WORKS MINISTER UMAHI COMMENDS HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVES OF PRESIDENT TINUBU, TASKS STAKEHOLDERS ON COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE  SHARED GOALS. CONGRATULATES SSA TO PRESIDENT ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SOUTH-EAST FOR HER COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING HUMAN EMPOWERMENT AND PROMOTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has praised the efforts of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in developing critical competencies that will improve health care and other service delivery in Nigeria's health care related academic institutions.  The Honourable Minister made this commendation during the flag-off of a health care programme on free cancer screening, free eye testing, free dialysis, and skills up empowerment  programme for the people and residents of South East organized by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement South East, Barr. (Mrs) Chioma Nweze, in conjunction with David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences Uburu, held at the university premises on 8th March 2025.  The Honourable Minister, who represented the President of Nigeria during the event, said the Federal Government was committed to providing enabling infrastructure and the most conducive learning environment in our universities. He recounted the various interventions of Mr. President to David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, which was incidentally built by the Honourable Minister when he was the Governor of Ebonyi State and which law establishing it and naming it after the founder, David Umahi, was passed by the 10th National Assembly under the Renewed Hope administration.  He said, "I thank Mr.  President, so much for the asphalting of this institution, the building of the hall that is here, and so many things, including the uninterrupted power  supply enjoyed  by the university." He expressed appreciation to the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon.Prince Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB GGCEHF and his dear wife, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs) Uzoamaka Mary-Maudline Ogbonna Nwifuru for their commitments to the advancement of learning and excellence in the university. "Greet the Governor and his dear wife for me." I am going to support their commitments to this institution when I make my donation. Tell the Governor that I appreciate his subvention to this federal institution, which  he gives every month."  The Honourable Minister commended the SSA to the President on Community Engagement, South-East for the thoughtful motivations of her programme which he said was a wakeup call to all stakeholders, public and private institutions to show collaborative support to the government to achieve shared goals in health care delivery. "And so, what you are doing beyond Ebonyi State for the entire South-East and extending it to the entire Nigeria is commendable. Congratulations on your commitment. Congratulations on this programme" He pledged his continual support to the university to enable it to realize its goals of achieving unmatched excellence in their health care facilities such as Radiology Centre, Cancer Centre, Eye Centre, Kidney Centre, Maternal and Childbirth Centre. Speaking  during the event, the representative of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Her Excellency, Princess Patricia Obila, who is also the Deputy Governor  of Ebonyi State, extolled  the initiative of the SSA on Community Engagement to give the people access  to quality health care and life changing empowerment and assured of the commitment  of the State Government in supporting  the Federal University of Health Sciences  in the State  in realizing  the objectives of its establishment. "We have committed so much, both money, a lot of commitment, and still, this government is also highly determined and committed to giving all the enabling environment to make sure that any programme concerning health is given the total support it deserves." Earlier in her address, the SSA to the President on Community Engagement said she initiated the health care outreach and skill up empowerment programme for South-East communities to add value to the laudable initiatives of Mr. President's administration, which is aimed at stimulating economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians.  She said, "I recognize that access to quality health care is a fundamental human right, and it is our responsibility to ensure that every individual in the South-East has access to it, regardless of their background or financial situation. Our medical outreach initiative, which we have earlier started, is a multifaceted programme that will provide a range of free medical services, including cancer screening, free eye screening, and medical classes to the first 200 patients. We have also provided dialysis treatment for one year for all the 97 Local Government Areas in the South-East. My office will equally be flagging off the skill up South-East programme, which focuses on empowerment of the people and residents of South-East through fashion and entrepreneurship." She further assured, "Our participants will have access to modern tailoring facilities, mentorship, and guidance from industrial experts.  We are not only empowering our youths through skill acquisition, but we are also providing them with the opportunity to develop their business plans and pitch their ideas. This will enable them to become entrepreneurs and job creators, contributing to the economic growth and development of our region." She thanked immensely the collaborations of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences and solicited for more collaborations from public spirited individuals and bodies to enable her to attain the aspirations of her office in raising capacities and enhancing self reliance in South-East  ...

**FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS’ POLICY YIELDING RESULTS ** — Mobilise to Site for 2 Weeks Before Payment of Mobilisation Fees  - Umahi* The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Engr. (Sen.) David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE has continued to insist that only contractors, who can deliver are needed to work on Nigeria roads. This is to guarantee that road projects are not abandoned by recalcitrant contractors. He stated this while inspecting ongoing works on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) that starts from the Zuba Interchange (CH0+000) and ends at the Western Bypass (CH165+500) in Kaduna, the Kaduna State Capital with an additional four (4) kilometres from Zuba towards Gwagwalada on the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway. Forty (40) kilometres (dual) will be on rigid pavement (concrete). According to the Minister, the company, Messrs Infoquest International (Nig.) Limited has proven its capacity to deliver quality jobs on record time, seeing how far they have gone within a month of signing the contract. “This is without being paid the initial 30% mobilisation fee as against what has been the previous practice,” he emphasised. He stressed that the Ministry’s decision that every contractor must be at the site and working for at least two weeks before the mobilisation fee is paid, is the way to go for sustainable project development and delivery. Commending the quality of work, the Minister urged Resident Engineers/Engineer’s Representatives on other projects, across the country, to be vigilant in ensuring that the correct composition of the stone base is achieved, stressing that a standard stone base must contain at least 70% stone, hence the name and 30% dust. “Any deviation from this ratio will compromise the road’s structural integrity, leading to premature failure,” he observed. Engr. Umahi also reiterated that the Abuja-Kano Dual Carriageway is so dear to Mr. President’s heart, being a vital corridor linking the North to the southern parts of the country, as well as neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Niger, and Benin Republics. While promising that the remaining portion of the entire alignment, Section III (Zaria-Kano), which is at the Kano end of the project, will soon be approved and awarded, he advised that reinforced concrete overlay be completed on the underlying structures before the commencement of the rainy season. It would be recalled that this was the project that was unnecessarily delayed for many years by Messrs  Julius Berger (Nig.) PLC (JBN) and courageously terminated by the Ministry, some months ago, Umahi explained. "This project is the heartbeat of Mr. President because of its economic value. We are committed to ensuring its timely completion, and by the first week of March, we will begin laying an eight-inch continuous reinforced concrete pavement," the Minister stated. He reiterated that “The Federal Government remains resolute in its commitment to quality infrastructure development, ensuring that all projects under the Ministry’s supervision must meet the highest standards and be completed on schedule.” He added that interested companies must adhere to international standards and recommended practices in road construction or exit the scene. The Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of the construction firm, Mr. Joseph Abougaoude disclosed that the company took the challenge to start the work without any payment of mobilisation fees because it is capable and, most importantly, its belief in the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He promised to deliver the contract following standards and on record time. He went further to acknowledge the Minister’s proactive leadership, adding "My promise is that I will not let you down. I take this project as a challenge and accept my role in ensuring its success. I am fully committed to this project and will push ahead to meet expectations." While fielding questions from reporters on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the status of Julius Berger vis-a-vis contract with the Ministry, the Minister confirmed that before the end of the year, the entire first section of the Highway will be completed and that JBN is not sidelined from the Ministry’s contracts but, on the contrary, they are still working for the Ministry on other road infrastructure projects like the Bodo-Bonny Road, some major bridges in Lagos, as well as other places in Nigeria. He commended the new leadership of the company for aligning with the policies of the Ministry and respecting professional engineering standards.   ...

  FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS/ MTN MEETS ON QUALITY AND SPEEDY DELIVERY OF ENUGU - ONITSHA EXPRESSWAY PROJECT FUNDED  BY MTN UNDER TAX CREDIT SCHEME,FIXES COMPLETION DEADLINE FOR 10TH MAY 2026 AS HONOURABLE MINISTER OF WORKS CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REDUCTION OF COST OF CEMENT TO N7,000 BY MANUFACTURERS GIVEN THE INCREASED ECONOMIC REBOUND THROUGH MR. PRESIDENT’S SUSTAINED REFORMS   The meeting of the Federal Ministry of Works with MTN and RCC Company Nig. Ltd over the slow funding and execution of the Enugu-Onitsha  Expressway by MTN under the Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment (Tax Credit) Scheme, held at the  Ministry's headquarters, Mabushi-Abuja  on 26th February 2025 has ended  with the following resolutions:   A - The construction of Enugu-Onitsha dual-carriageway must be completed  by 10th May 2026. B - MTN shall be held responsible should the road fail after construction on account of shady job by the contractor. C - There will be no variation or VOP on the project and RCC must note that  going forward, the operation of VOP in their projects must be in accordance with the procedure contained in the Conditions of Contract and not at the whims and caprices  of the contractor. D - MTN not to sacrifice  their responsibility of funding the project at the altar of MTN's business  profit as this will wittingly or unwittingly inhibit speedy delivery of the project and inpune on the public perception of the will of government  to ensure logical completion of the project. E -  There must be a commitment  in writing between MTN and the Federal Ministry of Works that this offer is predicated on these conditions herein set out. There must be a commitment  because  the more  the job delays, the more there is variation.   Speaking  during the meeting, which had in attendance, the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Mohammad Bello Goronyo Esq, the Permanent Secretary  of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. O.O Adebiyi, the representatives of MTN, the Managing Director of  RCC Company Nig Ltd and his team, the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON reiterated  that the Federal Ministry of Works is unwavering in its commitment  towards  ensuring  that the  contractor handling  the project,  and in this case MTN that is handling the project under the Tax Credit Scheme is made to ensure quality and speedy delivery of the project. He wondered  why an official of MTN could go on his way to insinuate that the directive made by the Federal Ministry of Works that RCC Ltd should  stop using materials  that could derail the quality outcome of the job amounted to a sabotage of the projects  of Mr. President  in South East. He said,: "We have to  put the records straight that this ministry has the responsibility to ensure quality delivery of work by contractors. And the contractor in this  case is MTN". He recounted the various  inspection visits he made to contractors' project  sites and how this had caused  them to brace up for ensuring quality  and speed in project  delivery.  He said of MTN's Enugu-Onitsha Expressway project, "We went through what MTN was doing. We discovered that they were using peeled sand to do the job. I'm an engineer. I'm not a history graduate. I'm a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and I've spent all my life in the field. And we gave a directive, which is in line with the general conditions of contract, that should stop using  such sand but go back, and use river sand, which we paid for."   The Honourable Minister emphasized  the need for RCC Nig Ltd to play by the rule in project variation. He decried as unacceptable a situation where RCC could do a job of N38 billion and demand for a VOP N14 billion and said that going  forward such indulgence by contractors in the name of inflation would not be tolerated. He used the medium to call on the manufacturers of cement, which is a key element  in the construction industry, especially on the use of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement, to please reduce  the cost of cement to N7,000 as the price of dollar has drastically reduced, the cost of petrol is coming down and efforts are being made by Mr. President to fix the road. He said, "I'm happy that the policies of Mr.  President, are working. Today, a dollar is about N1,400. And let me use the opportunity to express dissatisfaction with the cost of cement. Our contractors have  called and complained  that they wanted to move back to asphalt. We are using  this medium to tell the cement manufacturers that at the time, the dollar was almost N2,000, they increased cement from N7,500. Why should today that the President has brought dollar to stability to about N1400, and is still going down, why should cement be selling for N9,500? We are requesting cement manufacturers to bring down the cost of cement to N7,000. If after one week they don't do that, I have to complain officially to Mr. President."   In their separate remarks, the Honourable Minister of State for Works and the Permanent Secretary  Federal Ministry of Works estolled the stance of the Federal Ministry of Works on the policies that would not only fast track job execution  but also guarantee value  for money and quality project outcome. They urged the contractor to cooperate with the new paradigm under the Renewed Hope administration and work towards  delivering  the Enugu-Onitsha dual-carriageway on a record  time so that Mr. President could commission it for public use. The representative of MTN in his vote of thanks expressed  the readiness of MTN in working  towards  realizing the delivery of the project within  the agreed timeline.     ...