By Angela Atabo

The Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA) and National Union of Civil Engineering Construction Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), have threatened to stop work on major roads due to some crises.

The unions affiliated to the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), represent the senior and junior staff in the construction industry.

The National President of CCESSA, Ayodeji Adeyemo, and the NUCECFWW President Stephen Okoro, at a news conference on the state of the construction industry on Friday in Abuja, raised alarm over the plight of construction workers.

According to Adeyemo, the construction industry is the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria after the Government.

He, however, expressed concern that a lot of workers were being laid off by construction companies and the trend was creating a crisis in the sector.

“About 30,000 workers have lost their jobs and about 52,000 workers may lose their jobs if care is not taken.

“Over 20,000 have already lost their jobs in the last three months and 32,000 will also lose their jobs if the conflicts are not resolved.

“We may have no choice but to stop work on major roads if the trend continues.

“Some of the roads that are affected by the conflicts are roads being handled by major construction companies like RCC, Setraco, Julius Berger, Dantata and Sawoe, among others.

“They are: Obajana road, Abuja -Kano Road, Bodo-Bonny Road, East-West Road, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Zaria-Sokoto Road and Edo-Auchi Road.

“When you sack people with family and other dependents, you are only calling for more insecurity in the country. Nigeria is currently grappling with insecurity, and you can imagine when 52,000 workers are laid off,” he fumed.

Adeyemo said that the unions were also concerned with the disagreement between the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) and the Minister of Works.

According to him, there is a total slowdown in the industry due to disagreement between the contractors handling various civil construction projects for the Federal Government and the ministry of Works.

He said this was because of unilateral imposition of new standard conditions of contracts by the Minister, contrary to the existing conditions as approved by the Bureau of public procurement (BPP).

According to him, this has affected employment in the industry, leading to mass sack of Nigerian workers who are members of our unions.

Adeyemo said the unions have appealed to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for a form of bail out to the distressed construction sector rather than any form of conflict.

“We call on the federal government to resolve the conflict in the industry by involving all stakeholders in contract awards.

“These are the Bureau of Public procurement (BPP), Ministry of Justice, Ministry of works, Council for Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN), Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), among others.

“We urge the Minister of Works, FOCI and all concerned to amicably resolve the current conflict within 21 days otherwise, the two Unions will be compelled to declare industrial actions in the construction industry.”

The two unions called for an end to banditry, kidnappings and killings that had become so common in the country, urging security agencies to ensure the safety of the members and all Nigerians. NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Angela Atabo

Stakeholders in the engineering sector, have called on the Federal Government to leverage on the Inter-Basin Water Transfer (IBWT) technology to boost food security in Nigeria.

The stakeholders said this at the 4th Engineer Umar Jibrin’s Distinguished Annual Public Lecture with the theme: `Leveraging on Inter-Basin Food Security and Enduring Rural Economics in Nigeria’’.

The lecture was organised by the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers on Thursday in Abuja in honour of Umar Jibrin, a renowned engineer who had contributed immensely to the sector.

According to Prof. Abubakar Sadiq, the guest lecturer, IBWT meant the transfer of water from a surplus area to a scarcity area, like transferring water from areas that usually have flooding due to surplus water to areas like lake Chad that is drying up.

Sadiq who is also the President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN), listed the benefits to IBWT to include: tackling flood, improved crop cultivation resulting in availability of food among others.

“The paper brings out the opportunity Nigeria has, to transfer excess water resources that are becoming a nuisance and resulting in flooding to shortage areas through the IBWT technologies which are being applied by other nations to solve that problem.

“The project has been successfully done in many countries and Nigeria has started developing that concept since 1960 especially to address the issue of Lake Chad which is shrinking.

“This has become the source of the crisis in not only Nigeria, but in the sub regions, which all of us are aware of, in terms of insecurity, biodiversity loss, desertification among others that is making people move from the north to the south.

“Because of that, there is a crisis of resource management, insecurity, displacement of different communities and so on, so we are bringing this to the knowledge of the policymakers that we need to make sure we adopt this technology,” he said.

Abubakar added that the technology when adopted, would be able to recharge the Lake Chad Basin adding that “if we have such opportunity to put water where it’s supposed to be then we can use it to improve our food security in terms of developing the capacity to feed ourselves.’’

The Keynote Speaker, Mr Inuwa Musa, called on the federal government to promote local technologies and key into IBWT technology in the interest of the nation.

