Jul

27

2020

Buhari’s Commitment to Infrastructure is Monumental, Unprecedented – Fashola

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has described the commitment of the Buhari led Administration to Infrastructure development as monumental and unprecedented. The Minister made this description while responding to questions on Radio Nigeria phone-in programme “Have your say” this morning.

Fashola hinged his commendation on the Infrastructural transformation work being implemented in the various sectors of the economy such as works and Housing, Transportation, Digital communication and economy, adding that if
these were done in the past, the situation of the economy of the country would not have been as bad as it is now.

While responding to the question on why many Federal roads were still in bad condition and why it was taking time to be completed, Fashola attributed it to procurement process, limited resources and the process of road construction.
Citing an example of the Abuja - Lokoja road, he said the road which is about 300kilometre long was being expanded from 2 lanes to 4 lanes, which means that the entire work on that road is about 1200 kilometres.

He added that a section of the road had been completed remaining only the section from Kotonkarfe to Lokoja, “some section have been completed, what is remaining is from Koton Karfe to Lokoja, which we are trying to finish”, he said.

Fashola mentioned Lagos -Ibadan, Enugu –Port Harcout, Kano –Maiduguri, Ekpoma –lokoja roads among those that have been partially completed. The Minister said most of the roads were being reconstructed as some of them
were impassable before now, citing Benin- Ore - Shagamu, Enugu –Port Harcourt roads. He urged Nigerians to be patient with the government considering the fact that these bad roads which were left undone by the previous administration when oil was selling at $140 per barrel are now being reconstructed and rehabilitated by the Buhari Administration at a time that oil price per barrel is less than 50 dollars.

The Minister who disclosed the plan to finish 22 roads between 2020 and 2022 explained that the Federal Government was currently concentrating on Federal roads which are interconnecting states. “Our roads are those that connect state
to state. We are focusing on them, it is when we have done these key roads that we will concentrate on others”, he said.

On the housing sector, The Minister who was asked why some houses that had been completed by the Federal Government were yet to be allocated, said, “Some of the houses have been completed but there is still a lot to be done. In
some cases we have not finished electrical connection to public power, we have not finished internal road work, there have been cases of theft and pilfering and we are doing replacement”.

Fashola revealed that a digital framework was been worked out to ensure that application is done online to avoid undue influence from anyone. He also said that Federal Government was considering giving some allocations to State
Governments for onward allocation to their indigenes since the States donated the land.

He called on State Government and the Private sector to complement the effort of the Federal Government in the provision of houses to the people in overcoming the housing deficit.

Jul

20

2020

SUKUK: Fashola Commends Govt-Private Sector Partnership on Infrastructure Development.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has commended the partnership between the government and the private sector in the provision of SUKUK financing in roads project across the country.

Fashola spoke during a presentation of N162, 557,000,000 Sovereign Sukuk Symbolic Cheque to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Abuja,, Monday,  July 20,2020.

According to Fashola, fourty-four (44) Federal Roads spread across the six geo-political zones are being financed under this SUKUK roads project. He listed the number of roads project being executed per geo-political zone as follows: North Central having eight, North East Eight, North West Seven, South West Six, South East Five and South South having Ten road each with the breakdown of the financial implication as follows: North Central N26.5b, North East N30.5bn, North West N26.5bn, South east N26bn, South South N26bn and South West N27.05bn.

Speaking on the recent public debate on govt borrowing and the concerns being raised by Nigerians, Fashola explained that, with this Sukuk projects distribution, Nigerians will now see where and how the monies were being spent.

Fashola also listed the many economic benefits of roads construction to the people, saying that a lot of jobs have been created for labourers,  artisans,  suppliers of building materials, sands suppliers, farmers and even food vendors who make their daily earnings from the construction sides.

"President Muhammadu Buhari has been legitimately distributing wealth through investment in road infrastructure and the 100 million Nigerians he would take out of poverty in a decade would be achieved" he said.

Earlier in her remarks, the Minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed, said one of the key pillars of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), is the development of critical infrastructure projects with a view to removing the impediments to growth and development in the economy.

She explained that, the President through the annual budgets had prioritized capital expenditure on the development of roads, rail, power and agriculture infrastructure projects.

She stated that the amount N162, 557,000,000 now released signified the 100 per cent full deployment of the total amount raised by the Debt Management Office (DMO), dedicated to roads project

The Director General Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Patience Monica said also that the released of this N162, 557,000,000 was the third and final release of the SUKUK secured financing for road project out of the total N462, 5577,000,000 raised by the DMO.

Chairmen of relevant National Assembly Committees that attended the symbolic public presentation of the cheque include:  Committees on Works and that of Aids, local and foreign debts of both chambers (Senate and House of Representatives.

In separate remarks, the Chairmen Senate Committee on Works, Senator Adamu Alieru and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Honourable Kabiru Bichi expressed satisfaction with the zeal to work demonstrated by the Minister of Works and Housing and the quality of work done by the contractors and promised that the National Assembly would collaborate fully with the executive to ensure that Nigerians enjoy good quality roads.

