[size=18pt]APGA faults Jonathan, Okonjo-Iweala on Niger Bridge, erosion in S-East[/size]


On September 5, 2012 · In News
1:00 am





By Tony Edike

ENUGU—THE All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, yesterday, faulted recent statements by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister for Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha and different erosion menaces in the South East states would be financed through concessional agreement and loans, respectively.

The party said that President Jonathan’s plan to construct the Onitsha Bridge through concession meant that his administration has not made any financial commitment to the project, more so when the concessioner is expected to recover the money invested in the project through toll gates that would be erected at entry points of the Onitsha and Asaba cities.

National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, who spoke in an interview with newsmen at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu shortly on his return from England, also disagreed with some Igbo personalities who recently pledged their support for President Jonathan’s second term, if he eventually chooses to contest, saying he can not see any reason why the Igbo should not produce the president of the country in 2015.

“I know that the yearning of our people is to produce a President for this country at the highest level. If there is any reason why the Igbo should not produce President for this country in 2015, it is not by jumping the gun and making noise. If we have the opportunity in 2015, we shall take it,” he said while reacting to the endorsement of Jonathan’s second term proposal by the group which meeting with Jonathan was allegedly facilitated by Governor Peter Obi.

Umeh said he was out of Nigeria when President Jonathan visited Anambra State last week where the President disclosed that the second Niger bridge would be constructed through concession saying that with such arrangement President Jonathan has not redeemed his campaign pledge to Ndigbo since the people using the bridge would after all pay for the construction through toll fees.

The APGA Chairman also recalled a similar statement by the Minister for Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that the government would remedy the different erosion sites in the zone through a secured $450m loan and wondered who would be responsible for re-paying the loan.

According, to him, it would be disastrous if the states in south east are made to pay back the loan in a long term since the zone is financially bankrupt.

“It is cheering news that construction work at the second Niger bridge will commence in March 2013 but I was very worried that the second Niger bridge will be concessional to an international development Consulting that will construct it and what this that the company will bring the fund and it will be expected to recover its funds.

What that means is that the Federal Government is not part of the financing plan for the construction and that is why I am worried. It means that after the construction, tool gates will be mounted in Onitsha-Asaba Onitsha-Owerri roads and maybe Ontisha-Enugu road ends and our people will be paying for it.

“I also see a twin issue where the Minister of Finance was quoted to have said that about four

hundred and fifty million dollars loan has been negotiated for fighting erosion in the south east. She said it will have a ten year moratorium when there will be retirement, it will be interest free, then the loan will be repaid under 40 years. What this means is that federal government will bring the money for the south east to fight erosion but what is not clear is if it is the Federal Government that will pay back this money or the states in the south east.’’

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/apga-faults-jonathan-okonjo-iweala-on-niger-bridge-erosion-menace-in-s-east/

Jonathan is on his on!

Victor Umeh is on point here. Who I don't get is Peter Obi? Why is he running around making commitment that does not serve the interest of the zone. First conceding the 2015 Presidency to GEJ (with that Arthur Eze fellow) without any serious consultation with other stakeholder, and now the Onitsha bridge issue. If it was an issue of concession, the Bridge would have been build by now, so that's not the point. The Bridge is a major link between the zone and other zones, the FG must see it as her responsibility, and should use taxpayers money to build it.

As per using loan to fund erosion control in SE, well that's fine, provide FG doesn't pass the bulk. Disasters management on such scale falls into the purview of the FG. Let them deal with it!

Victor Umeh has raised some very valid issues here. To think that i thought that the second Niger bridge will be funded by the FG. Why did we vote in Jonathan again?

geeez: Someone should tell me why Anambra and Delta states have not come together to execute this perennial project called the 2nd Niger Bridge. Can it be as expensive as Uncle Fashola's Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Its all about vision. Give it to the Yaribas anyday

That Fashola did it doesn't mean everyone should. It's a federal property and so, it should be done bu the FG. Anambra and Delta state have a lot of things on their hands at the moment.

afam4eva:
That Fashola did it doesn't mean everyone should. It's a federal property and so, it should be done bu the FG. Anambra and Delta state have a lot of things on their hands at the moment.

