Power Sector, Major Contributor in getting Nigeria out of Recession - Fashola The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN has stated that the Power Sector will continue  to be a major contributor in getting Nigeria out of the economic recession by improving electricity supplies to industrial, commercial and small and medium enterprises in the country. The Minister stated this at the presentation of a book to him titled "Power Sector Under President Muhammadu Buhari" in his office in Abuja recently. He revealed that the Power Sector is one of the 5 key intervention programmes of the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) recently launched by the government. The Minister commended the author of the book, Mr. Uche Aneke for his in-depth knowledge of the sector and simplifying the knowledge of electricity to the ordinary Nigerian. During the monthly operators tour meeting, Babatunde Raji Fashola explained that power sector need to engage everybody so as to reveal to Nigerians government's effort. The author of the book, Mr. Uche Aneke earlier disclosed that the book makes an effort to document activities in the power sector, especially the giant strides the Minister made since coming on board. The author appreciated the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina who took time out of his busy schedule to write the forward of the book. ...

Vocational Education: A Pathway To Building A Prosperous Nation - Fashola The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has indentified among many other factors the need to focus on vocational education for a speedy and prosperous future. Fashola said this at a one day stakeholder’s meeting organized by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria on how to proffer solutions to the decline of Technical Education in Nigeria with the theme “Technical Education Manpower Shortage” at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja. The Minister who was represented by his Special Adviser on Works, Engr. Femi Hamzat, drew his reference from three different countries: - Singapore, South Africa and Canada and advised all the educational policy makers to emulate those countries, saying for example, that Singapore has consistently transformed its educational system to meet its required needs. He further stated that Singapore credits her competitive and growing economy to the nation’s approach to education by identifying areas in the economy that require skill-based education. The Minister said, in South Africa “vocational technical education is recognized as an important factor in developing its economy and as such, its development has been used to heal the past divisions by improving the standard of living leading to a more successful nation.” Fashola also stated that Technical Vocational Education systems are dynamic and the challenges thereof are unique. As such he opined that efforts must be geared towards the system that will address the national needs and economy, if actually the nation is yearning for development it desire. The Minister called on the Federal Government to articulate effective and responsive Technical and Vocational education system, which will accommodate Nigeria’s vast social, economic, educational and cultural conditions for national development Fashola also said that plan is on-going on how to strengthen Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency, (FERMA) to be more responsive to the needs of national growth through legislation. The reasons for doing this he noted are to engage artisans and craftsmen to fix roads and to make FERMA a big employer of labour to different categories of manpower. Earlier, the President of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, (COREN), Engr. Kashim A. Ali, said the theme for the meeting was informed by dearth of technical colleges which has led to non-existence of qualified Craftsmen and Technicians in Nigerian engineering sector and the needs to fine tune ways of addressing the issue. Engr. Kasim stated that Artisans and Technicians constitute a very important manpower of the value chain in the engineering service delivery, stressing that “the dearth of indigenous artisans and technicians in the engineering sector has negative impact on economy, and as the skills gap continues to widen, there has been huge capital flight as expatriates come in to fill the lacuna at the detriment of the country.” In his goodwill address, the Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Works, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, charged the stakeholders to gear up their efforts in addressing the shortage of artisans and technicians within the profession, otherwise the issue of hiring expatriates will continue to exist because the vacuum cannot be left unfilled. ...

Federal Executive Council Approves N54 Billion For Reconstruction of Road Linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River States The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osimbajo, on Wednesday, approved N54billion for the reconstruction of Odukpani Itu-Ikot Ekpene road linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He stated that the road, which was constructed over 40 years ago, would boost socio-economic activities and improve the performance of the economy by reducing journey time, the cost of doing business and also create more job opportunities. Fashola added that this is consistent with the promise of this administration to create employment opportunities from construction works and stimulate the economy. “We will do the best to quickly mobilise the contractor to site with the onset of the rainy season and I am sure that by this time next year, it will be a better story, a better journey time experience in that area of the country,” he said. Also addressing the reporters, the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika disclosed that the Council approved N1.5billion for projects in the aviation sector. He disclosed that the Council approved the appointment of transaction advisers to carry out advisory services on establishment of national carriers, establishment of aviation leasing company and establishment of maintenance repair and overhaul centre. He said advisers were also approved for the establishment of Aerotropolis or airport city and for the concession of the nation’s airports. The Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu told the correspondents that the Council approved contract verification of the dairy irrigation project located along Kano and Jigawa states. He noted that the project, which is about 2,300 hectare, was abandoned after reaching 50 per cent completion about 17 years ago. According to the minister, there is already a provision for the project in the 2016 budget and it has also been included in the 2017 budget. Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed also explained that President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence at the Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting followed medical advice from his doctors. The minister stated that the President, who was in office on Tuesday, was asked to take some rest by his doctors, today. He thanked Nigerians for their concern and prayers for the quick recovery of the president. Mohammed dismissed as wicked and ungodly the insinuation that the President’s health had deteriorated to the extent that he was being assisted before taking his meals. According to the minister, President Buhari deserves commendation from all well-meaning individuals and groups for being transparent and upfront in the matter concerning his health. ...