BRF Gabfest 5: Discussing the Ways to Curb the Human Factors Involved in Road Accidents Lagos, Nigeria, June 22, 2021 — For the 5th edition of the Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF) GabFest, an event created to discuss the role of the youth in Nigeria’s future, the theme is “Arrive Alive: Building a Road towards better driving culture”. Statistics show that Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29. Around the world, road traffic injuries cause 1.25 million deaths and up to 50 million injuries each year. Surprisingly, data shows that the top causative factor for road accidents are not bad roads but speeding, loss of vehicular control, wrongful overtaking and generally poor driving culture. To discuss this pandemic, and explore ways to curb the human factors behind such accidents, six speakers across two panels will offer constructive insight at the event, on the 28th June, 2021.   The speakers will cut across both the public and private sectors, and offer the audience the chance to engage on the subject matter. They will discuss matters ranging from road safety traffic measures and how accidents occur, to what to do in the event of an accident, insurance, drinking and driving responsibly, and also breaking users cycle of road accidents. The aim is to realize the factors that we have control over, and how to take a collective responsibility over them to improve the future. Attendees would also be allowed to ask questions after the Panelist discussion.  The confirmed line-up of speakers includes Dr Yazid Omotayo -Head, Medical Unit/Pre-Hospital Care Unit, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Ms Bethia Idoko -Head of Business Development, Gidi Traffic, Mr Oluseye Banjoko MCIArb (Uk)- Partner, CLP Legal and Fred Akinmuyisitan - Head, Marketing Strategy and Planning, The Heineken Company. The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi will offer insights on the statistics coming in from Federal Highways across the country.   It will be a platform for these leaders to share their expertise as pertains to Road Accidents. “It is imperative to find opportunities to convene and discuss ways in which we can push forward as a people, and reduce these casualties” says Terfa Tilley-Gyado, Director of Communications of The Temple Company, who will also be addressing attendees of the event. The programme will end with a closing remark by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event will be conducted virtually over ZOOM, and is open to the public to register via https://bit.ly/gabfest5. The entire session will run for a duration of two hours.  ...

FG Flags-off N62.7bn Construction of Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi Federal Highway The Federal Government has flagged-off the construction work of the 90.65km Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi Federal Highway linking Kano and Katsina States, Thursday, June 10, 2021 in Kano. The contract for the reconstruction of the road to dual carriage way was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in November 2020 at the cost of N62.711b with the completion period of 24 months. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Babangida Hussaini, in his welcome address stated that the contract was awarded on December 1st, 2020 to Messes CGC Nigeria Limited. The Permanent Secretary was represented at the flag-off ceremony by Engr Folorunsho Esan, Director Highways (North -West) in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. He explained that the 90.65km dual carriage way has a total number of three bridges, with additional 7.3 meters width and 1.5 meters shoulder width and an outer shoulder width of 2.7meters. Already the Kano State Government had dualised 7.2km of the road from the Bayero University Kano (BUK) axis. The construction started from the BUK junction and terminated at outskirt of Dayi town in Katsina State. Hussaini disclosed that the road would be completed with all the furnitures such as lane markings, kilometer signs, signages etc., adding that the road would last not less than 20 years. In his remarks at the ceremony, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje described the project as gigantic, important, socially and economically of great benefits to the people of Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States. The governor also explained that the reconstructed road would also contribute in addressing the security challenges along the area. Accordingly, Governor Ganduje said that, as requested by the Federal Government, Kano State Government is ready to pay the compensation for the facilities and utilities that would be affected by the dualisation of the road He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for all the projects he brought to Kano State, stating that the President has paid back the Kano people for the massive votes they always give him during elections. Governor Ganduje listed among others, a number of projects which the Federal Government brought to Kano to include: Maiduguri- Yobe- Kano Road; Kano- Kaduna-Abuja Road, Kano-Katsina Road, Kano- Katsina- Jibia- Maradi rail project, Lagos- Ibadan- Kaduna- Kano rail project and now Kano- Gwarzo- Dayi Road and construction of new wing at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). Ganduje told the gathering that, with all the projects, commercial and business opportunities had increased in Kano as well as improved security. In his remarks, the Senator representing Kano North Senator Barau Jibrin commended the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, Minister of State, Engr Abubakar Aliyu and the Permanent Secretary, Babangida Hussaini. Senator Barau reminded the gathering that, the project was a promise they made to the people during their campaign tour with the Governor, stating that it was now time to thank God for making it realisable. Also, the Executive Director of Messes CGC Nigeria Limited, the Construction Company handling the contract, Mr Fan Xiaojing thanked the Federal Government and Kano State for the opportunity given to his company to handle the project, stating that it was an indication that their expertise in handling such project was recognised. He stated that with the cooperation of all the stakeholders the job would be delivered on scheduled. Royal fathers of the day that graced the occasion wer:, His Highness the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero and Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Abubay Ii the Emir of Karaye Al in Kano State.   ...

