Reps urge FG to revoke East-West road contract

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Works to revoke the contract for the construction of the flooded East-West Road awarded to Rock Result Nigeria Limited.

The call was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Oboku Oforjil (PDP-Bayelsa) at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

The lower chambers recommended that the contract be revoked and re-awarded to another company with the expertise and capacity to do the job.

Moving the motion earlier, Oforjil said that the East-West road is one of the important roads in the federation with significant contributions to the country’s economic and social development.

The lawmaker explained that the road connects major regions, facilitating trade, commerce, and cultural exchange while improving access to markets, industries, and social services.

He said that the Federal Ministry of Works awarded the contract for the construction of the box culverts for repairs of the flooded section of the East-West Road (Kaiama-Ahoada Section) to Rock Result Nigeria Limited.

According to him, the company has failed to execute the contract, causing traffic disruptions, loss of lives and fatalities.

Recalled that on April 11, 2024 the current Minister of Works on an inspection tour at East-West road, praised Rock Result Nigeria Limited, but till date, nothing has been achieved.

The lawmaker said it is worrisome that East-West road has been in a dilapidated state for years particularly at Iheke in Ahoada East Local Government of Rivers, Aven in Patani and Umeh in Isoko South Local Government Areas of Delta, connecting Bayelsa to Rivers and Delta among other parts.

“It is worrisome that the Federal Government has prioritised the coastal road over the crucial East-West road, which is vital for the country’s economic survival,” he said.

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, mandated the Committee on Works to ensure compliance and report back for further legislative action.

Reps condemn June 29 suicide bombing in Borno

The House of Representatives has condemned the June 29 suicide bomb attacks that targeted civilian populations in Gwoza, a Local Government Area of Borno.

The attacks, which took place on Saturday have resulted in at least 32 deaths and dozens injured.

This followed a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Ahmed Jaha (Borno-APC) on the floor of the House in Abuja on Tuesday, following June 29 suicide bombing which occurred in Borno.

The lawmaker, while presenting his motion, condemned with regrets the attack on innocent lives, urging security agenices to be on their toes.

Contributing to the debate, Rep. Ahmed Wase (APC-Plateau), urged the security agencies to redouble their efforts, adding that there was a need to assess the number of security agencies in the country.

He said, “Today, the list of the 10,000 police to be recruited is not yet out, and the people concerned are playing politics with it.

According to him, we are playing politics with the lives of Nigerians. This is about doing the right thing. The matter of security is for all of us, and we should not pretend.

He added that the Department of State Service (DSS) had in the past arrested those supplying arms to insurgents, adding that security operatives must arrest people found culpable and charge them accordingly.

According to him, we should not sabotage the efforts of the security agencies, and I think they are doing their best, but accountability has been lacking. Holding some people to account is necessary.

Rep. Babajimi Benson (APC-Lagos) said the crime was heinous and barbaric, adding that a lot of innocent people were affected and saying the perpetrator must be brought to book.

He said, ‘My request is that all hands be on the deck and strategies must be put in place to curtail a repeat of such an act, urging the committee on constitutional review to prioritise state police.

“The number of men we presently have in uniform is not commensurate with the number of security agents we ought to have at the moment; the unemployed youths can engaged to do the jobs,” he said.

He urged the chairman on constitutional review to expedite action, adding that there is a nexus between insecurity and development.

Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), said that the suicide bombing was not palatable, adding that there must have been complacency on the part of the community and security agents.

He said, “From the inception of insecurity in Nigeria, I cannot see any data on complacency over insecurity, and until we are able to tackle this, people will not account for negligence.

“The government must hold particular people accountable and centralise improving the living standard of the people,” he said.

He said that the security apparatus of the country must be discussed, adding that the Inspector General of Police is not from Northern Nigeria and that the Chief of Army Staff must hold others accountable.

He added that blaming the president would not augur well because he is not in charge of those agencies.

“We cannot continue to keep people in a position where they cannot discharge their responsibilities as expected.

The Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, said it was imperative to debate issues that concern the lives of the people who are mostly affected.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the security agencies to rejig the security measures and ensure such steps extend to all states of the federation.

The House also referred the motion to the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence for further action.