Responding on behalf of the Contractors, the Managing Director of Reynolds Construction Company, (RCC) Nigeria Limited, Engr. Nabeel Esawi, appreciated the effort of the government in promoting roads financing through SUKUK.

He promised government that, with this positive development of funding, contractors would take full advantage of the coming dry season to achieve more and recover the time they had lost as a result of COVID 19 lock down.

"SUKUK is gradually changing the face of Nigerian road to the better.  Our Bulldozers and Machineries will speak for us " he said

Jul

08

2020

FG To Replace Collapsed Wase Bridge With Concrete Bridge

* Government will provide temporary relief to facilitate movement among affected communities, says Fashola
* Governor Lalong commends Minister for quick response to the situation

The Federal Government is to build a concrete bridge over the Wase Waterways in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State as replacement for the recently collapsed Wase Bridge in the State, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has disclosed.

Fashola, who spoke in Abuja on Monday when he met with the Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, said the Government would meanwhile provide a short term relief to facilitate movement among the communities disconnected as a result of the collapse.

The Minister, who said the temporary relief would be undertaken by the Federal Controller of Works in Plateau State in collaboration with the State Government and Chairman of Wase Local Government, added that the new concrete bridge would be a long term solution to the perennial problem which the bridge had suffered as a result of heavy rainfall.

Explaining that the design of the bridge would take his Ministry’s design team about eight weeks to complete, the Minister, however, added that the final implementation of the concrete bridge plan would depend on the availability of fund.
He commiserated with the Government and people of Plateau State over the collapse of the bridge, which was as a result of a heavy downpour, and commended the Governor for his quick response to the natural disaster pointing out that the Governor put a call to him as soon as the incident occurred which enabled him to schedule the meeting.

“Our intention is to do a design with a new concrete bridge across the waterways and that will take us about eight weeks going by the design team of the Ministry”, he said.

In his response, the Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, thanked the Minister for scheduling the meeting within a short notice and assembling the relevant departments with the view to finding short and long term solutions to the problem adding that he was motivated to call the attention of the Minister immediately due to the extent of damage to the Bridge.

The Governor, who was full of gratitude to the Minister for the outcome of the meeting, explained, “Because of the level of damage on the bridge and the importance of the bridge to the State, I quickly put a call to the Minister to which he responded by calling for this meeting. I thank him for the time line given in addressing the issue”.

Jun

21

2020

FG Reiterates Commitment To Complete Ongoing Road Projects

Minister of state Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar D.Aliyu FNSE has reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to complete all ongoing roads projects across the country

The minister stated this over the weekend during his inspection tour of dualisation work of Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja Road Section 1: (International Airport Link Road junction-SHEDA Village junction.

The project being handled by Mesrs Dantata and Sawoe is over 96% completed

Engr Aliyu said,  President Buhari had mandated his ministry to ensure delivery of all projects that are between 80% and 90% completion stage, hence his senior colleague minister Babatunde Fashola and himself are not leaving anything to chance in order to help Mr. President realise that dream.

On the project,  he said: "The project will be delivered very soon as it has reached 96 percent completion. "

He explained that the purpose of the inspection tour of the Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja project was to have a first hand information and also interface with the contractor,  project engineers and the technical officers of the project with a view to identifying grey areas and agree on the way forward that would ensure the timely delivery, which was supposed to be May 2020.

The Executive Director of Dantata and Sawoe,  Engr. Nasir  Dantata explained that there was an addition of Service lane to be provided within the Gwagwalada metropolis and final asphalt laying of shoulders which he promised the Minister would be delivered as soon as all necessary approval and requirements are met.

Jun

17

2020

Works And Housing Minister, Fashola, Has Not Left Abuja Since March 22

The attention of the Office of the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has been drawn to a letter signed by the Chairman/CEO of Executive Jets Services Limited, Dr Sam Iwuajoku concerning a flight it operated to Abuja last weekend.

For purposes of clarity and in order to set the records straight, the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has not travelled out of Abuja since March 22, 2020, when he returned there after an inspection tour of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway construction work and a visit to Lagos, before the lockdown.

The decision of the Hon. Minister not to travel was taken in strict compliance with the Federal Government’s ban on inter-state travels as part of efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is therefore ridiculous for Dr Iwuajoku to attempt to link the Hon. Minister with any noncompliant flight.

Apr

20

2020

Abba Kyari : Tribute To A Single-Minded Patriot

As the inks flow in tributes to Abba Kyari by those who loved and despised him, let us not forget that Abba was much misunderstood and often maligned.

Wherever you stood then and stand now, let us not forget that Abba was a patriot .

He executed President Buhari’s vision with his own single mindedness. One of his favourite quotes was credited to Jeff Immelt to the effect that “The job looks easy when you are not the one doing it.” He seemed to take a lot of comfort from these words when his actions were misunderstood.