“We should look at everything from the perspective of self-interest as a nation and refuse to allow external actors to tell us what is good for Nigeria, because we are the ones who face the problem.

“Clearly, you can see that the shrinking of lake Chad is the root cause of Boko Haram; so cannot continue to look the other way, so the  IBWT  is a win-win solution.

“Since 1995, it’s been predicted that Nigeria cannot feed itself from rainfall alone. The solution is to provide water so that our farmers can continuously produce not just in rainy season.’’

Musa said that was the only way out of poverty and food scarcity.

Mrs Margaret Oguntala, the Chairman of the occasion and President of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), said the event was evidence of the commitment of engineers to advance engineering solutions to address critical issues facing Nigeria.

Oguntala, represented by the Deputy President of NSE, Mr Ali Rabiu, said the technology of water transfer would aid to advance the right value chain aimed at sustainable food security and improve the economy.

“This couldn’t be timelier, it is a fundamental pillar of national stability and prosperity and as engineers, we must strive to address the challenges faced in achieving food security and promoting sustainable economies.’’

The National Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), Mr Virgilus Ezugu, said the event aimed at honouring Umar Jibrin who has mentored younger professionals and inspired many engineers.

“His professional trajectory demonstrates a robust practice that spans all the facets of the profession from technical practice, policy making and management to training and mentoring top class engineers who greatly impacted on national development.’’

Ezugu said the lecture is usually held yearly to address major challenges in the country and the 2024 topic sought to tackle food insecurity and hunger.

He said that the application of engineering and technology in farming and agricultural practice would greatly increase yield and encourage more investment in the critical sector of socio-economic life.

He added that it would also provide the much-needed gainful employment for the teaming youths.

The awardee, Mr Umar Jibrin, a former Executive Secretary of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), commended NICE for finding him worthy of recognition and for organising the lecture to honour him.

“This year’s topic on IBWT and the ripple effect on agriculture, irrigation, food security among others, is the most critical topical issue that we can talk about in this country at the moment.

“We intend that after the lecture, we will also have a technical group that will look at the advantages and recommendations that have been put forward.

“We will now interface with policymakers that are unlikely to come on board to be able to take up this issue that has been thrashed, and then we will see how it can be reflected in our governmental affairs.

“This is to make sure that it is cascaded to a level of implementation processes to help the common man,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has named the Southern Parkway, from National Christian Centre to Ring Road I (Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway), after President Bola Tinubu.

Wike announced the honour during the inauguration the road for public use, in Abuja on Tuesday, as part of activities to celebrate Tinubu’s one year in office.

He said that development of the Southern Parkway, now Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way, at par with the Northern Parkway, was awarded in December 2010 to Setraco Nigeria Ltd. at N16.23 billion.

He added that the cost of the project was later revised to N35.76 billion in March 2021 due to changes in scope and other economic indices.

He explained that the road would provide freeway access and connectivity to the Southern development flank of the city as provided in the Abuja Master Plan.

“I am happy that the project is now completed in line with the “Renewed Hope” agenda of Mr. President, which will enhance traffic circulation around the city centre, thereby, reducing delays in travel time.

“It will also complement the developed portion of the Northern Parkway by easing the traffic congestion experienced in the Southern Districts of Garki, Gudu, and Durumi.

“The road will also accelerate the development of the Southern axis of the city in general, thereby, bringing improved socio-economic benefits to residents and visitors to the city.

“It is in this regard and for many other patriotic persuasions that the FCT Administration hereby humbly resolved that this very important road be named the ‘Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way’,” Wike said.

Earlier, Mr Shehu Ahmed, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Territory said that the road was 5.4 km, made up of two main carriageways of four lanes each, and two service carriageways of two lanes each, making a total of 12 lanes.

“It also includes the construction of four interchanges, with eight bridges in addition to other facilities. It traverses the city centre, linking the outer fringes and inner portions of the city expressways.

“It is expected to optimise vehicular movement between developed sectors in the southern part of the city with the Central Area of the federal capital city,” he said.

While inaugurating the road, the highly elated Tinubu thanked Wike, whom he referred to as ‘landlord’ for the honour.

“I will not say that I am surprised. Nyesom Wike, Mr Project, thank you for giving us this hope, and sincere commitment to shared value.

“Well done; as a team leader, you work so hard and tirelessly.

