Federal Republic of Nigeria
Second Rural Access and Mobility Project (Ramp-2)
Osun State Rural Access and Mobility Project
Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for Consulting Services for the Detailed Engineering Design, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Procurement Support and Construction Supervision of Rehabilitation of Rural Roads in Osun State
Credit No.: 5154-NG
Issue Date: 12 December 2014
The Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has received financing from the International Development Association (IDA) and the French Development Agency and on-lent the financing to four participating states (Adamawa, Enugu, Niger, and Osun) towards the cost of rehabilitation of prioritized rural roads in these states under the Second Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP-2). It is intended that part of the proceeds of the financing will be applied to eligible payments under the contract for Consulting Services.
The consulting services (“the Services”) include detailed engineering design, environmental and social impact assessment, procurement support, and construction supervision for the rehabilitation of low volume mostly unpaved rural roads in Osun state as follows: (i) conducting a detailed inventory and condition survey, and a full topographical survey and a geotechnical/materials survey of each given road (totaling approximately 300 km to be packaged in 5 or 6 Lots across the State) complete with the existing structures; together with comprehensive traffic counts, economic analysis, and environmental and social impact assessments, including development of an Environmental and Social Management Plan and a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) or Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan (ARAP) as necessary in accordance with World Bank Safeguards Policies for Category B projects, leading to and including the design of the appropriate rehabilitation and limited construction Works and the preparation of the bidding documents for each Lot; (ii) providing full procurement support to the Employer through the bidding process to the award of the Works contract for each Lot; and (iii) supervising construction of the Works of each Lot in the capacity of the Engineer, including the Defects Liability Period (DLP). Subject to agreement by the Employer, the Services may include supervision, with minimal staffing, of routine and periodic maintenance of these roads for 3 years initially (first year falling within the 12-month Defects Liability Period.)
The total duration of the Services is about 40 months: the Detailed Engineering Design, Environmental and Social Assessment and Preparation of Civil Works Bidding Documents is to be completed in 6 months, after which the Procurement Support Services would last approximately 4 months., and the Works are to be constructed in 18 months, with a Defect Liability Period (requiring scaled down supervision) of 12 months. Should the supervision of the 3-year maintenance activities be agreed following the completion of the road rehabilitation, the total duration of the Consulting Services would be 64 months.
The State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) on behalf of Osun State Government now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The short listing criteria are:
(1)     General qualification: Capacity of the Consultant to carry out the Services, to be demonstrated by sufficient years in business with core business in similar activities to those under the Services, annual turnover of the Consultant, and overall number and qualifications of Consultant’ key staff. A brief presentation of the Consultant’s profile shall be provided.
(2)     Engineering Design: Experience and capacity for Engineering Design of low volume rural roads similar in scope and size to those subject to the Services, with both laterite and bituminous surface treatment sections. The Consultants shall demonstrate experience and capacity for conducting full condition surveys, topographical surveys, road and bridge and drainage inventories, geotechnical and material surveys, drainage condition and capacity assessments, and bridge and other structures condition and capacity assessments and designs. The Consultants shall also demonstrate experience and capacity for conducting economic analysis using the Highway Design and Management tool (HDM-4) or the Road Economic Decision (RED) model or any other recognized economic evaluation methodology.
(3)     Construction Supervision: Experience and capacity for Construction Supervision in the role of Engineer for rehabilitation and construction of low volume rural roads similar in scope and size to those subject to the Services, with both laterite and bituminous surface treatment sections.
(4)     Environmental and Social Assessment: Experience and capacity for conducting Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) in line with World Bank Safeguards Policies and in proposing mitigation measures in the form of Environmental and Social Management Plans and in drawing up Resettlement Action Plans (RAP) or Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plans (ARAP).
(5)     Bidding Documents and Procurement Support: Experience and capacity for production of full English language bidding documents based on the World Bank Standard Bidding Document for the Procurement of Works, including Technical Specifications, Engineering Drawings, and Bills of Quantities; and for provision of full procurement support through the civil works bidding process and contract award.
The consultants are encouraged to present the information demonstrating the fulfilment of the criteria above in the form of project profiles including: the project name, the location of the project, the name and address of the client/beneficiary, the name(s) of associated firm(s) if any, the duration of the assignment, the start and end date of the assignment, the total value of the contract, the total number of staff-months of the assignment, the value of the services provided by the Consultant under the contract, the number of professional staff-months provided by the associated firm(s), the names of the Consultant’s senior staff involved and functions performed, a brief narrative description of the project, and a description of the actual services provided by the Consultant’s staff under the assignment. The description of the services provided shall specify the type of roads and the works subject to the services, the length of roads, and the location of the roads.
Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. The detailed engineering design services and the preparation of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (Including preparation of the bidding documents) will be paid on a lump sum basis, while the subsequent support including construction supervision and other services will be paid on a resource time-based basis.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, i.e., 0800am to 4.00 pm.
Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by courier) on or before 12 noon, 22^nd January 2015.
State Project Coordinator
State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU)
Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II)
Old Government Press Building, Testing Ground Area,
PM.B. 4414, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
Tel: + 294 803-387-3763, +234 803- 356-5979
 