I bear testimony to his dedicated execution of the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund Initiative (PIDF) which guaranteed funding to cash strapped projects like the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano Highway, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Mambilla Hydro Project and the East –West Road at monthly meetings we held to review progress with Contractors.

Like all of us, Abba was flawed but he was not conceited. He was driven by conviction and never shied from an intellectual argument because his intellect was vast.

We disagreed but I never found Abba disagreeable.

Now that he has paid the supreme price in the service of the fatherland one good way we can honour Abba’s service and memory is to continue where he stopped.

Our most compelling assignment is to make the defeat of Covid-19 an urgent National Assignment to be completed in shortest possible time.

I think Abba would love that very much.

We must now undertake this assignment with a single mindedness similar to Abba’s execution of his own assignment.

This requires all of us , high and low , to observe existing guidelines like hand washing, sanitizing , wearing of face mask, social distancing and staying at home, in order to stop the community spread of the virus.

We must remember that the virus , on its own can only travel about 6 (six) feet and no more.

If it travels beyond that to our villages, cities, towns, wards, local governments and our homes, we carried it and enabled it to do so by heedlessly transporting it.

My deepest condolences go to Abba’s wife, children and family who gave us their Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle and Son , and to Mr President and all his immediate Staff and colleagues in the Villa .

Rest in Peace Chief, you served well.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Honourable Minister of  Works and Housing

Mar

25

2020

Fashola Delivers 3 Internal Rehabilitated Roads Of 1.80km To University Of Ibadan

The Honourable Minster of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has delivered  three internal rehabilitated roads of 1.80 kilometers by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing  to the management of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The 1.80KM roads which were rehabilitated have asphalt overlay, construction of culvert and line drains within the tertiary institution.The roads include: Gongola 230 meters, Sokoto Crescent 560 meters and Amina Way 1,010 meters respectively.

It could be recalled that the Federal Government under the 2017 and 2018 appropriation, procured 43 contracts respectively for the rehabilitation of internal roads in Federal Tertiary Institutions in the Six Geo-Political Zones nationwide and University of Ibadan is one of the beneficiaries in the first phase of the intervention.

According to the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works, Oyo State, Engineer Oladimeji Awopetu, during the official handing over ceremony, 18 out of the 43 internal roads project had been completed and were being handing over across the nation.

The Minister added that the intervention was to bridge the gap of the schools infrastructure needs in learning, adding that students were expressing renewed enthusiasm with regard to attending classes, because some defective roads had been restored to motorability.

“To date, 18 out of the 43 interventions have been completed and today we hand over this one in the University of Ibadan, Oyo State as a critical contribution to support education,”Fashola said.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka appreciated President Mohammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works & Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola,SAN for selecting the institution as part of the beneficiaries amongst many tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“For us to have been part of this intervention, we are very grateful, although, we have been doing some palliative repairs in the past but this time around, the Federal Government had surprised us by coming in a big way to fix these roads,”Prof. Olayinka said.

The VC revealed that more internal roads of the institution were still yarning for urgent attention. He pleaded with the Federal Government to intervene in those roads as soon as the resources were available.

The Director of Works, University of Ibadan, Engr. Adetolu Olufemi said the roads had been a major challenge before the rehabilitation. He thanked the Honourable Minister for the project most especially at this critical period where government resources were dwindling.

Also, a student from the Department of European Studies, Adeyemi Ayomikun said that the intervention was a great relief, adding that there was reduced stress  for students moving from the hostels  to lecture rooms.

Among the dignitaries present at the handing over ceremony were the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Kayode Olabode Adebowale, DVC Academics, Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, DVC Research Innovation & Strategies Partnership, Prof Olayinka Adeyemo, the University Bursar, Dr. Michael Akinade Alatise, Directorate of Public Communications, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo amongst others.

Mar

21

2020

Construction Of Port Harcourt– Enugu Express Highway Is On Course-Fashola

The Honourable of Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, said the on-going expansion and upgrading work on the Port Harcourt– Enugu and the Aba – Port Harcourt Expressway  was  on course.

He added that the nine kilometers from Eleme junction to the Imo River and four kilometers of the road to the railway crossing in Aba towards Port Harcourt were sections of the road  being expanded and upgraded from the 4 (four) existing lanes to 8 (eight) lanes so as to accommodate current and future traffic volumes and ease some level of intolerable discomfort especially during the rainy season.

Fashola disclosed this during an inspection tour of the highway project in Port- Harcourt,  the Rivers State capital.

According to the minister, the road would link the five States in the South -East Geopolitical Zone of the country. The highway has a total length of 41.4km starting from Aba Rail Crossing Bridge within Aba township in Abia state and will finally terminate at Eleme junction Flyover in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Fashola applauded the initiative of the construction company, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Nigeria Limited as it planned  to focus on the first 4 (four) lanes, finish that and put them in to use before reconstruction of the other 4 (four) lanes to reduce the long time spent in traffic by commuters and the community.

