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EDITORIAL: AWAY WITH FAULTY GOVERNMENT POLICIES!

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The report came like a bolt: N2.3 billion compensation fund meant for dualization of Section IV of East West road in the Delta region was allegedly diverted by Ex-Minister, Godsday Orubebe and three others!  The money was meant to be released to Messrs Gitto Construzioni for “further release” to “appointed Consultants” for disbursement to unnamed “beneficiaries” which Messrs Gitto Construzioni Generali Nig. Ltd failed to do.  One Joseph Gande, an official of the Federal Ministry of Works was supposed to have monitored the disbursement – something he also failed to do!  As a result, that road remains uncompleted till this day.  At an Abuja based High Court, only a case marked in charge sheet CR/265/2016 the only reminder of such a grievous crime!  Several billions poured into this same East-West road have also gone the same way with no punitive measure taken.

Now the Federal Government, through the Special Social Intervention Scheme is planning to disburse N5, 000 each for the unemployed, in a scheme which is supposed to see each State register 1,500 persons.  According to Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the project is meant to build “a generation of Nigerians with creative thinking”.  The total cost is expected to run into billions when finally computed, but political observers fear this might again end up in private pockets.

Nevertheless, laudable as this programme is, it would have been better for the Federal authorities to plough this same resources into tangible projects like the completion of the Okene-Okpella road, that would leave lasting impressions on generations of Nigerians to come rather than this almost certain “phantom” project!  Memories of the rape of SURE-P and the Intervention or bailout funds --however they called--cannot easily be wished away!  Don’t forget the savagery with which “concerned officials”, whom Nigerians had placed so much hope on had squandered a staggering $15 billion meant to prosecute insurgency –that had claimed so much lives!  Those darkened officials, sublime in forgery, are still parading the streets – free!

Therefore, armed with this kind of ugly reputation, it is unwise for any Government much less the Buhari led administration to embark on yet another wild goose chase.  Nowhere else would that hefty amount been more utilized than in completion of vital road projects.  This ought to be their priority – not the planned petty cash disbursement that is bound to go the way of others!


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