So its Fashola who governs a state with 10% of Nigeria's population and controls 60% of Nigeria's economy that doesn't have a lot of things in his hands at the moment? Mention one challenge Delta and Anambra have and I will list four that Lagos has to tackle. And what makes you think the Lagos Badagry Expressway is not the FG's? I know you hate to hear it but its the Yoruba way of doing things. Dig into history and see what Awolowo made of the Western region and you'll come to realize what I mean ..

geeez:

So its Fashola who governs a state with 10% of Nigeria's population and controls 60% of Nigeria's economy that doesn't have a lot of things in his hands at the moment? Mention one challenge Delta and Anambra have and I will list four that Lagos has to tackle. And what makes you think the Lagos Badagry Expressway is not the FG's?

And who says Lagos-Badagry is not a federal road? If Fashola repaired does it mean every state government must spend their money on what's the duty of the federal government? If they dio it, what will now be the job of the federal government as it pertains to roads? I still maintain that there are many issues that are left to be resolved by these states.

afam4eva:
And who says Lagos-Badagry is not a federal road? If Fashola repaired does it mean every state government must spend their money on what's the duty of the federal government? If they dio it, what will now be the job of the federal government as it pertains to roads? I still maintain that there are many issues that are left to be resolved by these states.

Okay keep waiting for the FG, your sixteen lane 2nd Niger bridge with Express Rail tracks will be delivered to you shortly..

geeez:

Okay keep waiting for the FG, your sixteen lane 2nd Niger bridge with Express Rail tracks will be delivered to you shortly

If they refuse to do it, then it means they've failed in their duty. Anambra and Delta state will only fund the project if they become more financially buoyant.

afam4eva:
If they refuse to do it, then it means they've failed in their duty. Anambra and Delta state will only fund the project if they become more financially buoyant.

Delta state's revenue (not IGR) is the 3rd highest in Nigeria. In government, you must look at the economic importance and viability of a project. Just means this project means nothing to them. Why is the Osun state government contemplating a rail line to Lagos that will transport farm produce?

FG with the lion share of the money should take Lion share of responsibility.

Victor umeh,thank you very much for speaking the mind of millions of igbos,we are really getting there,a point where the leaders and the people are singing the same music. Shame on peter obi and arthur eze.

If it has gotten to a point where we have to pay for any assistance/project the FG does for us,while other regions get them for free,then what's the point of being in this union.

The GEJ experiment is a failure so far,and i don't see it becoming a success, Ohanaeze and other igbo leaders must shoulder the blame for this,and should keep working on a better deal for 2015. At the rate things are going, come 2015,we might have a little suprise package for mr azikiwe ebele.

This GEJ administration is just too lazy and two faced for my liking

geeez: Someone should tell me why Anambra and Delta states have not come together to execute this perennial project called the 2nd Niger Bridge. Can it be as expensive as Uncle Fashola's Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Its all about vision. Give it to the Yaribas anyday

Why compare things?

Na today! we all know that the president hate SE to the core,upon all his campaign promises not even a single project were awarded to SE and some of our people still want to vote him the second time?
As for me,I will not vote for a heartless person the second time.

What a roach. "I will go on exile if i don't complete the 2nd Niger Bridge within my tenure". Tenure, gini? Wetin tenure? O na this term you are in now? If not, prepare to go on exile now. B@stard.

It's only a foolish Igboman that will be here defending GEJ. Speak all the big grammar you can, it does not change the fact that he is useless for us.

I will not demonise him for now (for reasons known to me) but I'll not defend him either. Let his administration just pass as quickly as it came, we'll all be back to square one, nothing for Southern Nigeria.

what then will the administration do for the people - its not Ebele's fault shebi dis same APGA endorsed him in 2011; no wahala na una endorsed the shoeless

jonathan has done nothing for us except window dressing
he is afraid to do anything for us
we should stop supporting him