I like to first and foremost commend the Governor, Senator Ben Ayade for the Redeployment of Ntufam Gabe Okulaja from Special Adviser, department of Public Transportation (DOPT) to Coordinator/desk officer, Home grown School feeding programme.
This action is particularly commendable because, this is a development that has been long overdue considering the unnecessary controversies that has been generated over which Agency of Government in charge of Transportation is to do what, when and how.
His Redeployment is what I have stood and been calling for long before now. The re-appointment of Barr Edem Ekong as SA DOPT is one of the best decisions that has been taken by the Ben Ayade administration especially when you take into consideration the sanity he brought to the Transport sub sector during is four years stint as head of DOPT in the last adminstration.
Those familiar with the activities of department of Public Transportation (DOPT) in recent times, will agree with me that, it has been a clear deviation from its core mandate of traffic regulation. It will be recalled that, I had earlier this year, written an article titled ‘ DOPT;TRAFFIC REGULATOR OR REVENUE COLLECTING AGENT OF GOVERNMENT’ were in the said piece I expressed concern over the high level of taxation on commercial Road users.
The Department of Public Transportation under Gabe Okulaja was to say the least, one of the most confused government agency in this administration. His penchant to make money for his pocket in the name of revenue drive for Government had no limits as virtually all the road sides sellers along Watt and Marian market were compelled to pay a certain fee on a daily basis to enable them continue to maintain their selling spot on the road.
Being a leading state in terms of tourism in Nigeria and the Governors desire to transform the sector better than he met it, I expected the former DOPT boss to immediately swing into action in collaboration with other Government agencies in charge of Transportation to immediately swing into action by introducing breathtaking innovations in the sector that will add colour and beauty to the state tourism credentials rather, the activities of DOPT under his watch were de marketing the state instead of marketing it.
For Barr Edem Ekong, His second coming can only be attributed to his sterling performance in the previous administration. It means, Governor Ayade recognises excellence and does not shy away from bringing on board, Cross Riverians who have been proven and tested in various capacities towards helping him deliver on his promises to the people of the state. Therefore, I expect Barr Ekong to immediately set the ball rolling by ensuring that, DOPT resumes it’s core functions while making concerted efforts towards reconciling all aggrieved parties in the sector that are disenchanted in on one way or the other for the greater good of the sector.
Governor Ben Ayade on his part must as a matter of urgency beam it’s searchlight on other MDAs of Government towards doing same to its various heads as there are still many of his aides in his Government who deserve a Redeployment or an outright sack.
Richard Romanus is a public Affairs Commentator from Oderegha in Obubra LGA, Cross River State.
A popular saying goes, “Health is Wealth” and as much as that is self explanatory, people always overlook the fact that in Health, every little thing matters from our decision to seek care on time, to our attitude towards Alcohol, the food we consume and importantly, the policies of government on health.
There is no gainsaying that Nigerians and indeed Cross Riverians wish our health system and infrastructure are as perfect as we see in Hollywood or foreign movie productions(this we deserve) but fail to support and see through some very vital policy and legislative framework of Government partly due to the failure in the full implementation of some Health policies and regulatory frameworks by Government. However, there is a wind of positive change blowing in this regard and there is need for Cross Riverians to see through it, that is why this peek into the future is necessary.
Imagine these two situations; First, a woman in Labor in Calabar South visits a nearby medical facility where complications arise and she needs medical attention which is way above her income and because she cannot raise the sum, dies or better still she resorts to a prayer house or Traditional birth attendant and loses her life and that of her baby in the process.
The Second is of a petty farmer whose family’s annual income is less than 50,000 Naira and is diagnosed of Cancer but receives treatment in a state of the art medical facility in the state free of charge because she and her family are enrolled in With “AYADE CARE” (State Health Insurance Scheme). Too good to be true? well let us wait and see.
The health sector in Cross River State has not had a smooth ride, a common phenomenon with every other sector. However, the health pyramid starting at its base, the Primary Health System to the Tertiary and advanced tertiary is currently receiving a boost.
The challenges plaguing the sector range from the failure in the implementation of the Alma Ata declaration of the 70’s and several other health policies which almost degenerated to a riot of sort as basic health care (like care for uncomplicated malaria, skin rashes etc)was now provided by tertiary facilities due to the lack of quality primary health care for the over 70% of our population living in the rural areas, the decay in infrastructure, lack of human resourses among other reasons inverted the pyramid.
