Once again, the fertile soils of Benue State have been stained with the blood of its own people. Over 200 people in the state, mostly farmers and rural dwellers, were gruesomely killed in cold blood in what can only be described as a Gestapo-style operation, swift, brutal, and merciless. The images are heart-wrenching, the statistics damning, and the collective silence from those in authority; both at the state and federal levels is deafening in its inadequacy.

This is not the time for condolence statements. It is not the time for another routine “We condemn this act” press release. This is a time for leadership, courageous, proactive, and constitutionally grounded leadership. Governor Alia must be reminded, in no uncertain terms, that the Nigerian Constitution does not merely give him the power to lead; it gives him the mandate to protect.

Article 14(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is crystal clear: “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” This is not a suggestion. It is a constitutional directive and mandate.

Since assuming office, Governor Alia, a former Catholic priest, has made headlines for his homilies, not for decisive actions on security. While it is commendable that he often speaks with a moral compass and issues press statements to condemn acts of violence, the unfortunate reality is that these words have not translated into any meaningful protection for the Benue people.

What can protect the people of Benue right now is not rhetoric but decisive and strategic action. Among the immediate steps Governor Alia can take as gathered from virtual space by this writer are strengthening local vigilante groups, establishing emergency response teams in vulnerable LGAs and setting up a security intelligence task Force. Other steps are that of establishing emergency response teams in vulnerable LGAs.

Explanatorily put, when vigilante groups are properly trained and equipped, they will no doubt serve as first responders in rural areas that security agencies often overlook. Given the foregoing view, Governor Alia and his administration must provide them with legitimate backing, coordination, and logistics.

Concerning the establishment of emergency response teams in vulnerable LGAs, these mobile units should be equipped with surveillance technology (drones), rapid communication tools, and armed personnel to act on real-time intelligence.

As for setting up a security intelligence task force, this would enable a more robust collection of early warning signals and threats across communities, especially in border areas vulnerable to armed herders and militias. In fact, Words do not shield bullets. Press statements do not prevent machetes. Condolences do not replace lives. In fact, Benue cannot continue to be Nigeria’s Killing Field

Benue State has become a recurring decimal in Nigeria’s tragic litany of violence. From Guma to Logo, from Agatu to Makurdi, the stories are always the same, heavily armed assailants, mostly unidentified, storm villages at night, slaughter men, women, and children, raze homes, and vanish before sunrise. The state has been described as the “food basket of the nation,” yet the hands that till its soil are being hacked off, and the mouths that feed the nation are being silenced.

When over 200 people are murdered and the only thing the government does is issue a statement, it tells the world that Benue lives do not matter, not to the state, and certainly not to Abuja.

At this juncture, not a few readers of this piece may have asked, “Where will the money come from?” This is as one of the most common excuses for state inaction is limited funding. But it is precisely at times like this that leaders must think outside the box. “So how can Governor Alia increase security funding?”

Against the backdrop of the foregoing, it is not out of place to opine that the governor can reprioritize the state budget. In fact, he must immediately reorder spending priorities by slashing non-essential budget lines, such as luxury vehicles, travel allowances, and bloated administrative costs, and redirect funds into community policing and logistics.

Again, the governor must explore Public-Private Security Partnerships (PPSPs). There are individuals and corporations in Benue who are stakeholders in peace and would be willing to support initiatives that secure lives and property. He must establish transparent platforms for such collaborations.

In a similar vein, the governor should maximize his power and privileges to access national and international security grants. This is as there are federal funds, UN-supported grants, and regional security cooperation programs specifically designed for states under siege. The governor must not sit back and expect manna from Abuja. He must knock on every door until it opens.

In fact, he must hold local government chairmen accountable for security votes, each local government in Nigeria receives monthly funds, including security votes. Alia must institute an audit and performance measure for these funds to ensure they are being used for tangible protection.

Given the fact that leadership demands more than sympathy, Governor Alia must understand that he was not elected to merely empathize with the people; he was elected to defend them. The oath of office he swore on May 29, 2023, was not an oath of comfort, but of responsibility. In his oath, he pledged to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” This is not a symbolic gesture; it is a binding commitment. He must now start living up to that oath.

