My attention has been drawn to a mischievous story by the Cable Newspaper claiming that I made approvals of over N11 billion after taking my pre-retirement leave.
Nothing can be further from the truth. The entire story was sensationally written with mischief that took the ordinary events of my work out of context with the intent to tarnish my image.
First and foremost, I want to categorically state that after my exit as FIRS Executive Chairman, I made no such approvals as claimed in the report.
Fundamentally: It is important to note that no payment was made by the Service after the announcement of my pre-retirement leave as claimed by this story. An approval for payment in the Service is one step of a journey to payment. It is the custom that when a new Executive Chairman resumes office, he would review, validate and make final authorisation before any payments can be made.
It is important to note for the record that all decisions reached and extant liabilities/ commitments of the Service during my stay in office are contained in the handover notes I made available to my successor, Mr. Zacch Adedeji. He is fully briefed on everything. For clarity the items listed in the Cable Newspaper Report were part of the N16 billion outstanding commitments contained in our handover note.
The N5 billion paid to Joint Tax Board was paid to fund the activities of Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy Reforms two months before I left office. It was paid after we received a letter to that effect from the office of Mr. President signed by Zacch Adedeji himself.
The report maliciously attempts to portray a picture that I hurriedly left the country on September 16th after these so called “suspicious approvals” were made. Again, nothing can be further from the truth. If I traveled out of the country on the 16th of September, how then did I attend the handover ceremony with Mr. Zacch on the afternoon of Monday 18th September 2023? That handover ceremony was covered by the media, and can be cross-checked.
It is disappointing to see the Cable, a revered online newspaper attempt to sensationalise events that took place in the ordinary course of work in office, making them seem as if they were done in bad faith.
I want to categorically state that every decision I made within the time of my stay in office was within the ambit of the law and within the lawful powers I exercised then as Executive Chairman.
I inherited only N1.4 billion in the purse of the FIRS when I assumed office. I left N129 billion in the purse of the Service when I left.
IBEDC Celebrates Christmas, Urges Customers to Prioritize Safety and Energy Responsibility.
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc extends heartfelt Christmas greetings to all Christians, esteemed customers, and Nigerians at large.
In a statement, the Managing Director, Engr. Francis Agoha highlighted that the birth of Jesus Christ symbolizes sacrificial love—a virtue that humanity should strive to embody.
Engr. Agoha assured customers that IBEDC has implemented measures to ensure network stability and smooth operations throughout the holiday season. “In anticipation of customer needs during the holidays, we are fully prepared to address faults quickly to minimize disruptions in power supply,” he stated.
He also called on customers to avoid energy theft, including tampering with meters or making illegal connections. “Energy theft is a criminal act that affects service quality for everyone and hampers our collective progress. I encourage customers to report any suspicious activities immediately,” he said.
Additionally, Engr. Agoha warned against tampering with electrical installations due to their severe safety risks, including the potential for injury or fatality. Customers are urged to report any faults, energy theft, or other issues to IBEDC offices or the Customer Care Line: 07001239999. IBEDC also encourages customers to use its secure and convenient payment platforms to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply during the holidays.
These platforms include the IBEDCPAY app (available on Android and iOS), Quickteller, Payarena, Jumia, Watu, Buypower, IRecharge, and ATMs. IBEDC offices will be open from 9 am to 3 pm during the holiday to report faults, make inquiries, bill payments, and vending services. “We sincerely thank our customers for their continued support throughout the year and urge everyone to prioritize safety by avoiding hazardous practices, such as cooking under power lines, drunk driving, etc.,” added Engr. Agoha.
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year filled with peace, joy, and progress.
Overriding Public Interest: Delta warns against impeding govt projects
DAN DENT (ASABA)
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Delta State Government has cautioned citizens against impeding projects meant to serve the general public, saying such actions were illegal and constituted an abuse of the law.
Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze (middle) discussing with the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir. Festus Ahon (right) shortly after Inspecting the maintaininers of Uti Road on Wednesday, while the Project Manager Mr. Milad Boutros (left) look on. PIX: SAMUEL JIBUNOR.