The journey to surmounting these challenges began in 2011 following the passage of the State Primary Health Bill which came with some congenital malformations, though not implemented, helped organized the system in a structure that positioned it for efficiency.
5 years later, we now have a fully functional State Primary Health Care Development Agency with a view to position the state to benefit fully from the provisions in the National Primary Health Care act and revert the health pyramid to sit on its base (meaning the primary health care centers will handle most of the illnesses in the community with special cases going to the secondary and tertiary health institutions.
Recently, the Federal Government lauded the state’s performance in the implementation of the “Primary Health Care Under One Roof Policy” announcing that Cross River was far ahead of other states despite receiving almost the least allocation from the central coffers and called on other states to emulate us!. The current health team headed by the Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, his wife, Dr. Linda Ayade, the health commissioner, Dr. Inyang Asibong and yours faithfully Dr. Betta Edu upon assumption of offices, folded sleeves and set out straight to work to ensure that despite the negative economic indices, Cross Riverians get the maximum available, in terms of effective, affordable and quality health care services with a true Negro-Anthropological drive of a brother providing a shoulder for his brother, to lean on.
How? Cross River State currently has 1,013 Primary Health Care facilities built by Government, Communities and Concerned individuals over the years and with the coming of the agency, the state is better positioned to access the National Primary Health Fund, including the USD1.5 million and several other intervention funds(although the funds have not been given to the state yet) but when recieved will go a long way in giving these facilities a facelift, provide drugs, hire skilled health workers and provide quality health services 24hrs.
The secondary and tertiary institutions are not left out as the “Ayade Care” (State Health Insurance Scheme) law which has just been assented to by the proactive proHealth Governor Ben Ayade which is a replica of the National Health Insurance Scheme with modifications that makes the financial burden so minimal that some elites and stakeholders think the premium is to small as such must be a joke.
The scheme will see all Cross Riverians subscribe with a minimal fee of 1,000 Naira per month, that is 12,000 per annum, yet will have access to quality Medicare. The state plans to really turn the state into a medical tourism haven of which discussions are ongoing with investors and partners across the globe.
The plan to achieve Universal Health Coverage by the end of 2017 is well on course and with the support of Cross Riverians, it will be achieved. That will be another landmark achievement for a state known to blaze the trail which is currently been led by a trailblazer.
Cross Riverians are known for warmth, hospitality and care. The plans of the current administration in the health sector will eventually lead us to have that Health System we see in foreign movie productions, or at least close to it. But, Cross Riverians need to see through it, ask questions and seek clarifications and not outrightly condemn policies, white papers or regulatory frameworks of government because of trivial sentiments.
If every cross riverian within and outside CRS put in 1000, every politician empower their ward members by paying for their health bills, 1000 per month, if we all work at this, sucess will be achieved. It is beyond the government, its beyond party, it is for our people by our people!
The future is bright for Health in Cross River State. There are still challenges, especially in the area of funding, equipment and perception of Cross Riverians in the grassroots on accessing healthcare. But, together we can achieve that health sector of our dream. INDEED AYADE CARES!!!!!!!
BETTA EDU IS THE MAIDEN DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CROSS RIVER STATE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Cross River State House of Assembly Speaker, John Gaul Lebo said, the revenue drive of the Department of Public Transport (DOPT) and Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) is not their core mandate.
The Speaker, Lebo stated this when he hosted a delegation of the Unified Taxi Drivers Association of Cross River State, UTDA-CRS, led by chairman, Pastor Bassey Okon saying “It is unfortunate that both CTRA and DOPT have now turned themselves into revenue generating agencies rather than the regulatory agencies that they were created to be.”
According to crossriverwatch.com, the speaker also disclosed that the 8th assembly of the state was poised to reposition the transport sector in the state as one of its core mandate is to carry out a transport sector reform that will consider the divergent views in the industry to develop a transport system that is both convenient and comfortable to all.
Meanwhile, Pastor Okon had earlier called on the assembly to aid in the arrest of issues faced by commercial drivers which includes multiple taxation and alleged harassment by government agencies in Cross River State.