Across Nigeria, governors have faced violent threats and shown what political will and creativity can achieve. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State refused to hide behind security excuses. He personally visited war-torn areas, empowered local hunters, and lobbied Abuja for real-time military deployment. His boldness earned him the people’s trust, and results.

Late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State championed Amotekun, the South-West security outfit. He didn’t wait for the federal government. He did not cower to pressure. He led a legal and operational charge to protect his people.

Governor Samuel Ortom, Alia’s predecessor, for all his flaws, was unapologetically outspoken. He called out the federal government, demanded justice at global forums, and passed the anti-open grazing law that became a rallying point in defense of Benue.

Governor Alia must now craft his own legacy in this same manner, not with platitudes, but with policy. In fact, governorship is not a priestly calling where one offers prayers and sacraments. It is a secular office with binding duties. The blood of the innocent is crying from the soil of Benue. Their cries are louder than any statement from the Commissioner of Information. Their tears have soaked the land beyond redemption.

History will not be kind to leaders who watched their people die and did nothing but speak. Every name on the voter register that put Hyacinth Alia in office is tied to an expectation, the expectation that he will fight, protect, and preserve Benue.

He still has time to act, but the window is narrowing. If this trend of mass killings continues under his watch and his only response is another visit to an IDP camp or a press release, then he too will be seen as complicit — not by participation, but by negligence.

Without a doubt, this is a watershed moment in Governor Alia’s administration. He can either rise as the protector of his people or fall as another politician who talked more than he acted. His mandate is sacred. His responsibility is non-negotiable. His inaction, or worse, his complacency, would be an unforgivable betrayal.

Establish local security networks. Reorient the budget. Pressure Abuja. Audit local councils. Tap into private funding. Show up physically at flashpoints. These are not optional moves, they are moral obligations.

In fact, the time for press statements is over. The people of Benue do not need sympathy. They need security. They do not need pity. They need protection. They do not need a governor who talks. They need one who fights, for them.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, it is time to lead. Or be remembered as the man who watched as Benue bleeds.

As Nigeria grapples with economic hardship, galloping inflation, rampant unemployment, deepening poverty, and widespread insecurity, the political elite appears to have shifted focus from governance to the 2027 general elections, still nearly two years away. This premature, aggressive politicking is not only untimely but has also become bumpy and disturbingly dirty, threatening to undermine already fragile governance systems.

Across party lines, from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and even to fledgling parties, it is clear that the scramble for political positioning has begun in earnest. Political consultations masked as rallies, subtle yet strategic media campaigns, and opportunistic defections have hijacked the national discourse. Meanwhile, millions of Nigerians are left to wrestle with the harsh realities of a broken economy in urgent need of policy attention and leadership focus.

Nigeria’s economic situation is, by every metric, deeply troubling. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the inflation rate rose to 33.95% in May 2025, up from 33.69% in April. Food inflation, a more telling indicator of daily hardship, now stands at a staggering 40.66%. The poorly executed removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, though long advised, have further deepened economic distress due to lack of institutional cushioning.

The naira continues its downward spiral, trading above ₦1,400 to the dollar in the official market and even higher on the parallel market. This currency depreciation has fueled import-driven inflation, eroding purchasing power and worsening the cost-of-living crisis. According to the World Bank’s latest *Nigeria Development Update, about 104 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line, a figure that could climb even higher without urgent reforms.

Youth unemployment has soared past 40%, according to NBS estimates. Manufacturing is declining, power supply remains erratic, and insecurity has become a persistent deterrent to both domestic and foreign investment. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s public debt has ballooned to over ₦97 trillion, with more than 90% of government revenue consumed by debt servicing, leaving scant room for capital investment.

In the face of this daunting reality, the political class appears consumed by the 2027 elections. Governance is taking a back seat at all three tiers of government. Many elected officials have traded performance for politicking. Town hall meetings intended to engage with constituents are now strategy sessions aimed at clinching nominations. Legislative chambers are increasingly being used to score political points rather than debate meaningful reform. Governors are preoccupied with succession plans rather than delivering on campaign promises. Ministers are eyeing governorships; lawmakers are scheming for Senate President or gubernatorial slots.