“The changes you made to the FCT – structural and administrative – are yielding results and elevating the hearts of many Nigerians, thank you very much.

Tinubu further said: “Today, we are here to mark a significant milestone in the journey of our nation towards progress and development.

“Once again, our dear landlord, Wike, thank you for bringing life back to our Federal Capital Territory.

“The completion of the Southern Parkway underscores our commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, as we strive to build a world-class capital city.”

The president said that his administration recognised infrastructure as an enabler of jobs, economic development, and prosperity and expressed confidence of achieving all in no distant time.

He added that the needs of Nigerian citizens were paramount to his administration, “so for making our citizens the central focus of our development, we believe Nigeria will succeed.

“As we formally inaugurated this road, I am greatly honoured, I heard him mentioning my name as the beneficiary.

“Thank you very much. Thank you for being a very good team leader, we all, collectively will not let you down,” Tinubu said. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ejikanmi

By Philip Yatai, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

NSIB recommends review of Dana Air standard operating procedure

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has recommended the review of Dana Air Limited’s training program and standard operating procedures by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)

The Bureau said the review should be done with a view to highlighting Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Threat and Error Management (TEM) as tools in management of abnormal or emergency operations.

This is contained in four incidents and accidents reports and 20 safety recommendations released on Thursday at a virtual news conference.

The news conference was  jointly addressed by NSIB’s Director- General, Capt. Alex Badeh, and Director of Transport Investigation, Mr Abdullahi Babanya

“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should ensure that Dana Air Limited adheres to standard phraseology in communicating indication malfunctions during abnormal or emergency operations.

“ NCAA should ensure Dana Air Limited comply with timely use of Checklist / Quick Reference Handbook particularly at critical phases of flight when dealing with abnormal and emergency situations in line with standard company operating procedures.

” Nigeria Airspace Management Agency should ensure that Air Traffic Controllers always insist on communication of specific malfunctions with standard phraseology, in this instance, the use of `indicated system malfunction…` rather than `gear disagree,” the Bureau recommended.

The recommendations were sequel to preliminary report “on serious incident involving MD-82 aircraft operated by Dana with nationality and registration marks 5N-BKl which occurred at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on April 23.

The preliminary report of the Bureau also revealed how a popular Nollywood actor, Johnpaul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope, and four other Nollywood personalities died on April 10 when their boat capsized in Anam River in Anambra en route to Asaba Jetty.

According to the report,  the boat, which was conveying 12 Nollywood movie production crew and the driver was on high speed when it crashed into a crossing local fishing canoe.

“The speed boat capsized and all occupants were flung into the Anam River.

“Five passengers were fatally injured and seven were rescued alive. The NSIB was not officially notified but got to know about the accident through social media.

“ Investigators from the Enugu Regional office of NSIB were dispatched to the accident site on April, 12, 2024.

“The boat driver was not certified. The fibre boat was not registered with the National Inland Waterways Authority,” the report read.

According to the report, rowdiness in the boat distracted the driver not to look out as required, adding that the boat was on high speed and the crossing canoe was moving at a much slower speed.

It stated that the only occupant of the canoe, on sighting the fast approaching boat, jumped into the river and escaped.

“Five passengers on the boat were fatally injured while the remaining seven passengers and the driver survived the crash. Only one passenger on the outboard engine fibre boat was wearing a life jacket.

“The only passenger wearing a life jacket came with it and was not provided by the operator. The passenger wearing the life jacket was one of the survivors.

“ The boat was fitted with an outboard engine. Rescue operation was not timely and there were no trained divers around to assist in the operation, ” the report read.

The NSIB also released aviation incident final reports of an incident involving Embraer 145 LR Aircraft operated by Air Peace Limited with national and registration marks 5N-BVD which occurred in Kaduna (civil) airport on Jan. 14, 2021.

The second aviation final report was an on-ground collision between a lavatory service truck with fleet number 9/5 operated by Skyway Aviation Handling Co. Plc (SAHCO) and a parked Boeing 737-300 aircraft with national and registration marks 5N-DAB.

According to the report, the incident that occurred on Nov  21, 2021 involved the aircraft owned and operated by Max Air Limited.

Bade said that the publication of the four reports served as a testament to NSIB’s commitment to safety and underscored its mission to prevent similar occurrences in the future. (NAN)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Rotimi Ijikanmi