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has revealed how the deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in monitoring and reporting of events as they unfolded during the August 9 governorship election in the state prevented falsification of results.
The governor, in a statement by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon,was quoted as stating this while delivering a keynote address titled “Broadband: Oxygen for Digital Economy” at the Africa Digital Forum and Award 2014 organised by the ICT Watch Network at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Ikeja, Lagos Sunday evening.
Aregbesola pointed out that ICT was put to use by the various situation rooms set up by the government to monitor, get results and happening across all the units, wards and Local governments in the state helped in no small measure.
He bemoaned the situation of the country at this jet age lacking the capacity to deploy Internet and other advanced technologies to locate the whereabouts of the Chibok school girls several months after their abduction by Boko Haram insurgents.
The governor noted that Nigeria has a new opportunity for economic resurgence in the digital economy age, saying that the nation has the requisite infrastructure both material and human.
He said, “We have a huge human population (167 million) with equally immense needs. This is a potentially immense market with which we can trade our way from poverty to riches. Added to this is the demography of that population.
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“Our population is predominantly composed of youths who are energetic, enthusiastic, and innovative”. The governor stressed
Aregbesola noted that the Osun experience in the use of modern technology and the use of Internet could be a model for national ICT development on a non-partisan basis.
The governor pointed out that the use of ICT will enhance greater deployment and consumption of broadband.
According to Aregbesola, “In Osun, without being immodest, we can say that ICT has been a major plank of governance. We pioneered e-learning with the invention of Opon Imo. We have also been able to provide card based e-credit for farmers. Of course, we have also deployed e-based payroll and staff ID card on MasterCard platform directly connected to the holder’s account.
“We have also devised e-ID Card for all pupils in public schools and the card will now serve as payment instrument for our home-grown school feeding and health programme (O’MEALS).
“We set up the OYESTECH, an institution for training youths in the use, assembly and repair of electronic gadgets from plasma television, computers to mobile phones”. The governor told the gathering.
Aregbesola held that Nigeria has a great potential for enhancing development in this information age through the digital economy.
He noted that there are still huge potentials in road traffic monitoring and control, CCTV camera, weather monitoring and forecast, national population database among others.
He said, “What this means is that there is power and potential in numbers. A great number of people mean a potentially great variety of needs to be met.

“The good thing is that in meeting these needs, a self-reinforcing cycle is created in which people have access to employment, are productively engaged, earn income, create wealth, and spread prosperity with accompanying prospect of material uplift and satisfaction”. Aregbesola pointed out.
The governor added that any human mass is a potential source of wealth generation from which positive developments can spring, stressing that what is required therefore is creativity in turning the potential into public good.

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, receiving an Award of ICT Infrastructural Governor of the year from  former Personal Secretary of Late Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Odia Ofeimun, during the Africa Digital Forum & Awards 2014 at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, lkeja Lagos on Sunday 14-12-2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right); President
Nigeria lnternet Group, Engr. Adebayo Banjo (3rd right); Event
Coordinator, Mr Tayo Adewusi (5th left); Past President, Nigeria
lnternet Group (NIG) and Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria
(ATCON), Engr. Emmanuel Ekuwem (4th left) and others, during the
Africa Digital Forum and Presentation of Awards 2014 on ICT
Infrastructural to Governor Aregbesola, at Sheraton Hotel & Towers,
lkeja, Lagos on Sunday 14-12-2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, recieving an Award of
ICT Infrastructural Governor of the year from former Personal
Secretary of Late Obafemi Awalowo, Chief Odia Ofeimun, during the
Africa Digital Forum & Awards
2014 at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, lkeja Lagos on Sunday 14-12-2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, recieving an Award of
ICT Infrastructural Governor of the year from former Personal
Secretary of Late Obafemi Awalowo, Chief Odia Ofeimun, during the
Africa Digital Forum & Awards
2014 at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, lkeja Lagos on Sunday 14-12-2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola (middle); Event Coordinator, Mr Tayo Adewusi (left); Former
Personal Secretary to late Obafemi Awalowo, Odia Ofeimun (right),
during Africa Digital Forum and Presentation of ICT Infrastructural
Governor of the year Awards 2014 on Governor Aregbesola at Sheraton
Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.
on Sunday 14-12-2014.