The implications are grave. Millions of citizens can no longer afford basic food items. Access to healthcare and education is shrinking. Infrastructure remains in disrepair, and insecurity continues to ravage communities in Zamfara, Benue, Plateau, Borno, and the South East. If this is the level of governance now, what should Nigerians expect as the actual election season approaches?

The desperation is not just troubling, it is palpable. Politicians are defecting to the ruling APC in droves, not out of ideological conviction, but sheer opportunism. Defections have become the new political strategy. Officeholders, both elected and appointed, are abandoning their responsibilities midway to position themselves advantageously in what is increasingly becoming a frenzied power race.

Loyalty to ideology has collapsed. Defections are now executed with impunity, without explanation or shame, and solely for political gain. In fact, the situation has become so ridiculous that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently registered two new political parties: the Independent Democrats (ID) and the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). While this may appear as a healthy addition to the political space, these parties clearly serve as fallback platforms for disgruntled politicians rather than representing fresh ideological or developmental blueprints.

Politicians are behaving as though 2027 is just around the corner, instead of two years away. The fixation on the next election cycle is undermining governance, paralyzing policy implementation, and encouraging fiscal irresponsibility. Budgetary allocations meant for development projects are already being covertly redirected towards unofficial campaign activities.

Public trust in leadership is rapidly eroding. Citizens are growing weary, and angry, at the widening gulf between them and those in power. The recent genocidal attacks in Benue State, and the federal government’s lackluster response, underscore the extent to which security has been relegated. When governance takes a back seat, insecurity thrives.

Investors are also watching, and withdrawing. Political instability and endless campaigning scare away capital. Business leaders prefer environments where governance is predictable and politics does not overshadow development.

Premature politicking also trivializes governance. It sends a loud message that power, not service, is the ultimate goal. It reduces the constitutional mandate of elected officials to a mere placeholder for political maneuvering. It makes mockery of the democratic process and turns the political space into a carnival of self-interest and betrayal.

At its core, democracy is not just about elections; it is about delivery. Nigerians did not vote for caps, posters, or slogans, they voted for development, jobs, security, and better living standards. Politicians have a four-year mandate, not a license to start campaigning after one year in office. Those who govern well today do not need to campaign tomorrow, performance is the best form of political advertisement.

Now is the time for political leaders to pause the race for 2027 and return to their duty posts. Nigeria is in crisis mode, governance should be the priority, not ambition.

Governors must urgently focus on infrastructure, healthcare, education, and rural development. Legislators must return to the core business of lawmaking, budget oversight, and advocacy. The presidency must adopt a long-term economic and security blueprint that addresses the root causes of poverty and instability.

There are lessons to be learned from countries like Rwanda and Botswana, where leadership is increasingly measured by delivery, not declarations. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, for instance, is widely acknowledged not for campaign fanfare but for tangible reforms and digital infrastructure development. In Botswana, commitment to governance and rule of law has turned a relatively small country into a regional economic success.

Nigerian leaders must understand that they will be judged not by how early they began preparing for re-election, but by what they did with the mandate already given. History will remember the missed opportunities more than the campaign jingles.

The future of Nigeria cannot be built on a crumbling present. The road to 2027 must be paved with real leadership, functional institutions, economic recovery, and citizen-centered governance, not political posturing and endless infighting.

If politicians continue to abandon their duties for early campaigns, they risk facing an angry, disillusioned electorate in 2027, one that may not be easily swayed by slogans or symbols.

Nigerians deserve better. They deserve it now, not after 2027.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has expressed strong concern over reported plans by the United States to impose visa restrictions on all member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Naija News reports that the Minister made this known while speaking at the opening of the 54th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level held Wednesday in Abuja.

Tuggar warned that such a move would pose a serious threat to trade, diplomacy, and regional development.

“It would be most unfortunate if it comes to pass, because we are a region of opportunities ready to do deals,” he said. “We would like to do deals with the US, but visa restrictions are non-tariff barriers to deals.”

Tuggar, who also serves as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, described the policy as not only a diplomatic setback but also a missed economic opportunity.

He noted that ECOWAS is home to abundant natural resources, including critical minerals and rare earth elements.

“We possess critical minerals and even rare earths such as Samarium from the Monazite found in my home State of Bauchi,” he stated. “We in this part of the world are students of the Art of the Deal and have been part of the international trading system even before the modern state system.”