“If people have two uninterrupted lanes, traffic may be slow but it will move, and therefore we can concentrate on finishing the remaining lanes. When we finish both, then we can have the full compliment of the 8 lane highway.” he said.

Fashola said, “Our plan is to make this year better than last year and ultimately by next year, there will be no rainy season challenges because, we should have come out fully from this,”he added.

The minister also disclosed that similar construction work had commenced at the Enugu and Okigwe axis of the highway project by different contractors to provide seamless traveling experience.

Fashola directed that all vehicles parked at construction sites of highway projects should be impounded, adding that Federal government roads were not for parking lot. “Our highways are not parking lots, people who want to do business must create their own parking lots as well.’’

He urged local and state governments to mobilize their people to be alive to their civic responsibilities and cooperation, pointing out that community and personal hygiene were crucial  in this crisis of Coronavirus (Covid 19).

"We must not waste the crisis that Covid-19 represents. It is an opportunity to improve on personal and community hygiene and sanitation such as putting an end to open urination and defecation,” Fashola advised.

The Federal Controller of Works Rivers State, Engr. Johnson Fadire who conducted the minister, his team and journalists round the on-going  road construction project said the minister’s inspection was timely and that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing would do the needful to make sure the road was completed and delivered at the right time.

Engr. Fadire also commended the traditional rulers who prevailed on their subjects whose properties were demolished for the construction of the highway for agreeing to accept an initial payment of fifty percent for compensation on their demolished properties.

Speaking earlier, the project manager of CCECC Nigeria Limited, Mr. Zou Xiaomei one of the contractors handling section IV of the project in Rivers State said although there were initial challenges on the project but with the support of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing most of the challenges were sorted out.

Mar

19

2020

Quality Infrastructure, Impacting Quality Education -Fashola

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola,SAN said that the quality of infrastructural development within a country could un-debatably impact quality education and the learning environment.

He made the remark at the handing over ceremony of  a completed internal road intervention project by the Federal Ministry of  Works and Housing at the University of Calabar, Cross River state.

Fashola who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works Cross River State, Engr. Bassey Nsentip observed that the road completed had enhanced students mobility  and reduced stress in the learning environment.

He further stated that although the road intervention project was a civil works project, the Federal Government intends to invest in education by improving the ambience and environment of tertiary institutions to  enhance academic activities.

The Minister also disclosed that the Federal Government is presently working on the rehabilitation of 43 internal roads in federal tertiary institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the country out of which 18 had been completed and being handed over.

He said the 1.17km road handed over to the University of Calabar was among such roads, urging the school authority and students to ensure the asset was used and maintained properly.

Speaking earlier the Vice Chancellor University of Calabar,Prof. Zana Akpagu who was full of delight for the laudable initiative disclosed that prior to its rehabilitation, the road was in a deplorable state. He added that before the rehabilitation the road was inaccessible for students to go through especially during the rainy season.

Prof. Akpagu said the road now enables easy access to the hostels, classrooms, the medical department and the chapel.

He thanked the President and the Minister of Works and Housing  for the road while believing that the government would do more roads and infrastructural interventions in future to help the university.

Also in a chat with the media,  the Director of Finance and Supplies Cross River State Ministry of Works,Mr.Ebere  Ignatius thanked the Federal Government for the support and pledged more collaborations with  the federal government.

Mar

17

2020

FG Steps Up Road Infrastructure In Tertiary Institutions

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to bridge the infrastructural gap across the country and in all sectors as it continues its internal road intervention project to boost education and make the learning environment more conducive for students.

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, expressed the government's commitment to bridging infrastructural gap while handing over a newly reconstructed 1.33 kilometres internal road by his Ministry at the Federal University Oye, Ekiti State.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Fashola who was represented by the Ekiti State Federal Controller of Works Engr. Ishaq Lawalsaid that the intervention in internal roads construction within tertiary institutions is currently going on in 43 tertiary institutions, out of which 18 had  been fully completed by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and  admonished the school authority to ensure that the asset  was maintained and not abused.

The students of Federal University Oye, expressed renewed enthusiasm with regard to attending classes and becoming more zealous in the pursuit of their academic career as a result of the reconstructed road.

Earlier In his welcome remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Kayode Shoremekun, thanked the federal government and the Ministry of Works and Housing for the reconstruction of over 1 kilometre internal road within the campus to ease vehicular movement and other activities. He urged the Minister not to abandon the school in subsequent budgetary provisions as more projects were begging for attention.

He also appealed to the federal government to continue to partner with the school towards ensuring the provision of necessary social amenities to cater for over twenty thousand students of the university.

The occasion was witnessed by top government officials and management staff of the institution.

Mar

15

2020

1.8km Loko – Oweto Bridge To Boost Economic Activities In Nigeria

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, has said that  completion of the 1.8km Loko -Oweto Bridge in Nasarawa and Benue States will boost economic activities in Nigeria.