Okon also clearly stated that the harassment has become a daily routine and they have been left in the mercy of revenue generating agencies and departments whose operations have been marred with irregularities and complaints and called for drastic action to be taken as “Our source of livelihood is been threatened especially by military personnel driving ‘off colour’ taxis.”
Recently, the Ayades have been in the news for sundry reason – based on each person’s separate perception and understanding of the political and undercurrents: some good and some bad.
By this development, the Ayade family, is gaining popularity and now ranks amongst the popular families in Cross River state. That is expected.
Presently, petitions are being written against the Government of Professor Ben Ayade and his nuclear family.
Ordinarily, I would not have joined the fray. But I have come to realise the main motive for these negative attacks. There is a Bette adage that says; ‘’That it is only a tree that bears fruits, that can attract stones from itinerant school pupils and varied passers-by.’’
Governor Ayade’s laudable and visionary programmes, projects and exemplary leadership, have unnerved and embittered a section of the opposition in Cross River state. These programmes include: The Super Highway; The Deep Seaport, The Cross River State Garment and Textile Factory, Embedded Power Generation and other, too numerous to mention here.
Senator(Professor) Ben Ayade has remained committed and focused on his set goals and objectives. He has a covenant with Cross Riverians and he is determined to fulfil same. He has ,therefore, refused to be distract by all those who have vowed to destabilise his Government and have set about using proxies, employing blackmail and utilising the negative and unprogressive tool of – ‘’Petition Writing.’’
Our dear Governor, obviously understands the aphorism: That if you stay back to throw stones at every dog that barks at you, you will never get to your destination. In our collective quest of driving ‘’Destination Cross River’’ – let the dogs bark.
Considering the litany of investigations going on in Cross River, over financial, administrative and personnel issues: I will like advice that we await the outcome. Any pre-emptive assumption or action in this regard will be unfair and biased. Let all those who are ecstatically baying for Dr. Frank Ayade’s blood remain patient. The die is cast.
I now see the reason why our dear governor has continued to maintain a calm disposition, taking all in his strides – with equanimity.
My candid advice, is for all those who truly mean well and love Cross River State, to rally round the Governor and his administration to seek solutions to all our nagging socio-economic problems: Low IGR and a fall in accruable revenue; outstanding salaries and pensions, decaying and non-existing infrastructure, Upcoming National Sports Festival, Education, Agriculture and Health, amongst others.
This is the time to cease and desist from negativism; pull together, as one people. May Professor Emmauel Ayandele’s postulation: ’’That Cross River State is an atomistic society, that is perpetually at war with itself – wither and die. Amen.
Chief Tony Undiandeye
Senior Special Adviser on Public Affairs.
“Our Demolition Control Bill will have a human-face and would provide alternative. The focus is not to disorganize my people but to add value. If you place the city and the people l will go with the people, if you place beauty and livelihood, l will go for livelihood”- Governor Ayade
Excerpt on Governor Ayade view on the proposed Demoliation Control Bill ‘The meeting and indeed the presentation we have just received is focused on rehabilitating, rebranding and renewing our entrance to our new cities and our existing cities. The idea of this concept is that we have been given a commitment that we are going to take Cross River State from third world to first world in four years, and that commitment will come in so many ways, ethical change, attitudinal change, improvement in living standards, change in environmental perception and a better governed state .
So the journey starts with the physical presence of change, that’s why we are happy to receive this report and we have specific request that I will ask that it be clarified to also understand what is provided in the budget of 2016. For these, we are preparing for 2017 budget once it is been proposed and we are doing an amendment of 2016 budget for which critically most of this projects must come in. It is critical to know that, if you take from the beginning of Tinapa junction, through the 8 miles, coming to Calabar city centre, it is key that we have a different approach. Now are happy to hear the dualization of Tinapa junction up to Odukpani Junction, getting to Ikot Ekpene.
Now we have a team in place, in the next few months this team will focus on defining, beautifying and changing the looks of Calabar as we enter into the carnival season, inspite of the challenges of little financial resources. So at this point in time when we have to change the environmental landscape of Cross River State and Calabar, demolition will be involved, removal of some unapproved structures will certainly be involved.
