Gunmen Kidnap Plateau NUJ Chairman

A former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Plateau state, Kapdaba Gobum, was abducted by suspected kidnappers.  He was allegedly kidnapped on Tuesday night.  This happened after he left the Press Centre, headed for his house in the Bukuru area of Jos South. Former General Manager of the Plateau Publishing and Printing Company (PPPC), Jonathan Ishaku, and the immediate past chairman of NUJ, Paul Jatau, have confirmed the incident.  Ishaku mentioned, “But early this morning (Thursday), the kidnappers called his wife and demanded N35 million.” Jatau expressed surprise at this development and wondered why journalists should be victims of kidnapping.  The former NUJ chairman recently retired as a senior editor with the Nigerian Standard, published by the PPPC.

Tinubu Appoints Imam, Agbasi As Chairman, MD Of FERMA

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the Governing Board and Management of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). A statement by Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said this was for a renewable term of four years, in accordance with Section 2(3) of the FERMA Amendment Act, 2007 The board members are: Chairman of FERMA Board — Engr. Imam Ibrahim Kashim Imam Managing Director of FERMA — Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi Member (NARTO) — Yusuf Lawal Othman Member (FMW) — Engr. Ibi Terna Manasseh Member (FRSC) — ACM Shehu Mohammed Member (Finance) — Babatunde Daramola-Oniru Member (South-South) — Hon. Preye Oseke Member (South-West) — Hon. Oye Ojobe Member (South-East) — Dr Kenneth Ugbala Member (North-Central) — Sen. Timothy Adudu Member (North-East) — Engr. Abubakar Bappa Member (North-West) — Aminu Adamu Papa The president urged the new appointees to continue to uphold effective and efficient service delivery in the agency. He said that the agency was set to play a central role in the sustainable health of growth-enabling infrastructure nationwide.

Bwari Council To Commence Rehabilitation Of Township Roads -Chairman 

The Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Mr John Gabaya, has said the council is set to commence rehabilitation of township roads and other construction projects. Gabaya said this in his remarks at the Bid Opening for Critical Projects event on Friday in Bwari, Abuja. The chairman, represented by the council’s Vice Chairman, Mr Aminu Musa, said that companies that would be awarded the contract would be expected to commence work immediately. “There are nine projects in the contract, which are: purchase of a brand-new Toyota Corolla salon car for the office of the Council’s Legislative Speaker. “Reconstruction of Bwari township road from the T-junction to the National Defense College, Ushafa and the purchase of a new Toyota Hiace bus for the council staff. “The construction of public toilets within the council secretariat and fencing, landscaping of the old abattoir building in Bwari town. “Reconstruction of asphalt overlay from Dutse-Alhaji-Koro Road to Dutse- power line road, and construction of asphalt overlay at old Bwari-Zuma Road from Sarkin Bwari’s palace roundabout to Water Board/ Zuma roundabout,’’ Gabaya said. Others, he mentioned are the construction of asphalt overlay of the road from the council secretariat gate to Briton Woods Hotel and Resort in Bwari town and the construction of asphalt overlay of Gaba-Shere-Kawu road, Phase 2. Gabaya said that all the roads would include the construction of concrete drainage. Speaking, the Council Secretary, Mr Eli Kadanya, said that the bids were already advertised in two daily newspapers on Aug. 3, in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007. Kadanya said that interested companies must tender evidence of certificate of incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). He added that the companies must also have evidence of their income tax clearance certificate for the last three years, valid till Dec. 31, among other basic requirements. The secretary also noted that bidders were not expected to bid for more than two slots as violators would be disqualified from all the lots. He noted that the council is not bound to pre-qualify or shortlist any bidder and reserved the right to annul the procurement process at any time. Kadanya said this is without incurring any liabilities in accordance with section 28 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007. Mr Peter Kadanya, a representative of the Area Council Secretariat, FCT, who observed the process, commended the council for a well-planned procedure. He advised that in the future, the bids should be sorted out according to their lots for easy and seamless process. Representative of various companies, Heads of Departments of the council, Supervisory councilors and staff of the council attended the event.