He said this when he was on an inspection tour of the bridge construction site over the weekend. According to Fashola, the Loko- Oweto Bridge being a major strategic transport road connecting the Northern part of the country and all those coming from the Eastern part would develop into a vital economic route inclusive of transportation of agricultural produce.

Fashola also said that the Oweto part of the bridge is in Benue state while Loko is in Nasarawa state, noting that the bridge would reduce the long hours that were normally spent on journeys from the East to the Federal Capital as well as the Northern part of the country.

“This is a major impact on business reducing the cost of time and improving the ease of doing business,” Fashola said.

The Minister, while stating that the Loko- Oweto Bridge also crosses River Benue disclosed that work was currently going on at the Second Niger Bridge.

According to Fashola, the two major bridge interventions done by the Buhari administration would improve national integration, bring further co-existence and interaction among Nigerians.

Walking on the bridge with journalists, Fashola said street lighting was a feature added to the bridge. He mentioned that the Ministry had to ensure the communities were connected to electricity for it to achieve the street lighting of the bridge, saying it has given the communities the privilege of enjoying electricity which they had lacked before the intervention on the road and bridge began.

Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, urged the Managing Director of Messrs Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Limited (RCC), Nabeel Esawi, to employ a method that would fast track the completion and timely delivery of the link roads between Loko and Oweto to the bridge.

The Federal Controller of Works , Nasarawa State, Engr. Taiwo Wasiu who conducted the Ministers and journalists round the bridge said that the Ministry would do the needful to make sure the bridge was completed and delivered at the right time.

On behalf of the Loko community, the Emir of Loko, Alhaji Ahmed Sabo Umar, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the construction of the bridge and road network. He said that the bridge would enable his subjects to transport their farm produce safely to other communities as against paddling of canoes which was hazardous to their lives previously.

He said that the bridge and road network had linked his community with other parts of the country, noting that motorists ply the route daily as construction was on-going.

Mar

12

2020

FG Shuts Alaka Bridge Linking Eko Bridge In Lagos For Emergency Repairs

The Federal Government on Tuesday night shut the Alaka Bridge linking Eko Bridge in Lagos for repairs to prevent  its total collapse, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN reports that officials from both Lagos State Ministry and Federal Ministry of Works and their Transportation counterparts converged on the bridge at about 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday for the emergency closure.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, told NAN in a telephone interview, that the emergency closure was to prevent total collapse of the bridge.

“We are all here closing the Alaka to Costain portion of the Eko Bridge because some bearings are bad.

“We just discovered that the bearings are broken and we are here to shut it down for the safety of motorists.

“We are shutting it down now so that we can carry out full investigations on the extent of damage to the bearings to begin the repairs,’’ Kuti said.

He explained that only Alaka flyover portion from Alaka to Costain section of the Eko Bridge was bad but from Costain Bus stop area beside the National Theatre is in good condition.

The Controller said that the traffic regulatory agencies were on ground to ensure that impact of gridlock as a result of the closure was minimized when commuters use the road on Wednesday morning.

He advised motorists going to Lagos Island to connect the Eko Bridge through the service lane at Alaka through Iponrin to Costain Bus Stop area to connect the bridge.

He also advised use of the National Theatre, as alternative route to connect the Eko Bridge on the other side. (NAN)

Mar

10

2020

The Gap of our Infrastructure Needs is Steadily Being Bridged -FASHOLA

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing,  Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has reiterated that the gap of Nigeria's infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways which has reached the Federal Polytechnic,Ede, Osun State.

Fashola disclosed this while  handing over a rehabilitated  2km internal road and construction of culverts at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State.

While speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the Minister who was ably represented by the Federal Controller of Works Osun State,Engr. Olawale Kehinde said, "Currently, there are 43 such interventions in internal roads within tertiary institutions across Nigeria. To date 18 (Eighteen) out of the 43 (forty three) interventions have been completed and today we hand over this in Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State"

Fashola said, "With  the current intervention in the tertiary institutions quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and  the learning environment, and it will renew students' enthusiasm to attend classes ,because some impassable roads have become motorable."

Expantiating on the economic importance of the project, the Minister divulged that no less than 38 (thirty eight) people were employed during  the execution of the  project which contributed enormously to the job creation initiatives of the Federal Government.

He, enjoined the school management and host community to ensure that the project was effectively maintained.

Speaking earlier, the Rector Federal Polytechnic Ede, Dr. John Taiwo Adekolawole, who was represented by the Deputy Rector, (Admin), Mr. I. T. Adelabu, said the project consists of 2km road in the North and the South campus. I am sure both the students and the staff are very happy with the construction of the road.

In his words, "In deed management is very appreciative of the new road as it has changed tremendously the landscape of our campus."

He further maintained that with the cooperation and support of  the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, other road projects will be approved for construction especially  the Ogberin-Logun-Sekona road.

