News
FAAC Allocate N2.07 Trillion To Nigerian States
In February 2024, the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) distributed a staggering N2.07 trillion to Nigeria’s three tiers of government, derived from the previous month’s revenue influx.
FAAC’s allocation of N2.07 trillion is to reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape, empowering states to embark on crucial developmental projects for citizen welfare and prosperity.
In a bid to enhance productivity and eradicate vulnerabilities, Nigeria must pivot away from its current paradigm of unproductive federating units.
The nation’s trajectory towards sustainable development hinges on revitalizing states, fostering resilience, and reducing dependency.
Every citizen, irrespective of level, must remain vigilant against the misappropriation of resources earmarked for state growth and advancement.
Strengthening oversight mechanisms is imperative to curb wastage and promote effective resource allocation.
Mismanagement of resources at all levels has precipitated a decline in economic growth, exacerbating multi-dimensional poverty affecting approximately 133 million Nigerians, constituting 65% of the nation’s populace. Urgent reforms are indispensable to reverse this trend and uplift livelihoods.
Examining the allocation breakdown across states underscores the imperative for judicious resource allocation and management.
Each state’s share, reflective of its unique needs, demands astute governance and strategic investment for sustainable development.
Governors wield a pivotal role in fostering citizen welfare through prudent resource allocation towards critical infrastructure and developmental initiatives.
Prioritising citizens’ needs ensures optimal utilisation of resources for tangible socio-economic progress.
Transparency and accountability are paramount in managing public resources effectively. By fostering greater visibility and oversight, governments can mitigate wasteful expenditure, bolster efficiency, and curb corruption, ultimately fostering trust and confidence in governance.
Maximising resource utilisation guarantees a favourable return on investment for state governments, propelling economic prosperity and enhancing citizens’ quality of life. Strategic project management and prudent fiscal policies are indispensable for sustainable growth.
Governors’ propensity for extravagant spending has significantly contributed to the escalation of poverty levels in Nigeria.
Addressing systemic inefficiencies and promoting responsible governance are imperative to alleviate poverty and foster inclusive development.
Ameh Peter, Former National Chairman of IPAC and National Secretary of CUPP
Russia and Ukraine continued aerial attacks on each other, inflicting injuries and damages, officials said early on Sunday, as the fate of a proposed ceasefire to the three-year-old war remained uncertain.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he supported in principle Washington’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine but that his forces would fight on until several crucial conditions were worked out.
Both sides have since traded heavy aerial strikes, and Russia moved closer on battlefield to ejecting Ukrainian forces from their months-old foothold in the western Russian region of Kursk.
The Russian defence ministry said on Sunday that its air defence units destroyed a total of 31 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory.
Of those, 16 were downed over the southwestern region of Voronezh, nine over the territory of the Belgorod region and the rest over the Rostov and Kursk regions, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.
In a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian border region of Belgorod, three people were injured, including a 7-year-old, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said earlier on the Telegram messaging app.
Two of the people were injured after a drone hit their house, sparking a fire in the Gubkinsky district of the region, while the other person was injured in a drone attack on the village of Dolgoye, Gladkov said.
Alexander Gusev, governor of Voronezh, said on Telegram that there was no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The acting governor of the southern Russian region of Rostov said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage reported there either.
In Ukraine, authorities reported several Russian drone strikes, including on the northern region of Chernihiv, where firefighters were battling a blaze at a high-rise building that was sparked by Russian drone attack, Ukraine’s state of emergency service said.
Ukrainian media reported a series of explosions in the region surrounding the capital Kyiv, after Ukraine’s air force issued warnings of a threat of drone attacks on Kyiv and a number of other central Ukrainian regions.
By 0300 GMT on Sunday, there was no official information about damage in the Kyiv region.
Federal Government on Saturday explained why it awarded the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to Hitech Construction Company Ltd.
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made the explanation during an inspection tour of the highway project in Lagos.
“Some people say that it didn’t go through a competitive bidding.
“I want to explain this: we have three types of procurement allowed by law,” he said.
Umahi listed the three types as restrictive procurement, selective/competitive bidding, and open bidding.
“When we started this project, we asked for companies that have up to five wirtgne concrete paver.
“You will agree with me that until we started this, the concrete paver was not common in Nigeria as it is today.
“We had to look for a company that had done this kind of project before, and that is Hitech.”
He noted that Hitech reconstructed the Oworonshoki Apapa Road.
“We saw that they got it right; so, we called them on Section 1.
“Then, we used restrictive bidding, which we sent to BPP (Bureau for Public Procurement) and we sent to the Federal Executive Council and they looked at it and corrected where they should and passed it accordingly.
“When other companies started bringing in some equipment, because they saw that Ministry of Works is insisting, especially where we have high water table, that we must use concrete, they started to bring in concrete equipment,” he said.
Umahi said that the Federal Government consequently opened Section 2 of the project to selective bidding and selected some companies and they bid.
He said that Hitech won the bidding.
The minister said that in Section 3A and 3B, the same thing happened.
“We have not gone outside the law, we have not gone outside the Procurement Act.”
He emphasised that President Bola Tinubu did not recommend any company for the highway project.
“ I want to say that there is no corruption in it. It is very transparent,” he added. (NAN)
The police command in Lagos State has detained two suspects ages 27 and 32 for alleged armed robbery.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest to newsmen in Lagos on Saturday.
He said that the suspects were apprehended on Friday at 4:00 a.m. at Sangotedo, Lekki-Epe Expressway.
“The police on early morning patrol apprehended the two suspects.
“One automatic pistol and five live ammunition were recovered, ” the spokesperson said.
According to him, the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation for possible prosecution.