Minsters yesterday settled down business at their respective ministries. They charged civil servants to align with the Tinubu administration’s agenda for reforms and speedy implementation of government’s programmes.
The ministers, who unveiled their priorities, also set the tone for reforms, which they directed the workers to embrace for optimum efficiency.
It was their second day in office after their inauguration at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by President Bola Tinubu, who mandated them to perform and be ready to be held accountable for their actions.
Road design, contract awards for review, says Umahi
Works Minister Dave Umahi yesterday kick-started visited ongoing project sites with Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.
He called for concrete road construction for durability.
He, however, stated all the projects cannot be taken at the same time.
Umahi said: “If we have 100km of road, let us face it. For me, no project should run beyond two years so we can make adequate funding of the phase in the first two years of our budgeting.”
The minister, who was accompanied by Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, also said there will be a review and redesign of the road contract.
He urged the contractors to use concrete on all Nigerian roads, and promised to deliver concrete roads across the country, saying they are more durable, and can last 50 years as well as maintenance free.
“By the grace of God, the ministries have pledged to work with all the contractors. We must also create opportunities, we must also be ready to accept bureau changes and have studied the goods at face enormous challenges.
“Mr. President is also aware of all the challenges. Is like a woman that is in pain while giving birth once she sees the child all the pains will be forgotten, Asiwaju is giving birth to a new Nigeria so he will experience labor pains.
“So, Nigerians should understand that Mr, president here is the blessings of God so anybody that didn’t know now should begin to know.
“All we need to do is to change our ways of index. If we are making 100 percent profit in a project that will last 20 years while don’t you make a smaller percentage in a project that should last for 50 years and less maintenance,” he stressed.
On his part, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello stated that fixing roads is better than giving palliatives.
He also gave a marching order to contractors handling federal projects.
Those mobilised but failed to do any work should refund such funds to the ministry.
According to him, public funds must be used for public purpose and not to be kept in accounts of contractors.
He said that those contractors who for one excuse or the other did not do their jobs should refund the ministry of such money
“Those contractors who could not do any job for security reasons or any other reason should refund the money to the government.”
Wike to directors: perform or seek redeployment
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, advised directors in FCT Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), to seek redeployment if they cannot perform in their various offices.
The minister, who said the directors should not see him as a difficult person, urged them to work without fear or favour to get the desired results.
Wike said he will like to fix Abuja by implementing its master plan, adding that he will quickly tackle the challenges revolving around the traffic light, sanitation, street trading, transportation, insecurity
He said: “We are here to deliver the short term deliverables for people to see that Abuja is coming back to what it was supposed to be.
“People are complaining of street lights not working, I am complaining too… we must fix it within the shortest possible time.”
He charged the director in charge of street lights to do everything possible in the shortest possible time to restore lights on the streets of Abuja.
On sanitation, Wike said Abuja must be a clean city.
Turning to the director in charge of sanitation, the minister charged him to work harder.
He said he will make the director develop high blood pressure on account of the job as he would not give him time to rest.
Wike stressed: “You must be ready to work hard, I must make sure I give you BP, so you must work hard. You can’t be sleeping when the environment is dirty.
“You can’t be director for nothing. It is an opportunity for us to tell Nigerians and Mr. President that we can can’t disappoint. If you are in charge of sanitation, buy your drugs, carry it all the time because I will disturb you all the time to make sure Abuja is clean.”
On transportation, Wike said: “Wahala don come,” decrying the indiscriminate and illegal bus stops in Abuja.
He said: “I have respect, small, for women, but this one I will not. If you don’t have the capacity, let’s replace you now. On this job, people will not like you, but in the end, if you do it well you will be appreciated. Things are tough, yes, but we cannot live in a lawless society because things are tough”.
The minister said street trading would be a thing of the past, adding that insecurity would be tacked with all seriousness.
Wike reiterated his resolved to deal with illegal structures, shanties and other illegalities.
He said after the short term quick fixes, he would embarked development projects.
The former Rivers governor added: “There will be no abandon projects in my time, there will be the money down before we start any project, we will make a difference. We are committed to achieve what Mr. President promised Nigerians.”
Minister of State Dr. Mariya Mahmoud urged the workers to support them in their bid to develop the city.
Badaru to service chiefs: set timeline to end terror
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, who met with service chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), at the ministry, directed them to set the timeline and highlight the requirements for ending terrorism.
He said those in charge of the security architecture under President Tinubu cannot afford to fail Nigerians.
On the need for a timeline, Badaru said: “This timeline and target will be passed on to the President and trust me, he will be monitoring us and he doesn’t have the patience to work with lazy people.
“So, all our jobs are at stake if don’t deliver; and indeed we have to deliver for our people, we have to deliver for the country.
“The President is a goal setter; he is an achiever and a thinker. So, if you think we are going to joke with this, we’ll all be deceiving ourselves.
“The President is a macro manager and he will be on our necks to deliver. I will do the same, and as time goes on, you see that I engage you as a group, and as an individual.
“I think this is where the service chiefs will forgive me if I cross the command channel. We have to get things done.
He added: ”The trust that is reposed in the two of us by Mr. President and indeed, the Service chiefs, cannot be betrayed. We have to deliver for the sake of our country.
“We know without security, there will be no investment and without investment, there will be no economic growth. Even, our food security is threatened when farmers can’t go to their farms.
“The President is ready to give us all the support to do this. So, from now on, I want the service chiefs to give me a timeline and their requirements on how we’ll begin to solve these problems one by one.”