The State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, gave the warning in Effurun on Wednesday during an inspection of the DSC Roundabout Link Road to PTI Junction.
According to him, “no citizen is bigger than the state; I learnt that a citizen has said a particular portion of the road that has been approved cannot be constructed because that is his private property.
“I want to sound it to our people as a note of warning, that, to impede government project in the name of private property is an abuse of the law.
“If your property is on the right of way and we know it is not a road, this administration has made it a point of duty to pay compensation for the use of such properties in the overriding public interest.
“This project has an overriding public interest; if your property is in the right of way and your property has approval, the best we can do, as we have always done, is to give you compensation.
“But to say you stop government officials from doing their job because you feel you are bigger than the government or you are bigger than the law is absolutely unacceptable.”
Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze (right) taking the measurements of the Rod while the zonal Chief Engineer Uvwie and Opke local government Area, Engr. Kporon Ennah (left) look on. PIX: SAMUELm JIBUNOR.
Speaking further, he said; “so, we are constructing a drainage that would discharge all the water on this road. If you look at this place, it was originally a swamp.
“Meanwhile, this place had all along been intended to be a road that should take traffic from the East-West Road to reduce the volume of traffic on DSC Roundabout and PTI Junction straight to the Eku highway.
“We have come to see what the contractors are doing and I must express my displeasure at the poor quality of engineering work that I have observed here in this drainage.
“In fact, as things stand, considering the volume of water that will be coming from the Julius Berger projects, the existing volume of water from the swamp.
“What is being done here, therefore, necessitates that this drain be done according to the engineering specifications because the volume of water we will be dealing with is enormous.
“However, on getting down here and measuring the distance between the reinforcements, we discovered that the contractor apparently did not pay attention to details.
“So, I have instructed them to remove everything, start afresh and we will come back. They should not put the reinforcement until I have come to inspect what they have done to be sure that they have complied with the spacing as provided for in the Bills of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation.”
Brutality Victim: Anambra State Executive Council Approves Medical Expenses of Victim
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo undertakes the medical expenses of a victim of brutality by some contractors of the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Mr. Okechukwu Akaneme.
Soludo
The governor took this humanitarian decision to relieve the victim while strongly denouncing such despicable conduct. In addition to the governor’s gesture, the contractor has been relieved of his engagement with the state agency (ASWAMA) immediately, to serve as a deterrent to others.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, the victim who was assaulted is being hospitalised.
The Council has resolved to pick up his medical overheads, while sympathising with Akaneme ‘s family and prays for his quick recovery.
This profound empathy reflects Soludo’s sincere dedication to offering not just solutions but also a genuine commitment to providing helping hands, support, and hope to the people whenever and wherever required in the state.
END
Press Release
Anambra State Executive Council Awards More Road Contracts
The 37th Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) has awarded the contracts for the construction of new roads in the state in preparation for the yuletide season.
This is aimed at ensuring a memorable Christmas for Ndi Anambra, who will be celebrating the season in the state, from across the country and other parts of the globe.
In a release by the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, ANSEC at its 37th Meeting, approved the construction of the 3.75 km Igwe Orizu Road, in Nnewi, to New Idea Construction Company Ltd, and to be completed within six months.
The 10.8 km Nkwor Nnewi to Nkwor Oraifite was awarded to Infratech Construction Ltd at N7.2 billion, with a 12-month completion timeline, while the Oraukwu-Abatete-Nimo bypass in Idemili North measuring 4.922km was awarded to GMG Global Construction and Development Company Ltd, with a delivery date of six months.
At the meeting, the Council observed that many roads awarded at the last executive council meeting, including the New Tarzan Road and the three roads whose contracts were revoked and re-awarded, have not been reported.
Recently, Governor Soludo kept his promise with the completion of the 12.5km Ezira-Umuomaku-Enugu Umuonyia-Achina Road, linking several communities, and the 11.9km Mmiata-Anam-Nzam road, linking the headquarters of Anambra West Local Government Area (LGA).
With the ongoing and completed road projects in the state, Governor Soludo has literally turned Anambra into a construction site in his pursuit of transforming the state into a country-wide destination brand.