"We hope the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing will also be positive on other collaborations and on other projects especially our perimeter fencing of the South Campus," he said.

The Rector who was so delighted with the kind gesture expressed his sincere appreciation  to the construction company (Messrs Q System Venture Ltd) that undertook the project with high sense of responsibility and completed the road in record time.

Adekolawole also expressed his sincere appreciation to all the Directors of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, for the their efforts.

In his closing remarks, the Dean, School of Applied Science, Dr. S. A. Amusan, sincerely appreciated the kind gesture by the Federal Government to their institution, also thanked the Honourable. Minister,  Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN for what he has done to the Federal Polytechnic, Ede.

In his remarks, the President of the Students Union Government (SUG), Mr. Quazeem Ajibade, said he was so pleased with the road project and under his tenure the project would be highly protected and maintained.

Ajibade said it has made the school environment more conducive for learning.

Mar

06

2020

Find New Ways To Bridge The Road And Housing Gap In The Country - Fashola

The Honourable Minster of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has called on participants at the National Policy on Development, (N-PoD), summit to use the occasion to identify new ways to tackle the numerous problems responsible for road and housing infrastructure gap in the Country.

The Minister who was represented by the Hon. Minister of State for Works and Housing Engr. Abubakar D Aliyu made this call while delivering the key note address at the second edition of the National Policy on Development summit in Abuja today. Fashola disclosed that as part of efforts to bridge the infrastructure gap the Ministry of Works and Housing had intervened in the construction of internal roads in 44 tertiary institutions.

He added that the intervention forms part of the over 500 roads and bridge projects currently being undertaken by the Ministry. On the housing deficit in Nigeria the Minister said, “The Ministry is concerned about mitigating the deficit and ensuring that Nigerians wherever they reside have access to affordable, conducive and hygienic housing.” He further said “The National Housing Programm is ongoing across the country with over 2,500 units completed in 34 States of the Federation.”

Fashola further revealed that the Federal Mortgage Bank and the Federal Housing Authority were increasing the housing stock to Nigerians through several programmes such as rent to own, mortgage finance ownership and so on.

The Minster of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello, who was represented by Professor M.T Usman praised the organisers of the summit for bringing together stakeholders to brainstorm and galvanise ideas on how best to move the nation forward. He described the theme of the summit “Actualizing The Next Level Agenda, Strategies, Prospects And Anticipated Challenges” as apt saying that the FCT administration was working hard to ensure that Nigerians felt the impact of good governance.

On his part, the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba stressed the need for the National Orientation Agency to work assiduously to encourage Nigerians to patronise made in Nigerian products. He said otherwise Nigerian oil will continue to create jobs and wealth for other nations because of the preference for foreign goods over made in Nigeria goods by Nigerians.

The Minister also decried the attitude of Nigerians to work as some Nigerians consider certain jobs degrading even as income from such jobs could meet their needs.  He said, “The only way we can take people out of poverty is if we can change them from mere population to working force.” He argued that Nigeria is blessed with everything that other developed nations have and would rise to greater height if the citizens change their attitude.

The Summit was declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Secretary to The Government of The Federation, Mr. Andrew David Adejoh.

Also present at the occasion were the Minister of Defence, Representative of the Kano stat Governor, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Stakeholders from the organised Private Sector and Labour Union representatives.

Mar

04

2020

FUTA VC Applauds FG For Rehabilitation Of Internal Roads Intervention

The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure Ondo State, Prof. Joseph Adeola Fuwape has applauded the Federal Government for the initiative of intervention in the internal roads construction in the institution.

The VC made the commendation while officially taking over 1.80 kilometers internal roads rehabilitated by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. He appreciated the Honourable Minister Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN and the entire Ministry for the internal roads intervention project at the institution.

Prof. Fuwape solicited for the Honourable Minster, for the engagement of the students of Civil and Engineering Department of the institution in the Ministry's highway and housing projects in the state for practical experiences, adding that such partnership would help the students acquire the nitty gritty of roads and housing construction before graduation

He however pleaded that more internal roads of the institution should be included in the second intervention phase of the project to increase it to 2.8 kilometer from the present one. He said," We are excited about this, we want more like Oliver Twist."

In his remarks at the handing over ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN who was represented by the Acting Controller of Works Ondo State, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. Olajide Hussein said that the gap of Nigeria's infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the schools.

Mr. Fashola said that the internal road project at the Federal University of Technology Akure is an investment in education by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

The Deputy Vice President of the Federal University of Technology Akure Students Union, Caroline Felix said that she was impressed by the internal road intervention project at the institution, adding that with this development, students would be able to attend lectures with ease.

Aug

18

2020

Fashola Charges Vice Chancellors on the Use of Data to Aid National Development

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN has charged the Vice Chancellors in Nigeria Universities to channel the data in their confines to guide government, the business community and the citizenry on national development. Fashola gave the charge while granting audience to the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, who paid him a courtesy visit today in his office.

