By Abel Leonard

LAFIA — The Social Sports Club, Lafia, has extended warm congratulations to one of its distinguished members, Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim, following his recent appointment as Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) by Governor Abdullahi Sule.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the club, Dr. Abdulquadri Idrisu and made available to journalists on Saturday, described the appointment as “well-deserved” and a reflection of Dr. Kassim’s dedication to public service and educational development.

“We are extremely proud of our own, Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim, on his appointment as Chairman of NSUBEB. His leadership qualities and track record of commitment to service make him a perfect fit for this critical role,” Dr. Idrisu said.

The chairman expressed confidence that Dr. Kassim would bring excellence and purposeful leadership to the board, which plays a vital role in shaping the future of basic education in Nasarawa State.

“Dr. Kassim has always shown a deep passion for human capital development. We believe he will bring the same energy and vision to NSUBEB to improve access and quality of education at the foundational level,” he added.

Dr. Idrisu further noted that the Social Sports Club, Lafia, remains supportive of its members in their various endeavors and will continue to celebrate excellence in public and private service.

The club, known for its blend of social bonding and community development, emphasized that the appointment of Dr. Kassim has brought pride not only to the club but to the entire Lafia community.

The United States has revoked all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and suspended the issuance of new visas. This measure responds to South Sudan’s failure to accept the repatriation of its citizens expelled from the U.S. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the transitional government in Juba is “taking advantage of the United States” by not cooperating with international obligations to accept the return of its nationals. He emphasized that every country must accept the timely return of its citizens when another nation seeks to remove them. The U.S. is prepared to review these actions once South Sudan demonstrates full cooperation.

This decision marks the first instance of the current administration, under President Donald Trump, targeting all passport holders from a specific country since Trump’s return to office on January 20. The move aligns with the administration’s broader efforts to enforce stricter immigration policies.

South Sudan, the world’s newest and one of its poorest countries, has been experiencing heightened political tensions. Observers fear a potential return to civil war, reminiscent of the conflict that resulted in 400,000 deaths between 2013 and 2018.

Previously, South Sudanese nationals had been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by the administration of former President Joe Biden, with the designation set to expire on May 3, 2025. The Department of Homeland Security reported that approximately 133 South Sudanese were in the United States under the TPS program, with another 140 eligible to apply. However, the current administration has begun overturning TPS designations, including revoking protection from more than 600,000 Venezuelans in January.

This action against South Sudanese nationals also follows an increase in the number of Africans attempting to enter the U.S. via its southern border, seeking alternatives to perilous routes into Europe.

The Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Investigative Council has released a statement responding to the allegations of poor construction of the Abariba-Ohafia to Ndi Okoroc Road in Abia North Senatorial District, Abia State.

This statement, signed by the council’s convener, Comrade Nelson Ossaieze, was made available to newsmen on Tuesday following an investigation prompted by an online protest from Tochukwu Ogbuagu, an indigene of the area and a social media influencer with Kepukepu TV.

Ogbuagu, using video evidence, accused Swiber Africa Limited, the contractor responsible for the road construction, of substandard work, particularly in the extended section of the road. His video showing what appeared to be shoddy construction practices and the poor state of the road gained significant public attention, prompting the CSO Investigative Council to conduct an independent assessment.

According to the CSO Investigative Council, the road project was initially awarded for a 600-meter stretch, with a budget of ₦250 million. The project was funded as a constituency initiative by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, with the scope including the construction of the road and the installation of two side drains. This initial phase of the project, the council confirmed, was completed according to specifications and in compliance with the outlined bill of quantities. No major issues were raised concerning the original 600-meter stretch.

However, following the completion of the initial phase, the community, including traditional leaders, petitioned Senator Kalu to extend the road by an additional 400 meters. Responding to this request, Senator Kalu according to report, generously funded the extension with an additional ₦52 million, which was paid directly to Swiber Africa Limited. The council’s further revealed that the portion of the road funded for extension was the focus of the controversy, where concerns over poor construction were raised.

They also noted that while the original 600 meters were constructed to the prescribed standards, the extended section exhibited signs of premature wear and tear. The extended 400-meter stretch showed inadequate road layering and drainage issues, leading to the road deteriorating at a much faster rate than expected. These findings were corroborated with local feedback, as residents noted issues such as pooling water and visible cracks along the newly constructed stretch.

In its statement, the CSO Investigative Council stressed that the deficiencies observed were primarily in the extension, which was managed and funded separately by Senator Kalu, and was not part of the original contract monitored by the Federal Cooperative College Oji River, which had oversight responsibility for the initial project. The council confirmed that the college had no involvement in overseeing the extension works, thereby absolving them of any responsibility for the alleged deficiencies.

It however, called on Swiber Africa Limited to address the substandard work done on the extended section, urging the contractor to carry out urgent remediation work while recommending resurfacing the road, reinforcing its layers, and improving the drainage system to meet the required engineering specifications.

The Council stressing the need for a thorough investigation before publicizing such issues, urged Senator Kalu to work with the contractor to address problems in the extension, ensuring its quality matches the original project.

Furthermore, the council commend the Federal Cooperative College Oji River for its commitment to transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects. They emphasized the need for more support for independent oversight and called for future constituency projects to include more robust monitoring mechanisms to prevent similar issues.

Finally the council reaffirmed that, while the original project met expectations, the extension funded by Senator Kalu needed to be reviewed and appeal to the Senator to look into this matter urgently.