He urged the United States to reconsider its approach, emphasizing that ECOWAS nations remain open to global partnerships and are ready to engage with any country that allows for ease of travel for legitimate business and diplomatic purposes.

“ECOWAS countries and the US have a rare opportunity to create a partnership based on principles of need. We are also a strategic alternative to more distant and politically divergent energy producers,” he said.

“We will do deals for our prosperity; the only question is with whom? Who takes up the opportunities in our region by allowing government officials and technocrats, business executives and entrepreneurs to travel freely back and forth to close the deals?” Tuggar added.

The concerns come amid reports that the United States, under the administration of President Donald Trump, is considering travel bans on a list of African nations, including all ECOWAS member states.

According to a memo, countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and others are being scrutinized for allegedly failing to meet new U.S. State Department benchmarks related to document verification and identity management.

The memo reportedly cites a lack of “competent or cooperative central government authority to produce reliable identity documents” and widespread fraud in some cases as the basis for the proposed visa policy.

Affected countries have been given a 60-day window to comply with the new requirements, but ECOWAS leaders fear the sweeping nature of the policy could deal a blow to regional cooperation and foreign investment.

[NaijaNews]

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has formally appealed to President Bola Tinubu, requesting his urgent intervention in what they describe as the increasing dominance of medical doctors within Nigeria’s health and education sectors. The association warns that such practices are detrimental to both national development and inclusive governance.

In an open letter dated June 16, 2025, and signed by their National Chairman, Ambrose Ezeh, and Secretary, Omokhafe Ashore, the ACPN titled their plea, “Call off these bluffs in national interest.” The letter follows recent reports of industrial action by members of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) at the University of Calabar, who ceased work following the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor.

The pharmacists contend that the protest in Calabar is part of a broader pattern, citing a similar incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where the Federal Ministry of Education reportedly nullified a Vice-Chancellor’s appointment after MDCAN members there went on strike.

The ACPN suggests that organisations like the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), MDCAN, and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have become increasingly assertive due to what they perceive as the federal government inadvertently fostering a “culture of fascism” in the health and labour sectors between 2015 and 2023.

This trend, they claim, has extended to the health and education sectors through the appointment of physician-ministers in these crucial portfolios.

The association noted a longstanding issue regarding leadership roles in federal health institutions. They stated that for four decades, since 1985, only physicians have been appointed as Chief Medical Directors or Medical Directors, stemming from what they view as a misinterpretation of eligibility criteria. They noted that eligibility, initially linked to being “medically qualified,” has been incorrectly interpreted to mean that only physicians meet this standard.

The ACPN also pointed to a specific concern with the Ninth National Assembly, alleging it “fraudulently passed a Federal Medical Centre bill later signed into law without public hearing” in 2023, which now “makes it mandatory that only personnel registered by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria can be appointed as MD/CEO of Federal Medical Centres.”

The ACPN expressed dismay over what they described as the “insultingly ancient methodologies of physicians in Nigeria” to create exclusive privileges. They asserted that with the “blessing of Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa,” there is now a “thriving culture of blackmail to proceed on strike everytime there is a contest for the position of VCs and the rules which are grounded in having a Ph.D. as condition precedent is applied because most of these physicians have professional qualifications of fellowships and not Ph.Ds.”

The association criticised the federal government’s “ineptitude” in succumbing to what they termed “shameful blackmail,” which they claim leaves other qualified professionals sidelined.
Furthermore, the pharmacists voiced disappointment with the Federal Ministry of Health for what they see as insufficient involvement of pharmacists in key drug procurement initiatives, including the recent MEDIPOOL programme rollout. They reiterated their call for the establishment of a Federal Drug Management Agency to streamline drug procurement and distribution nationwide, arguing that achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria remains elusive due to these systemic obstacles.

In their appeal to President Tinubu, the ACPN urged him to exercise his “stewardship responsibilities” and “change tactics in the skewed appointment of physicians who dominate sectors which are alien to medical practice.”

They warned that the perceived “humiliation health workers in healthcare are subjected to in deference to physicians is beginning to affect the psyche of youths.”