The Minister said, “The world is chasing data, collating data, this data is sitting in our Universities, almost every lecturer ask students to write one research paper or the other. We can use this data in a useful form, to inform our government, to inform businessmen, to inform the society”. He added that for instance such information could be used in the analysis of a local government with a view to yielding positive results.

In response to the call for his support by the Vice Chancellors, he said, “In terms of collaborative relationship on infrastructure, you can take my cooperation for granted”. Fashola stated that the Ministry of Works and Housing had intervened in the building of roads in 44 tertiary institutions in the country under this administration but lamented that when people criticize government on the state of roads no University came to inform the public on those interventions.

The Minister who described the University as an investment into the future urged the Vice Chancellors to be discreet in the award of honourary degrees which he described as very important building blocks that should be given to only deserving people and not for those whose achievement is just the occupation of a political office.

He said this would encourage the youth to work harder while charging honourary degree holders to bring their impact to bear in the development of the universities. Fashola also advised them to bring Professors together to write an acceptable version of the Nigerian history that will be taught in schools like it was done in some other climes.

Speaking earlier, Secretary General of the Association and leader of the delegation, Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu informed the Minister that the Association which was established in 1962 is a platform for sharing ideas and engaging Nigerians on issues that affect the Nigerian universities. He added that the organization which had the universities of Ibadan, Lagos, Ife, Nsukka and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria at inception now has 174 universities.

Professor Ochefu who praised the Minister for his commitment to road construction and maintenance, expressed gratitude to him for the intervention of his Ministry in the building of internal road in 44 tertiary institutions across Nigeria. He informed Fashola that they were in the Ministry to seek his cooperation in their plan to produce a compendium on the forthcoming celebration of the 60th anniversary of their association in Nigeria, and his support to tackle the problems facing Nigerian universities.

Professor Ochefu said that the group decided to seek partnership with the Minister to share experience in view of the pivotal role he played in the development ofLagos State university when he was the Governor of Lagos State.
 Present an the occasion were the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, [FNSE], the Director overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Yemi Oguntominiyi and other Directors of the Ministry.

Jul

21

2020

FG Commences Partial Closure of Third Mainland Bridge for Repairs and Restoration

….Lists alternative routes and calls for patience and understating of road users

The Federal Government has announced the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, Nigeria, from Friday July 24, 2020 to January 24, 2021 for repairs.

The Federal Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola announced this on Tuesday during a Press briefing to the nation on Government’s plans of assuaging the pains the closure would cause the over 132,702 light and vehicles that ply that route on a daily basis.

Fashola during the Press briefing also announced alternatives routes: Costain, Ebute-Metta and Ijora as road users could use during the period of the repair.

He also called for patience and understanding of road users adding that it was well-meaning Nigerians who drew the attention of the government to the bridge through comments and videos, pointing out that the maintenance was a direct response to those calls which was what governance is all about.

Fashola explained:  “The Bridge is 11.8km; we are closing 3.5km so it is a partial and not a total closure.” He said that the Third Mainland Bridge was conceived in 1970 as a result of rapid modernisation of Lagos and that the construction work of the bridge spanned over three decades and was done during the oil boom, pointing out that the need for maintenance of the bridge was inherited by the current administration.

According to Fashola, the Federal Government had so far intervened on thirty–seven bridges across the country, maintaining that Lagos has the highest number of bridges. He further said that the work on the Lagos Mainland Bridge is a collaborative effort between the Federal and Lagos State Governments.

He commended the commitment of the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari in the maintenance of the nation’s infrastructure nationwide.

Acknowledging the pains the closure may cause, Fashola called road users to be patient as the construction works last.  “The best will happen if we all show understanding, restraint and patience, because we will have a better and safer bridge in a short while to come,”he said.

In his presentation, the Director of Highways Bridges and Design, Engr. Emmanuel Adeoye  stated that the Third Mainland Bridge which is about 11.8 km long links Lagos Island to the Mainland and it is the busiest bridge in Nigeria with a daily average of traffic count of 132,702.

Explaining further, he stated that the bridge provided the most direct route for commercial and industrial traffic leaving Lagos Island to other parts of the country and vice versa, pointing out that, it was necessary to always ensure regular maintenance to keep it in a serviceable state.

“The periodic maintenance of the bridge was carried out in 2008, 2012, 2018 respectively and the present maintenance was a continuation of the process” he said

On his part, the Director of Highways South-West, Engr. Adedamola Kuti said that the bridge would be partially closed for six months and that the partial closure would be in two phases to ensure operational efficiency. He said alternative routes have been provided to ease traffic flow during the maintenance work on the bridge.

Accordingly, he explained that the two phases would be sub-divided into morning and afternoon traffic to minimize disruption of traffic during peak hours which are mainly from the Mainland to the Island in the morning and a return traffic in the evening from the Mainland to Island.