There is an executive bill that will come from my office going to the State House of Assembly, to have a demolition control bill. I don’t believe that the desperation to make a state look beautiful is to compromise the means of livelihood for our financially challenged people. Now for those our citizens who are financially challenged and in desperation to make a living and have found themselves in our corridors and right ways, it is our responsibility under the development control unit of the Ministry of Lands to have checked that, but in the process we have tolerated them from passivity and allow somebody to raise an illegal structure on the right way, it becomes the duty of government to be responsible for the relocation of that person.
So the demolition control bill allows you to demolish a building only after you have provided an alternative, and to me it is African, it is sensitivity to yearnings, pains of the poor people that you don’t demolish a roof over a human being when you have not created an alternative place for him to go to. Even if the structure is illegal, if government had done their job, development control wouldn’t have allowed that illegal structure in the first instance.
So because you have slept over your rights and have allowed the man to build the structures, you have by law ceded the land to him. So if you must take that land, it is your duty to provide an alternative. So the demolition control bill, which I believe the House of Assembly will expediently push it and pass so that it will come back to me for accenting into law, will make it mandatory for you to only demolish a house on the condition that you have provided an alternative for the person, be it structured, illegal or not.
Therefore your task is going to be very difficult, how to beautify a place with an illegal structure that must be taken out, yet you must provide a roof before you take it out. That is the delicate and complex nature of this law which you have a duty to manage. So for me it is a delicate and charismatic balance between beauty and life, between value and culture, it is a warm embrace between societal sensitivity to the most critical mass of our people who are financially challenged. To ensure that while trying to make a city beautiful, we don’t compromise their means of survival. To ensure that government is sensitive to the yearnings of the downtrodden. We must enforce your right within the limits of moral law, which detects by our own aforecentric politics that the love for your neighbour, providing a showdown for the weak to lean on, is a critical requirement of African culture.
So this government derives its morality from the norms and culture of Africa. It is against that background that I insist in carrying out your processes, for every citizen building that must go down; it requires the approval of the governor. For any permanent structure, no matter how small, it can’t go down except governor approves it and the governor can only approve it if government has provided another roof for the person.
Cross River State must live as a civilized state, to show that beyond the powers and authorities that the office confers, God in His own infinite mercy confers also the powers to dispense love and care. So in carrying out your job which is very tedious, dealing with asking people to carry their stalls, shops, telling filling stations that are close to the road to shift, it is a very complex challenge. I don’t want a mechanistic, physical or brutal effort; I want a civilized, diplomatic effort that truly shows that Cross River State is leading as a civilized state.
In all of these efforts, I am desperate to see a change. So the perception of Cross River State is also a vitality to encourage and serve as tonic for investors to come in. So your work will be the beginning of a signature that will encourage people to come in to invest in Cross River State. So I expect that you prioritise your program ad come back with a working timetable for my approval, upon which work starts.
There is a small market by the right hand coming in from Tinapa, going into the Calabar city, which is an ugly site, but also I have noticed that a lot of women go there with their small produce to sell. When we are encouraging people to go back to farming, go to agriculture and there come with their Plantain, Banana, from their villages and bring them there, chasing them out because we want to make a park or a greenery out of that, it is a moral burden I can’t carry. I can’t stand the horrible look of that sight. Moral conscience will tell you that, if we know that demolition control bill is coming, why don’t we create/find a delicate balance. I think we should be desperate in finding a new market that we will build in haste, without dislocating them from their customers. The focus is not to disorganize my people, but it is to add value to the city. If you place the city and the people, I will go with the people, if you place beauty and livelihood, I will go for livelihood.’
Watch Video Extract of Governor Ayade speaking on the demolition control bill below.
“I will not approve any building, shop, filling station, market place or stall for demolition, without providing an alternative place for the inhabitants/owners”. Ayade Speaks.
For clarity see below. Also to keep this discuss simple, few statistical data will be used. You can reference any information for accurate figures on your own.
RESESSION: Is a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activities are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quaters. Recession is also associated with high unemployment and high inflation.
The YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT and REGULAR UNEMPLOYMENT is characteristic in Nigeria right now.
DEPRESSION: Economic depression is total slow down of economic activities for a long time aggravated by drastic monetary policies that affect commerce, finance and industries.
This is not the case in Nigeria.
Nigeria is a driving IMP0RT economy. Not to fall into RESESSION, Nigeria must maintain a favourable trade balances between EXPORT, IMP0RT and adjustment made in other economic areas.