The association concluded by stating that “National growth, development, transformation and evolution will gradually become stunted if the Federal Government does not wield the big stick to stop the outrageously incomprehensible dominance of an overpampered group of civil servants who get what they request and are allowed to dictate a pittance for other skilled personnel in the Nigerian workforce.”

They stressed, “The time to act is now in the public interest.”

[Guardian]

The Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State has appointed Professor Flora Tobolayefa Oluwafemi as the new Vice Chancellor of the institution.

Announcing the appointment, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, Mr. Abdullahi Bardi, said Professor Oluwafemi was selected after a competitive process that spanned three months involving expert evaluations, public advertisement, and transparent interviews.

Professor Oluwafemi is the university’s former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and a former Head of Department at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Bardi expressed confidence in the new Vice Chancellor’s capacity to lead the university towards greater relevance in Nigeria’s blue economy ambitions.

He also extended the Council’s gratitude to the Presidency, Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the National Assembly for their continued partnership and investment in the institution’s growth.

[Leadership]

The 17 candidates nominated by President Bola Tinubu to oversee the affairs of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Rivers State Civil Service Commission and Rivers State Local Government Service Commission have officially declared their assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The assets declaration came on the heel of security clearance by the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Police.

The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this during the screening exercise by the Senate ad hoc committee to oversee the activities of the Rivers Sole Administrator, Vice Adm Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd).

The development comes barely one week after President Tinubu transmitted the names of nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

The five nominees for the Rivers State Civil Service Commission are Dr Barikor Baribuma (Chairman), Lot Egopija, Ms Maeve Ere-Bestman, Mrs Joy Obiaju and Mrs Charity Lloyd Harry.

Rivers State Electoral Commission has seven nominees – Dr Michael Ekpai Odey (Chairman), Mr Lezaasi Torbira, Prof Arthur Nwafor, Prof Godfrey Mbudiogha, Prof Joyce Akaniwor, Dr (Mrs) Olive A. Bruce and Prof Chidi Halliday.

The category of Rivers State Local Government Service Commission also has seven appointees namely Israel N. Amadi (Chairman), Linus Nwandem, Lady Christabel George-Didia, Dr Tonye Willie Pepple, Richard Ewoh, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik (retd) and Sammy Apiafi.

The 17 nominees were all presented before the Senate committee by the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, who divided them into three categories.

The nominees for the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board are expected to take place on Wednesday at the Senate.

Bamidele who doubles as the chairman of the 18-member committee, however, reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to upholding democratic processes in the oil-rich state.

He said, “Let me quickly inform distinguished colleagues and members of the public that the nominees who are seated before us have gone through security screening by the various security agencies, including the Department of State Security as well as the Nigerian Police.

“And none of them had had any issue with security clearance, which is germane to what we are doing here. We will just be speaking to your CV because I will have no issues with security clearance.

“Members of the public are also to be told that we have also insisted that they should go through the constitutional requirement of going to do their assets declaration by the Code of Conduct Bureau, which they have also complied with.”

The Ekiti lawmaker also disclosed that once they finished the screening exercise, the results and recommendations would be presented to the Senate leadership at the next plenary.

“Finally, it is also for me to report that as a committee we did not have any petition against any of the nominees who are here. So there is no inhibiting factor that would really prevent us from screening any of the nominees.

“The screening exercise itself is a process and all of these individual steps that I have mentioned are part of the process.

“Once we are done with this, we then make our recommendations to the Senate in plenary for the confirmation or otherwise based on our findings and recommendations,” he said.

[Punch]

Sokoto State has reiterated its commitment to peace and security, expressing willingness to engage in dialogue with armed groups who are ready to lay down their weapons and embrace reconciliation.

The Mexican Episcopal Conference has sent a condolence message to the people of Benue State, Nigeria, following the massacre of over 300 people on June 13 in Yelwata, Guma LGA of the state.

In a statement signed by Bishop Ramón Castro Castro, President of the Conference, and Bishop Héctor M. Pérez Villarreal, Secretary General, the Church leaders condemned the massacre, describing it as an act of “inhuman violence” that cries out to heaven.

