Date Published: 10/12/09

Dear Editor,

Abbe, Amaechi and Uduaghan on NTA Tuesday Live

Last Tuesday 6/10/09, I had the opportunity watching Tuesday Live programme on NTA. A body of discussants that were there to answer questions from some stakeholders included the Defense Minister Godwin Abe, Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Emmanuel Uduaghan, among others.

The discussion centered on the recent success in disarming the militants.  Contributors were frank but Godwin Abbe spoke like a politician rather than an ex-military man. He parried some questions; I had expected better from him.

Governors Amaechi and Uduaghan impressed me in their own contributions. They looked ruffled probably because it is dawning on them that the next stage must be followed closely for consolidation sake. Uduaghan spoke on the need for new towns such as advocated by former Akwa Ibom governor, Victor Attah; he wants this to replace the destroyed villages, noting that shanties and slums should also give way for this new development. Amaechi on his part insisted that contrary to suggestions that Julius Berger should roll in their construction equipments, the company should not be allowed to return to Niger-Delta for business. He posited that when the place was hot, Julius Berger abandoned sites whereas some other companies took the risks by carrying on. I quite agree with him on that issue.

 I see no reason why Nigeria as a country is not thinking of creating own “Julius Bergers” from the litany of indigenous constructions companies abound. As a matter of fact, Julius Berger should be stopped in Nigeria.  It has gone against this country in so many ways. Federal government took it to court for defrauding in Tax and Duty payments while the other time, the National Assembly accused it of stealing for mining and illegally exporting our minerals. My own grouse against Julius Berger is that it serves as conduit pipe for people in government. Take for instance; it declared only N5billion profit for year 2008 whereas from Akwa Ibom State government alone it got contracts worth more than N150billion.  Julius Berger needs to be visited by FIRS and EFCC, if the present administration in the country is serious, with the aim of scrutinizing its books.

Fatima Jibril ( fatimajibril90@yahoo.com )

          Plot 1299 Taiwo Ibrahim Street                           

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