Nigeria is a driving import economy. The oil is Nigeria major VITAL EXPORT driven commodity revenue. In the proceeding quater, reported figure was favourable. On tuesday last week reported figure for the current quater was N22.6tn decline. Import was N1.269tn. Export was N1.454tn. Per the reported figures the comparative advantage was unfavourable.
For Nigeria to get out or resolve the recession problem faster, she must take care of the Niger delta insurgency crisis by dialogue so that activities in oil sector can resume. The destructive activities in the Niger Delta region is the reason why the nation is facing recession.
Lastly, all the capital flight looted money kept in foreign banks is responsible for the current economic problems in the nation. These were foreign funds gained from our exports (OIL) and other products. If those funds were accounted for and put into use on capital projects, jobs, the value of NAIRA would have been doing well.
The ECONOMY would have simulated way far back. The nation would not have been in this predicament. Since I was born, this is the most RECKCLESS people in power in the Whole wild WORLD ever known to have taken the nation for a ride. Now see where we are. The destruction was long done by 16 years of civilians unacceptable leadership where looting was the order of the day.
BLAME is not being apportioned. Let the TRUTH be told how we got into this MESS. ONE OF THE NATION WITH HIGH OIL PROCEEDS REVENUE PROFITS CAN NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE FUNDS ?
Please let no one ever BLAME President MB. HE HAS COME TO BE OUR SAVIOR and will help lead to rebuilding this great nation.
NIGERIA WILL OVER COME. WE CAN NOT ALLOW LOOTED CAPITAL FLIGHT FUNDS TO EVER HAPPEN AGAIN TILL DEATH DO US PART.
Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, on the 2nd September, 2016 flagged off the Central Bank of Nigeria – Cross River State Government, CBN-CRSG ANCHOR BORROWERS’ PROGRAMME FOR RICE VALUE CHAIN in Odukpani LGA.
According to Governor Ayade, it is a collaborative effort between the Federal Government and Cross River State to encourage and support rice farmers in the state.
Whilst flagging off the programme, Ayade urged Cross Riverians to embrace agriculture, especially in the aspect of rice farming, for this will in turn yield more returns to State and local government respectively. He spoke of the reasons why he spent three days in Thailand and also thank President Muhammadu Buhari for this dream come true.
The Governor also assured farmers of instant loan to help bolster their zeal towards rice farming as FG partners the state in the programme.
There was a lot of merriment during the flagging off, as a lot of people turned up with the Governor expressing himself while dancing with the Efik traditional dancers.
Watch photos and videos from the event below…
Watch Video Extract of Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, today while flagging off the: CBN-CRSG ANCHOR BORROWERS’ PROGRAMME FOR RICE VALUE CHAIN IN Odukpani LGA of Cross River State below…..
Not quite long when an unemployed graduate from Cross River State was arrested and detained at the state CID by Governor Ayade’s aide over approaching the Governor with placard that reads ‘I Need A Job’. Ever since then, no information or follow up regarding his release have been heard.
With that enigma, some group of youths, preferably students/graduates of Cross River State was on Monday 29th August, 2016 at around 10am matched to the Governor’s office to solidarized on behalf of the arrested unemployed graduate whose name is Charles Efiong Ewa.
If you can recalled, on the 29th of May, 2016, during the swearing-in of political leaders from the National Assembly, Presidency and the Governors throughout the Federation, the Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade made known to all that no Cross River born graduate will remain unemployed or roam the streets with files and jackets looking for jobs. Ayade who made a renowned promise, stated that, in his first year in office, he will make sure he creates thousands of jobs to accommodate both old and fresh graduates in the state. But with graduates carrying placards seeking for jobs on the streets is still the question of the day.
However, since a man cannot survive without bread, this young man had to approach the Governor’s convoy, struggling to show Governor Ayade a placard that he needs a job. But instead, he was arrested and detained at the state CID in Diamond Hill, Calabar.
This however, rot the minds of the youths as they all gathered themselves, carrying placards too to solidarize on behalf of Efiong Ewa. The placards were carrying messages like ‘He only needed a job, He meant no harm’, and many more.
One of the youths (name witheld) who who spoke with Calabar Reporters said, “we are here for a peaceful demonstration to solidarize on behalf of a youth whose right is misjudged because of their greed, and we demand the release of our fellow youth.