A correspondent of the PUNCH newspapers in Osun, Mr. Femi Makinde, is in for interrogation by the election petition tribunal in the state over a report published by his newspaper which the tribunal considers to be false.

The correspondent had reported in his paper on Friday that there was over-voting in Unit 6 Ward 4 of Oriade Local Government Area of the state during the last governorship election in which the Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was declared the winner.

The report said to have been published on page 10 of the Friday December 11 edition of the paper was said to have angered the chairman of the tribunal Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime.

The attention of the chairman of the tribunal was called to the alleged false report by Counsel to Aregbesola, Chief Akin Olujinmi to the publication, “Omisore establishes over-voting in Oriade Local Government” on page 10 of the Punch Newspapers which, according to Olujinmi did not represent what happened at the tribunal the previous day.

Olujinmi, “I want to bring to the notice of this Honourable Tribunal, a false publication in the Punch where it was alleged that Omisore established over-voting in Oriade Local Government. My Lord will recall that at the inception of this tribunal, your Lordship admonished the members of the press on the need for true reportage of proceedings in this court. We were therefore shocked to read this blatant falsehood in today’s Punch Newspapers as it does not represent what happened yesterday in court.”
It was after Olujinmi’s complaint that the chairman demanded for the correspondent of the PUNCH who was however nowhere to be found in court.

The Chairman of the tribunal thereafter demanded for his presence at the court to explain why disciplinary actions should not be taken against him for his alleged false report on the proceedings of the tribunal.

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, the National President, Nigerian Association of Auctioneers (NAA), Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya and others, during the Governor’s investiture as the Association’s Patron at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Sunday 14-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left) presenting a
Plague to National President, Nigerian Association of Auctioneers
(NAA), Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya (right); Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori (left); Head of Service, Mr Olayinka Owoeye (3rd left)
and Former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties,
Barrister Ajibola Basiru, during the Governor’s investiture as NAA
Patron at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Sunday 14-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left) presenting a
Plague to National President, Nigerian Association of Auctioneers
(NAA), Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya (right); Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori (left); Head of Service, Mr Olayinka Owoeye (3rd left)
and Former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties,
Barrister Ajibola Basiru, during the Governor’s investiture as NAA
Patron at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Sunday 14-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th left); his Deputy,
Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (3rd left); National President, Nigerian
Association of Auctioneers (NAA), Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya (2nd right);
Osun State Chairman, NAA, Moshood Oladejo (2nd left); Chairman NAA
Board of Trustees, Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar (right) and others, during
the Governor’s investiture as the Association’s Patron at Government
House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Sunday 14-12-2014

Over N10 million fake and expired drugs was destroyed by the Osun State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria.
It was also gathered that the ministry and the PCN also sealed illegal medicine stores from where the drugs were seized.
It was learnt that some of the drugs have been seized since about four years.
The drugs were burnt at a dump site in Osogbo in presence of State Director, National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, Mr. Kayode Fagboyo.
The Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Osun State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Adepeju Ojo, after the destruction of the drugs, said that inspectors from the ministry carried out the raid on the illegal outlets.
She said,  “We have seized the regulated expired drugs and also sealed non-registered  patents stores and the owners of the illegal outlets were apprehended.
“The seized drugs  are estimated over N10 million. We are calling those seeking expired or fake drugs to desist. Our people also should patronise registered outlets and make sure that the drugs they buy are not fake or expired.”
DAILY TIMES

