By John Joseph
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The sitting of the Edo State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) joint transition committee on Tuesday suffered a setback as the APC accused the government of not providing the necessary documents. Hon Patrick Ikhariale, a member of the APC committee, disclosed this to newsmen in Benin City.
Ikhariale, however, added that both parties had agreed to meet once the required information or documents were made available.
He said the APC Transition Committee members had held a series of discussions with the Transition Committee representing the outgoing government.
According to him, the nature of materials that the government team provided did not address any of the issues on the table.
“We have interfaced with the relevant officers of the government, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Joseph Eboigbe, and they agreed with us in October 2024 to provide exactly what we asked for.
“Because what they have supplied us so far has not addressed the issues in any substantial way, and we had expected that this would be resolved by this morning.
“We also had a meaningful and strong discussion. We need a set of documents that will address the issues we have raised, and that is where we are.
“We also agreed that today (Tuesday) Eboigbe has to discuss with His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, and get back to us.
“And in any case, the information or documents we are asking for are in line with global best practices; we are not asking for anything out of the ordinary. So, it is on record that we have done the needful.
“As we speak, a letter has been sent to them, and we do hope that what we have discussed and agreed upon as of Monday will be executed so that we can progress and hold the joint meetings we are supposed to have,” he said.
He added that the governor-elect’s transition team is waiting for the Secretary to the State Government, Eboigbe, to reach out to the governor.
He stated that the SSG knows the next line of action to take regarding how and when they would provide the APC team with the necessary documents.
Ikhariale explained that the incoming governor-elect’s committee also urged the outgoing government’s team to provide whatever document or information they have at least 24 hours before their meeting.
He opined that this would enable them to review the documents, peruse them, and have an informed position on what to discuss, so they wouldn’t go to the meeting and discuss irrelevant matters.
He added that these demands were what the parties had agreed upon.
“Hopefully, if today or tomorrow we get the required information and documents, we will reconvene and do the needful,” he added. Last Friday, during the inauguration of the joint committee, Dr. Pius Odubu, the former Deputy Governor of the State and chairman of the APC committee, called on the outgoing government not to hide any documents from them.
Odubu emphasised that the documents would enable the incoming government to hit the ground running.
Speaking with journalists in Benin City, Secretary of the APC Transition Committee, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale, confirmed that both parties had agreed to meet when the required information or documents were provided.
Meanwhile, the Governor Obaseki transition committee alleged that the APC team shunned Tuesday’s (October 22, 2024) joint sitting.
“At 8:00 am on Tuesday, 22nd October 2024, members of the Obaseki-led State Government team started arriving at the venue for the meeting alongside the Committee Chairman, Secretary to Edo State Government, Mr Joseph Eboigbe.
“The government team and journalists waited patiently for the arrival of members of the APC’s transition committee, who never showed up. Even after 1:00 pm, they had not arrived, and the government team left the
Nigeria requires an estimated $3 trillion in the next 30 years to close the infrastructure gap and achieve the level of development necessary for sustained economic growth, according to Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Tajudeen highlighted the urgent need for investments in key sectors, including roads, power, housing, healthcare, and education.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony for the construction of an access road from Ring Road 1 to Judges’ Quarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Tajudeen emphasized the significance of addressing the country’s infrastructure challenges. He noted that Abuja, in particular, faces a growing infrastructure deficit, with its population increasing at an annual rate of 5%.
Represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Tajudeen commended the efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in tackling infrastructure issues. He pointed to the government’s launch of the National Infrastructure Plan, which focuses on major areas such as road construction, rail expansion, power generation, and housing development. Among the key projects, Tajudeen mentioned the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge, both of which have enhanced trade and connectivity between regions.
In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has also made significant strides in improving infrastructure, according to Tajudeen. The speaker praised Wike for initiating several projects to meet the critical needs of the city’s expanding population.
He highlighted the minister’s efforts in road construction, urban renewal, and environmental sustainability as examples of a clear vision for transforming Abuja into a world-class city. Tajudeen noted that ongoing projects, such as the rehabilitation of major roads and the removal of illegal structures, are part of Wike’s commitment to making Abuja not only a beautiful city but also a functional and efficient one.
These initiatives, Tajudeen concluded, demonstrate the government’s determination to close the infrastructure gap and lay a solid foundation for Nigeria’s long-term growth and development. What want is this venue,” they started.
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