“For if we do not intervene, who knows who is going to be next, he added”.
Although, the youths were stopped by the security men at the gates of the Governor’s Office. This is howfar Calabar Reporters can report.
By the time of filing this report, Efiong Ewa is still at the state CID in Calabar. Any further information concerning his release or otherwise will be published on Calabar Reporters website, please stay connected.
Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade, yesterday sanctioned the immediate engagement of about 300 shortlisted applicants as employees of the newly built state-owned Calabar Garment Factory.
The lucky beneficiaries were at the garment factory for the final screening exercise for employment, which is in three batches for applicants from each of the three senatorial districts in the state.
Speaking during the exercise for applicants from the southern senatorial districts, Ayade directed that every applicant at the event be given automatic employment.
He told the cheering crowd that “When we set up this factory, the intension was not just to create jobs but to guarantee that young men and women who have been challenged by circumstances of their births have the opportunity to better their lots.
“I’m so excited at what I am seeing here today, the number of people and their energy and it is an indication that our factory has taken off. Remember, the factory has the capacity to create 3,000 jobs.
“Truly, if you call yourself a leader, your focus should be on the vulnerable and the weakest that we are engaging today. We will guarantee you good salaries, food and proper transportation.”
According to the governor, “This is a lifesaving opportunity for the vulnerable. These women constitute the basis of the family, but unfortunately, because of the nature of our society, things have become very difficult for them.”
Ayade described the factory as a new horizon for the employees to realize their true skills, potentials and manifestation of that which God has endowed them with.
Ayade further noted: “We want to show to the world that we have skills, great fashion engineers. I call you engineers because you are going to provide the skills that we have not seen before.”
Also speaking, president and founder of Africa Young Entrepreneurs (AYE), Oluwa Summy Francis, who was in company of other entrepreneurs from other parts of Africa, described the establishment of Calabar Garment Factory by Governor Ayade as a demonstration of true leadership in action.
Francis who was overwhelmed by the sheer size and capacity of the factory said: “What I am seeing here is something far from Nigeria, this is not just an opportunity but something that will create Africa.”
He further testified: “This is what happens when a youth becomes a governor, someone who truly has everything on his side like age, exposure, connections and commitment. When you have youth in the saddle, we should expect things like this.
“From our interactions with the governor, we are made to understand that the garment factory is the least of his lofty dreams for the people of Cross River. So, if this amazes you, then be ready for something that will blow your mind.
“Here is a man that does not only believe in the growth Cross River and Nigeria but that of Africa and I am really overwhelmed by this innovation and mind blowing opportunity for Africa in terms of job creation as well as attracting investors and investments back to Africa,” the President added.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Peter Egba, explained that the flag off of the training exercise was a testimony to the industrialization programme of Governor Ayade aimed at reducing employment among the citizenry with 80 percent focused on women, particularly widows.
He hinted that as part of efforts to diversify the economy, the state government was repositioning agriculture in the area of value chain addition.
Stressing that as the second largest producer of cocoa in the country, plan was underway to start processing cocoa beans for export, thereby creating more jobs and more revenue into the coffers of government.
He thanked donor agencies and partners for believing in the Ayade vision and transformation agenda of the state.
Photo caption: (R-L) Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, Vice President of African Young Entrepreneurs, Ibada Ahmed, T. Williams, President, AYE, Oluwa Francis during screening of applicants for employment at Calabar Garment Factory in Calabar…
Watch the Video Extract of Governor Ayade flagging off the recruitment process of Cross River State Garment and Textile Factory in Calabar below…
The Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, said the Federal Government has concluded plans to award the contract for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project.
The former governor of Rivers State, explained that, “The President’s agenda is not just to recover loots. We are recovering as much as we can, But the president is determined to create employment. That is why you can see his focus In transportation.
Speaking further, Amaechi said, “ we will look for counterpart funding.” On how the project will be funded, he said, “We will bring our counterpart fund as poor as the country is now and give to the Chinese because their money is already in their bank account. If we bring our own, they bring their own to make sure there is no delay, If that happens, in two years, the Lagos-Ibadan will be ready.
“Tomorrow, I will sign the contracts for Calabar-Port Harcourt railway project. Before the week runs out, I will sign Kano-Kaduna. That is what we are doing. This is to show you that we are moving away from the corruption economy to production economy.” He said.
