Niger Delta
Asaba Airport: Ministry Withholds Contract Payment
The Delta Commissioner for Works, Chief Funkekeme Solomon, has withheld approval of payment for job done at the Asaba airport until after an inspection of the project.
Similarly, his counterpart in Basic and Secondary Education Ministry, Prof. Patrick Muobaghare, has said that the ministry will not pay for any project awarded by it unless approved by officials involved in the contract.
In separate interviews with the Newsmen in Asaba, both commissioners insisted that they must undertake an inspection of projects under their respective ministries before deciding on whether to pay or not.
Solomon said: “Imagine, somebody just brought what he called a warrant for payment of part of the airport contract sum and wanted to lure me into signing it without furnishing me with details of the job.
“Of course, I turned it down and asked the fellow to go away with the warrant. I also insisted on seeing the job and the file.
“One other contractor even called me on telephone querying why I refused to sign his warrant but I stressed that I must inspect every project before approving payment.”
The commissioner, who is barely two months old at the ministry, said he had observed that the state government paid for some shoddy jobs in the past through the manipulations of contractors and declared that “that was before, it cannot happen again.’’
According to him, gone are the days when contractors are paid for jobs not properly done or not done at all.
“This time, contractors who are not serious will not be paid and will be blacklisted.”
Solomon said that the ministry had set the machinery for due process in all its contractual dealings and warned that any official of the ministry found compromising government regulations would be sanctioned.
On his part, Muobaghare particularly frowned at an examination hall project at Illah Grammar School in Oshimili North council area and said that the government would not pay the contractor.
“I understand that a former member of the House of Assembly handled the job but the truth is that it is a very shoddy job and we will not pay for it,” he said.
He said that schools in the state were littered with uncompleted and badly completed jobs, which the contractors had been paid for and declared that he was going to wage a “moral war” against unscrupulous contractors.
The commissioner warned that he would hold any official of the ministry responsible for any job the state government would pay for in error, saying: “I say this because we know that civil servants connive in contract processes”.
According to him, any job awarded by the Ministry of Education will not be paid for unless a letter is received from principals and Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs) in any school or area where the project is sited.
“Anyway, even with the letter from our officials confirming the job as having been completed and well done, I will still go and see it before we will approve payment.”
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.