace. She is not just loyal, she is very hardworking. She is very dedicated and loyal to the organisation. She is honest too. She is an asset anywhere she goes. And when people put in that kind of efforts, they are actually sowing the seeds for their own future. Because when you serve others well, there is a way the whole universe come to support you to start your own. So, that basically is why we have decided to always reward our hardworking and loyal staff, as we have done to Nike today. Not only to celebrate excellence but also to encourage others.”

In her response, the recipient (Nike) was full of smiles and profound appreciation and promised to continue in giving her best to the organisation.

Ace Mall is a one-stop shopping centre with different phases like Cinema, Boutique, Eatery, Bakery, Salon, Spa, Kiddies Fun Park, Arcade, Swimming Pool, Bar/lounge and Supermarket.

The mall has branches across the major cities in South West with over 1000 staff, making Yinka Afonja a big time employer of labour.