From the pre colonial era, when in 1951 H. L. Butcher Commission gave  birth to Osun District, till 1991, when the General Ibrahim Babangida-led administration created Osun out of the old Oyo State, several efforts have been made to place the state on the proper position it ought to occupy on the world map. But none has been able to attain the golden age as it is today within four years under Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, governor of the state.
From the days of surplus, when the military administrators were in-charge, till the coming of the civilian administration in1999, except for the period under Chief Bisi Akande, who started the restructuring of the infrastructure and the opening of the rural roads, so as to increase agricultural products, no one else has done what Aregbesola has done under four years of dynamic and purposeful leadership.
Abraham Lincoln stated: ” Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. ” Power is a test of character. In the hands of a person of integrity, it is of tremendous benefit: in the hands of a tyrant, it causes terrible destruction.” The struggle for power lasted 3 and half years for the incubent. Under 4 years, most of the chronic political opponents with whom he wrestled power from have since become one in a political family. It is a credit to Aregbesola that his first term has brought in his successor; Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senator Isaka Adeleke , first Executive Governor of the state, Peter Babalola (Peter Action) and many other political gladiators.  The implication of the aforesaid,  is the presence of peace and security in the state.  The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, Section 14 (4) encapsulates that the state must ensure security of lives and properties, as well as the welfare of the  people.  Aregbesola no doubt has done marvellously well in this aspect .
In every age, there comes forth to meet the needs of the hour. Aregbesola’s emergence in the state was similar to the Presidency of Franklin Delaino Roosevelt emergence in the USA presidential election. His major opponents never gave him a chance of success.  The United States was in the midst of depression; banks were falling at an alarming rate; unemployment was rife; and life was brutish,  hard and unpleasant.  But against all odds, FDR emerged victorious. Roosevelt,  in his victory speech, promised to lead the country in a completely new direction. Roosevelt successfully revived the American economy through a socio-economic template he called New Deal.
Aregbesola came on board when the state was in critical need of turn-around. A state noted for poverty, under-development and stagnancy, but the story has since changed,  that even the blind and the deaf now know that development in a magnitude that was unprecedented has taken place, in education, agriculture, infrastructure,  health and in social welfare.
EDUCATION
Aregbesola’s education policy centred on the total man; complete child, complete youth, complete citizen. His aim is to prepare the youths for generational change that will make them technically competent and economically motivated, thereby becoming potential entrepreneurs that will not be wondering or roaming the streets  for jobs that are not available .
The governor shares the view of former American President,  Bill Clinton, as he stated in Arkansas that ” education is the key to our economic revival and our  perennial quest for prosperity.  We must dedicate more of our limited resources to paying teachers better; expanding educational opportunities in poor and small districts; improving and diversifying vocational and high technology programmes…Without competence in basic skills, our people cannot move on to more advanced achievement. ” The first term of this administration has witnessed huge investment on education, in all the local government areas, there are massive modern school buildings, well-equipped laboratories, as well as other instructional materials to meet the educational pursuit of the 21st century in any part of the world.
The  school reclassification by the Aregbesola’s administration into ; Elementary,  Middle and High schools is synonymous to global trends in which effective teaching and learning take place. The new educational policy is in tandem with the National Educational policy . Under the reclassification,  Osun government runs the modified National 9-3-4 system, as well as the normal school academic calendar. What Osun has now is 4-5-3-4 system, both systems are in harmony with the WAEC syllabus.
O’MEALS SCHEME
In the last two years, Aregbesola’s administration has successfully embarked on  O’meal scheme,  that is the school feeding programme.  The result has been tremendous and amazing. So far, the pupils are robusly learning with free and well-nutritious meals daily at the huge sum of N3.6 billion annually. Thus, it has positively impacted on the public enrolment of pupils in primary schools, the highest in Nigeria. The school enrolment moved from 155, 318 in May 2012 to over 300, 000 pupils in 2014. These scheme also created jobs for 3, 000 women that prepare the meals. Osun farmers are patronised by the food vendors that utilised farm produces for their meals. Poultry Association members are also smiling to banks, as the pupils are being fed with eggs daily.
Great Britain  did not only emulate the Osun free feeding scheme, in 2013, but invited the governor to address their parliament and to share his experiences with the former colonial lords. Indeed, this invitation and the address has gone a long way in boosting the image of our country and Osun in particular.
OPON IMO
Opon Imo, tablet of knowledge, is an educational computer device for learning,  a celebrated academic tools that has come to revolutionise the academic world. It is a device  for the students and non-students, who strive for knowledge. It has been so programmed to instruct without a visible tutor. It is a mobile libary and  an amazing device that has come to move the world to the next stage for human development. It is the product of a thinking leader, whose desire is to give the best education for a complete man. In the next few years, the world will remember this regime for turning around the education sector, not only of Osun but the whole world.
AGRICULTURE
This agricultural revolution is on and cannot be denied, as the old and young farmers are competing for the war against hunger and poverty in the midst of plenty; due to self-destruction caused by long time neglect of agriculture as a means for living by any serious nation. Africa and Nigeria are blessed by vast arable land but the oil boom that turned oil doom in our nation made people to turn their backs at tilling the soil. Aregbesola has since preached, practiced ‘go back to land’ for battle against poverty. O’REAP is an agricultural project that has given the youths  hope of earning a living. Some of our people are today employers of labour through agricultural investment.
Fertilisers and other useful chemicals that would boost agricultural production have been made available to farmers across the state.  Seedlings were provided, lands cleared by government free of charge for would-be farmers. Cooperative societies were created for farmers to enhance fund for big time farmers. Today, the cost of living is far cheaper and economical. Poverty has been reduced drastically and unemployment has equally reduced and the state economy is adjudged the best seven in the Federation.
As Aregbesola commences his second term,  his desire is to accomplish 20 year’s work under four years that his second term would cover.
THE NATION

Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kolapo Alimi, has inaugurated a consultative committee on internally generated revenue.
The event took place at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs.
Alimi said the bad financial state occasioned by the persistent dwindling revenue from the Federation Account coupled with the poor internally generated revenue has not only made it difficult for local governments to meet recurrent expenditures but has equally hindered their capacity to deliver dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
He added that it was necessary to have the committee that will advise the government on how to improve revenue generation of local government.
The commissioner then charged the committee to take the assignment with zeal and commitment it deserves.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Muftau Oluwadare, advised the committee to identify loopholes in the internally generated revenue in the local governments and suggest ways of blocking those loop holes.
The NULGE President in the state, Babatunde Adekomi, expressed the readiness of the local government staff to cooperate with the government in the revenue generation drive.
He also charged the revenue collectors in the system to brace up.
Chairman of the committee who is also the Executive Secretary of Olorunda Local Government, Mr Akeem Okunade, explained that the committee was ready to work to improve the revenue base of the local government at this challenging period.
He added that setting up of the committee is an effort towards liberating the local governments in the state from the agonising effect of dwindling revenue from the Federation Account.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said that the emergence of former Head of State, Gen Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress is the best democratic pill to galvanise Nigerians towards the needed change.

He said the former Head of State is not just the candidate of the APC but that of the entire Nigerians who have been yearning for a dramatic and total change.

Aregbesola said the decision by all party men and women to elect the former head of state demonstrates the commitment to presenting a candidate who would not only win the presidential election but go ahead to rescue Nigeria from the present quagmire anti-democratic and anti-development elements had brought her in more than a decade and a half.

Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, was quoted as speaking shortly after the declaration of Gen Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the APC after a keenly contested primary held in Lagos.

“We must congratulate Nigerians for the emergence of Gen Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of our party. The excitements, commendations and jubilations that have greeted the election and consequently the announcement of Gen Muhammadu Buhari are clear demonstrations of the fact that Nigerians have been anxious and now poised for an immediate change in Nigeria.

“It is clear now that Nigerians are determined to jettison their religious, tribal, partisan and other mundane interests to rally support for our candidate. Gen Muhammadu Buhari, I can confidently say, is not just the candidate of the All Progressives Congress but the popular choice of entire Nigerians,” Aregbesola was quoted as saying.

Reminding Nigerians of the urgent need to fix the country, Aregbesola said the outcome of the primary election itself confirmed that the APC has taken transparency, the fight against corruption and graft to a new height.

“People have chosen the best man for the job regardless of all other less edifying considerations. Buhari represents the face of the required battle against corruption. He represents openness and commitment to good governance. For those who consider the awful impact of corruption on our country, the choice of Gen Buhari would easily translate to the readiness of Nigerians to battle against the most debilitating scourge against the country’s growth,” Aregbesola said.

Listing the challenges that lay before an APC government at the centre, Aregbesola reminded Nigerians that the 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party at the centre has spelt economic doom, political complications and social morass.

“We have witnessed the most horrendous crimes against the soul of this country. There has been a mindless rape of the country by a gang of looters who have made Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of other nations.

“There is needless hunger in a country with many untapped opportunities. All the critical sectors have been bled to states of coma and what we have left as a country is fractured entity gasping for breath.

“With the election of General Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians are assured that a new Nigeria is possible,” he added.