The minister said him ministry would begin a monthly meeting with heads of other security agencies and their ministers as part of synergy with other agencies.
Such synergy, the minister noted, will put the agencies on the same page in their collective search for solutions to terror.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mattawalle, noted that the herculean task ahead can be achieved with the support of Nigerians and dedication by the military.
Matawalle said: “Our armed forces must be modernized and strengthened through investments in advanced weaponry, intelligence gathering capabilities, surveillance systems, and cyber defence infrastructure. We will work closely with international partners to acquire cutting-edge technology and expertise that will enhance our defence capabilities.”
CDS Gen. Christopher Musa, promised to give the ministers maximum support.
Nnaji: clear funds before approval
The Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Uche Nnaji, said approval of funds will require clearance from his office.
He also said decisions must align with the administration’s goals of optimising resources for projects to deliver tangible outcomes.
Nnaji said the ministry should innovate and not to merely follow routines.
His words: “Let us be result-oriented, proactive, and enthusiastic. Our leadership in innovation will contribute to the prosperity of our great nation.
“Immediate approval of funds will require clearance from the minister’s office. Decisions must align with our goals, optimising resources for projects that deliver tangible outcomes.
“Strong collaboration between the ministry and agencies is vital. Let’s unite and work together for shared objectives through effective communication.
“We are here to innovate, not to merely follow routines. Our swift and inventive actions will define us as a ministry driven by innovation.”
I will demand accountability, says Geidam
Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Geidam, who met with ministry officials, charged them to embrace innovations and new ideas that would drive positive changes in policing.
He called for unity, collaboration, and cooperation in the course of maintaining law and order, safeguarding the rights of citizens and upholding justice.
Geidam said: “We must work hand in hand and draw upon our collective expertise and experience. Through our collective efforts, we can effect positive change in the police ecosystem.”
The Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, called for team spirit between ministers and workers.
‘Electric vehicles will ease movement’
Transportation Minister Said Alkali promised to procure electric vehicles to ease transportation problems confronting Nigerians.
He said their procurement will reduce the cost of transportation arising from fuel subsidy removal.
Alkali, who addressed workers, said: “I am going to ensure that the mass transit system is effective and put in place. The agenda of Mr. President is Renewed Hope and we will make sure that with the removal of fuel subsidy, we have an effective mass transit system and see how we can procure electric vehicles so that at least the cost of transportation with even the mass transit system is reviewed downward across the country.”
The minister also promised to rehabilitate the rail transport to make the sub-sector more efficient.
He added: “I will under the careful study of prevailing economic trends, undertake the provision, modernization, rehabilitation, planning, and development of the rail transport sector with efficient security services to support the realization of the primary purpose of government.
“This initiative will no doubt maximize the potentials embodied in the recent constitutional alterations that moved rail transport services from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. It will also reduce the frequent menace on our roads characterized by accidents, kidnappings, and armed robbery.”
‘No room for passports scarcity, porous borders’
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said there will be an end to scarcity of international passports and porous borders.
He promised to reposition Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), charging its officials to live to expectation.
Tunji-Ojo, who addressed reporters, said NIS should remove all passport processing-related bottlenecks.
At the briefing were Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS, Haliru Nababa; Controller General of the Federal Fire Service FFS, Abudulganiyu Jaji and Acting Comptroller General of the NIS, Mrs. Caroline Wuraola-Adepoju.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade, directors as well as the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Correctional Services Board, Ja’afaru Ahmed were also in attendance.
Tunji-Ojo said: “We have to look at the Services, look at the bottlenecks and unbundle those bottlenecks. Immigration service, you have a lot to do.
“We need to secure our borders and deploy modern technology to ensure that all our land, air and sea borders are secure. I assure Nigerians that we are not going to disappoint them.
“NIS, the whole issue of passport delays and bottlenecks must be tackled. Nigerians, including those in diaspora must be treated with respect in all our passport offices.
“Foreigners should be able to come to Nigeria based on merit. It can no longer be business as usual. And so there is no work without timelines. There must be timelines and key performance indicators because responsibility without accountability is irresponsibility.
“For the Federal Fire Service, the response time, we are going to look into that. I know you have your challenges, but I am going to work with you to tackle them. Fire is a serious disaster and we need to optimize our processes.
“The Nigeria Correctional Service, we must work with critical stakeholders on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. We have to look at how to decongest the custodial centres and effectively integrate ex-convicts back into the society. Our custodial centres must become places of hope.
“As for the NSCDC, you are doing fantastically well. I have read a lot about you and your contributions to the protection of Critical National Assets.
“I am telling the Service chiefs that average is not good. Even better is not good enough. The best is what we want. You need to go back and strategize on key reforms that must be undertaken in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We will bring transparency and national interest to the front burner. I want to be your friend to the extent that you understand your responsibilities. Where we draw the line is when you slack.”
My ministry will unlock economic potentials, Bagudu assures
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, pledged to unlock the economic potential of the country, using the Ministry’s available resources.
He said the Social Protection Policy would be given special attention to alleviate poverty and create improved conditions of life.
The minister said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) would “develop a clear measurable road map to a re-alignment of the National Statistical System (NSS) to achieve sector targets and SDG milestones.”
Bagudu said: “I will work meticulously to leverage on the enormous human resources of the Ministry, its parastatals, agencies and partners, to unlock economic potentials of our country and achieve the noble agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”