The statement reads:

“The Mexican Episcopal Conference expresses its deepest dismay and sorrow over the massacre perpetrated last Friday, June 13, in the state of Benue, Nigeria, where more than two hundred Christian brothers and sisters were brutally murdered while they slept, victims of armed attacks that included arson, bladed weapons, and summary executions.

“These events, marked by inhuman violence, cry out to heaven and move us as a Church to raise a burning prayer for the eternal rest of our brothers and sisters who lost their lives, for the speedy recovery of the wounded, and for the consolation of the families who have been torn apart by pain.

“We unite with our brother bishops in Nigeria and all the People of God who pilgrimage in Africa in this jubilee year of hope, to ask the Lord for the gift of peace and to strongly renew the call for an end to all war, persecution, and religious or ethnic violence that threatens the sacred dignity of every human being.

“We invite all ecclesial communities in Mexico to join in prayer, offering Eucharists and holy hours in memory of the martyrs of Benue, and as a plea for the conversion of hearts hardened by hatred.

“May this time of grace lead us to contemplate with faith and trust the merciful face of Christ, Prince of Peace, so that His love may inspire us to work tirelessly for reconciliation, forgiveness, and true justice among peoples.”

The fixtures for the 2025–26 Premier League season have been released, marking the official countdown to the new campaign.

The 2025/26 season dates have also been confirmed, with the opening match round starting on Friday 15 August 2025.’

The final match round will be played on Sunday, 24 May 2026, when all matches will kick off simultaneously as usual.

Here are all the fixtures scheduled for the Premier League’s opening weekend:

Friday, 15 August

Liverpool v Bournemouth (20:00)

Saturday, 16 August

Aston Villa v Newcastle (12:30)

Brighton v Fulham (15:00)

Nottingham Forest v Brentford (15:00)

Sunderland v West Ham (15:00)

Tottenham v Burnley (15:00)

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City (17:30)

Sunday, 17 August

Chelsea v Crystal Palace (14:00)

Manchester United v Arsenal (16:30)

Monday, 18 August

Leeds v Everton (20:00)

[TheNation]

Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has ordered the revocation of the contract for the reconstruction of Section 1 (Benin-Imasabor) of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road, which was awarded to Levant Construction Ltd under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, due to non-performance.

Umahi announced his decision during a briefing after a meeting with the Chief Executives of GELD Construction Ltd and SKECC Nigeria Ltd over the delay in the execution of the Benin-Sapele-Warri road project held in his office.

Others at the meeting included: the Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Goronyo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi and directors of key departments in the ministry.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media), Orji Uchenna Orji, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

The Minister expressed dismay over the failure and/or neglect of Messrs Levant to live up to expectations in their contractual duties in respect of the section of the road awarded to them.

Umahi said, “We have three sections there. We have the Levant section. Unfortunately, Levant has not lived up to expectation. We even had to intervene and beg the Governor of Edo State to please get the worst sections of that route done.

“We divided the worst sections into two and told Levant to concentrate on one part. While the Governor of Edo State intervened, which I think is about 23 kilometres for N35 billion, and that section the Governor of Edo State intervened in is ongoing very well, Levant has since left site.

“We gave them a series of warning letters. We also gave them the last termination notice. When a termination notice is given to you, it is for you within 14 days to go back to the site and begin to do those things you were not doing.

“This time is for them to remobilise to the site and for them to work, but they did not respond.”

The minister subsequently directed the Permanent Secretary to get the job properly terminated and write them a letter for a joint measurement, and also to write their bank to request for repayment of the APG.

He vowed to involve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should the company fail to comply with the demand to make the necessary refunds to government cofers.

Umahi, however, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of discussions with SKECC Nigeria Ltd and Geld Construction Ltd over the need for them to step up work on the respective sections of the road project being handled by them.

He commended the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori and his Edo State counterpart, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, for their interventions on some kilometres of that road project.

Umahi said, “I have called the Governor of Delta State, and I commend him for the very beautiful work he’s doing. Three flyovers at the same time, beautiful flyovers. In this country, we need such beauties.

“We have also learned from that design. So we appealed to him to get any contractor within that zone to put 10 kilometres with reinforced concrete.

“He has accepted to do that. So I commend him very highly, which means that the Governor of Edo State is intervening in that section, and the Governor of Delta State is intervening in that section. We are grateful to them.”

[Vanguard]