BUHARI’S GOVERNMENT HAS DONE MORE FOR THE SOUTH-EAST THAN ANY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION – NGIGE

Reporter : ALFRED AJAYI

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, says the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is doing so much with its lean coffers, due to its determination to make governance work for the people.

The Minister, who featured on a special edition of Forum, the Radio Nigeria Purity FM, Awka Audience Participatory programme, disclosed that the feats already achieved by the administration, especially in infrastructural development, were due to its intolerance for corruption and wasteful spendings.

Dr Ngige, who was discussing Federal Government projects in Anambra State and South East Region, expressed satisfaction with the speedy pace of work on the second Niger Bridge, being constructed by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

He also appreciated the quality of work done by the contractor, who he noted, had promised to deliver the project earlier than the initial deadline of December 2022.

“If you see the flyovers that are going to cast over Onitsha, some will drop at Ozubulu, some will drop at Nkwelle, some will go through Obosi so that you don’t entre Onitsha city. On the other side of the bridge in Asaba, it is the same thing. You won’t need to go into Asaba. These are benefits of this administration. Many administration had come and gone despite the promises made to us. only this administration is making good most of its promises to the people of the country”.

The Minister assured that the on-going work on some portions of Enugu-Onitsha expressway would continue until the whole length of the road is reconstructed.

He noted that despite the dwindling economic fortunes and revenue generation, the present administration has kept its promise to develop critical infrastructure across the country.

Dr Ngige explained that the decision of the Federal Government to take loans is primarily to fund infrastructural development, which in turn would among other things create employment for the people.

Reacting to a question on insecurity across the country, the Minister blamed it on unplanned economy, unemployment and low level of productivity among the citizens.

“This insecurity is as a result of lack of job. People are looking for other jobs and they have gone into criminality such as kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and it is paying them. They kidnap people for ransom. Kidnapping started all in the south here and went up north. Another reason is loss of job and income gave rise to terrorism”.
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Dr Ngige described the on-going registration and revalidation of membership by the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a move in the right direction, which is also in line with the constitution of the party.

A caller from Ogidi, Nnamdi, called on the Federal Government to pay attention to the security situation in the country, which he noted is getting out of hand.

“The Minister has spoken at length about the achievements of the Buhari administration. But there is still one area that I will like him to react to and that is insecurity. What is the APC government doing about it, because Nigerians are not really happy”.

Chief Mathias Ameke from Mmiata-Anam, called for an executive order directing the state government to conduct elections into local government to be able to fight insecurity effectively.

“Isn’t it possible for the President to sign an executive order compelling the Governors to conduct elections into local governments otherwise there will be penalties? The fight against insecurity becomes a mirage if the people are not leaders elected by them at the local government level”.

Peter Maduka from Awka appreciated what had been on Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and called on the government to ensure it is not abandoned.