Stop the Destruction of our Common wealth, Fashola pleads at Town Hall Meeting The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN has appealed to those vandalizing government properties in the country to desist from doing so. The Minister made the appeal during his presentation at the Townhall Meeting on Protecting Public Infrastructure organized by the Federal Ministry of Information, which took place today 7th June 2021 at NAF Conference Centre Abuja. Fashola, who noted all that no nation grows beyond the capacity of its infrastructure, lamented the level of damage and vandalization of public properties in the nation. The Minister said, "our ability to grow, to develop and to prosper, to get education and essentially to live a good life is tied to quality and quantity of Infrastructure that we have, explaining that properties damaged under the purview of his Ministry included bridges across the nation such as Otedola and Kara bridges in Lagos, Tamburawa Bridge in Kano among others which would respectively cost 203M, 605M and 1.8 Billion naira to repair. Noting that these money could have been expended on other sectors such as health, education etc. Fashola disclosed that another form in which the bridge was abused included the conversion of spaces under the bridge to shops and the use of parking spaces for businesses, adding that the Ministry had started the process of recovery of all these spaces with the aim of ensuring that they are utilized for their legitimate purposes. The Minister also condemned the vandalism of signages on the Federal Highways across the country. He explained that "Signages have begun to reappear on the nation’s highways but these signages have become targets of some people and turned to billboards for campaign." He added that some of them were out rightly carted away. Fashola further condemned the abuse of the right of way by some people who raise structure on them, explaining that 45.72 metre from the centre line of both sides of the road lies within the right of way. The Minister also decried the building of bumps on Federal Highways which he noted are dangerous to unsuspecting road users, adding that the public buildings are also not left out by vandals. The Minister noted that though there are existing laws to punish these criminal acts but they were no longer realistic in view of the economic changes that have taken place since the time they were enacted and now and therefore called for quick amendment of the laws so that offenders could be adequately punished. Fashola also called upon the citizens to take responsibility over government properties and stand up against vandalism and willful destruction of the common wealth of the country. In his welcome Address, the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Muhammed said the aim of the Townhall meeting was to bridge the gap between the Government and the people. The Minister said infrastructure deficit was one of the challenges facing the country and the current administration had invested hugely on it despite the lean resources available to it. "Despite a drastic drop in revenues and competing priorities especially that of tackling insecurity, the Federal Government had invested heavily in providing new infrastructure in addition to reconstruction and rehabilitating of existing ones." However, he lamented that in recent times such laudable efforts of the government were being thwarted by some unpatriotic citizens through wanton destruction of critical infrastructure thereby depriving the greater citizenry for whose benefits these projects and services are provided. The Ministers of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Muhammed Bello also took turn to reveal the negative impact and cost of vandalism and destruction of public properties under the purview of their respective Ministry. As a way of overcoming the problem, stakeholders present at the occasion suggested that stiffer laws against  such crimes should be passed by the National Assembly,  Traditional Rulers should be involved in the security of public properties,  State governments should be made to partake in securing federal government projects within their domain, security agents should be encouraged to be more vigilant and massive sensitization of the general public should be carried out to engage the citizens in the ownership and protection of these properties. Also present at the occasion were the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Mr. Ali Patani, the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engineer Abubakar D .Aliyu and Heads of Federal Agencies.   ...