***says contractor lacks capacity

From John Adams, Minna

Niger state Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago has urged the Federal Government to revoke the contract for the Suleja-Minna road awarded to Salini Nigeria Limited since 2010, saying that the contractor lacks the necessary capacity to undertake the project.
The governor made the call in Minna on Wednesday during a Town Hall Meeting/Stakeholders Engagement on the construction of the 125KM:3- Lanes Single Carriage (Niger State Component) of the 1,068KM Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
The Governor while addressing the gathering explained that the call to terminate the contract had become expedien as it is clear that the company, Salini Nigeria Limited does not have the capacity to execute the road project effectively.
He observed that after 14 years the 83km road contract was awarded, only about 35 percent of the job has been achieved hence he demanded that the contract be terminated.
According to the governor, “I will look at this company in the face and say, Salini has failed, and the company doesn’t have the capacity.
We are calling on the Minister to revoke the contract and award it to Hi-Tech Construction Company or CCECC to handle, just like the way the Abuja-Kano road was revoked from Julius Berger recently”.
He also used the occasion to appeal to the federal government to refund monies invested by the Niger state Government to rehabilitate federal roads in the state, adding that “We have put in the State’s resources into the federal government roads project in Niger state and we are asking for refund. We did it because we have the same aspirations and dream with the federal government”.
Earlier, the Minister of Works, Senator Engr. Nweze David Umahi decried the poor state of federal roads in the state as well as others across the nation, saying that
“Many of these federal projects were awarded dating back to 2010 and have remained incomplete and abandoned by successive administrations”
On the Minna-Suleja road, the minister threatened to take a decisive action against the contractor handling the road project because of the obvious reason that it lacked the capacity to execute the work.
“The company cannot continue to collect money from the federal government for over 10 years without executing the project. I was initially told that work on Minna-Suleja road has reached 86℅.
“However, when I traveled on the road to Minna, I noticed nothing has been done, yet the contractor keeps collecting money on it”, he stated.
“The Bida-Lapai-Lambata Road is still at 64% completion despite awarding the contract over a decade ago.
“Presently, quality infrastructure and timely project completion are priorities for both state and federal stakeholders”.
Speaking on the importance of the stakeholders meeting, which focused on constructing the 125-kilometer, three-lane, single-carriageway Niger State segment of the larger 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the minister said, “The Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway is a federal road that will pass through several states, including Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos, with 125 kilometers of the highway to be constructed in Niger State”.
Furthermore, various stakeholders who spoke during the town hall meeting on behalf of the communities affected by the Niger state component of the Sokoto-Badagry road project called on the federal government to ensure that compensations are duly paid to the people while pledging their support for the success of the project.

***Pledges Development for Border Communities

The Niger State government has called for the reopening of the Babanna land border in the Borgu local government area to revitalize economic activities and promote development in border communities.

This appeal was made by Alhaji Mohammed Garba Danladi, Director General and Chief Executive of the Niger State Babanna Border Development Agency (NIBBDA), during a stakeholder engagement meeting in Minna on Tuesday.

With the federal government’s recent approval for establishing border markets in Babanna, Danladi emphasized that reopening the border would enhance economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability.
“The Babanna border market, when fully operational, will not only improve the lives of the people in these communities but also address security challenges in the region,” he noted, adding that insecurity often arises in ungoverned areas.

Danladi highlighted the state government’s vision to develop Babanna by implementing sustainable projects that would provide essential social and infrastructural amenities. The agency’s focus includes improving education, healthcare, water supply, agriculture, and economic empowerment in the area.

To maximize the potential of the Babanna border market, NIBBDA has identified key opportunities such as fostering trade and foreign investments, supporting agriculture, and reducing rural-urban migration.
Danladi added that the agency would prioritize revenue generation, agricultural development, mineral resource management, trade liberalization, and basic infrastructure provision to drive the border’s growth.

The District Head of Wawa, Dr. Mahmoud Aliyu, stressed the importance of addressing security issues to ensure the market’s smooth operation. Although security has improved recently, Aliyu noted that banditry remains a challenge for Borgu local government and called on the state government to prioritize this issue.

Chairman of Borgu local government, Alhaji Yarima Kilishi, expressed optimism about the federal government’s approval of the Babanna border market and the establishment of an agency to oversee its development. He pledged the local government’s support for the market’s launch, which he believes will significantly boost revenue and economic activity in the region.

In a vibrant ceremony on Friday, the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) headquarters in Minna, Niger State, recognized 36 officers for outstanding achievements in academic performance and dedication to duty throughout 2024. The prestigious TRADOC merit awards, in their fourth year, honored officers who excelled in the 2024 promotion exams for advancing to the ranks of Captain and Major.
The event brought together high-ranking military personnel, including current and retired commanders, led by the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Olufemi O. Oluyede.
Among the notable guests was Maj. Gen. S.O. Olabanji, the former TRADOC Commander who launched the awards program in 2021.

In his opening remarks, TRADOC Commander Maj. Gen. Kevin O. Aligbe said the award’s mission is to promote a culture of excellence, hard work, and professionalism within the Nigerian Army.
“These awards are designed to enhance the quality of training, elevate standards, and drive the commitment needed to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s operational efficiency,” he said.
The awards, alongside evaluations conducted by TRADOC, have already shown substantial improvement in training standards across military formations and units nationwide.

This year’s ceremony also marked the reintroduction of the Best Division Award, which evaluated divisions based on the activities of their training schools.
This initiative recognizes the divisions’ efforts to build combat-ready troops and develop skills specific to each unit’s unique challenges.
The 81 Division, based in Lagos, was named Best Divisional Training School for 2024.

The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Oluyede, represented by Maj. Gen. Obinna Ajunwa, reinforced the importance of recognizing and rewarding excellence. “By celebrating these officers, we inspire a drive for professionalism and commitment to duty across all ranks,” he said, congratulating each award recipient for their exceptional performance in the TRADOC promotion exams.

The awards reflected outstanding achievement in the Nigerian Army’s rigorous promotion exams. In 2024, the Lieutenant to Captain exams had 440 candidates, with 438 passing, while the Captain to Major exams saw all 289 candidates pass.

The ceremony concluded with the inauguration of a newly built multi-purpose hall named in honor of Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. T.A. Lagbaja, symbolizing TRADOC’s ongoing dedication to professional growth and development in the Nigerian Army.