He further disclosed that during the phase one, the Mainland bound carriage way would be partially closed to traffic from Adeniji-Adele up to the Ebute-Meta axis and that of phase two, the partial closure would be from the Ebute-Meta axis of the Island bound carriage way to the Adeniji-Adele axis.

Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Boboye Oyeyemi, who also spoke during the briefing said that  “The partial closure has therefore placed the Corps in a position to provide strategic plan that will ameliorate the envisioned traffic situation the closure is certain to throw up,”

He said the Corps has deployed massive personnel and logistics to guide and administer road traffic within the six months of the closure, adding that the Corps had commenced publicizing alternative routes to the teeming road users.

Jul

16

2020

Fashola Inaugurates Presidential Committee on Zik Mausoleum, Urge Members to Protect the Facility

The Honourable Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN has inaugurated the Presidential Committee for the Management and Maintenance of the Zik Mausoleum and Conference Centre, Onitsha.

Speaking during the occasion conducted virtually, Fashola, who noted that the National Public Buildings Maintenance Policy provides a framework and attendant guidelines for the maintenance of Federal Government owned buildings across the country, charged members to ensure proper maintenance and protection of the facility.

He said, “The Committee will take responsibility for the effective maintenance and management of the facility in accordance with the National Public Maintenance Policy and ensure its protection, work at optimal capacity and attain its full life span.”

Mr. Fashola said the purpose of setting up the Committee was borne out of concerns expressed at the inauguration of the building on the need to ensure the Mausoleum served the purpose for which it was built which included honoring Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, propagate his ideals and promote tourism.

Speaking on the commitment of the administration to infrastructure development, Mr. Fashola said, “facility management and maintenance is one of the cardinal points of the Buhari led administration which aimed at prolonging the life of the infrastructure, support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and drive employment”.

Terms of reference for the committee Include: Liaise with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to draw up strategies and the framework that will guide the Committee in the effective maintenance of the facility, determine the composition of the professionals to be involved in the management and maintenance of the facility and make recommendations to government on ways of using the facility to project the nation’s rich cultural heritage.

The acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. Yemi Oguntominiyi expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government for the inauguration of the Committee to safeguard the structure and urged members to work assiduously to achieve result.

Speaking earlier, the Director Federal Public Asset Management Department (FPAN), Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Arc. Tina Onokwai disclosed that the project was initiated to serve as a national monument and a tourist centre in memory of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.  She added that it consists of a mausoleum and an administrative block and conference building.

The Director further said that the infrastructure which commenced in 1997 and attained completion in October 2018 was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 24th of January, 2019. Ach. Onokwai said that the need to ensure its maintenance and optimum use informed the setting up of the Committee.

Members of the Committee are: Mrs. Osuagwu Victoria, representing the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr. Gabby Onyejekwe, representing the government of Anambra State, Ms Sandra Ngozi Azikiwe, representing the Azikiwe family, Mr. Nnaemeka Maduegbuna, representing the Obi of Onitsha, Arc. Tina Onokwai representing the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Mrs Aileru Abosede Jumoke, representing the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Members of the committee will choose their Chairman and Secretary at their inaugural meeting.

Jun

28

2020

Celebrating Fashola at 57: The ‘BRF Way

“BRF is a genius at breaking it down, laying it all out. When he goes on project tours, he stops to ask the artisans and food vendors on the site about how the project has touched or is touching their lives. And that’s what government communications should really be focusing on: telling and showing the actual impact / outcomes. Not just the contract sum (input) — which is what tends to make the headlines, the media love these numbers — but also the “stimulus” effect on ordinary people and communities and neighbourhoods.”

Tolu Ogunlesi, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital Communications, on “Lessons in/from public sector communication”

Right on the money.

The stories told by these Nigerians - Abu, Sunday and others during BRF’s tours, can fill a book, but much more than that, they tell a story: Impact.

In 2017, Mallam Abu, a labourer at the site of the Gombe State National Housing Programme, told Fashola that he had worked at the site for about eight months and had been able to pay the dowry of his new wife and they were expecting a baby.

In February, Sunday Echekwu, a mason at the site of the Anambra State National Housing Programme in Isiagu Community on the outskirts of Awka, the State Capital, told the minister he and his colleagues earned N4,500 daily for their labour at the site. Prior to getting the job, he said he was doing odd jobs here and there but idle most of the time. At the same site, Mrs. Isaiah Eberechukwu, a food vendor, told him that she supplied food to the workers on the site daily, including Sundays, at N250 a plate. Her husband, Mr. Eberechukwu was also a bricklayer at the site.

Again at the site of the Delta State National Housing Programme in Asaba, the State Capital, Emmanuel Ogochukwu who spoke glowingly of the Buhari administration for giving them a source of making a living through the NHP and other people oriented initiatives which, according to him, “is impacting positively on the population, especially the unemployed youths across the country”.

For Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, there’s really no going about it any other way.

On assuming office in November 2015, as Minister of Power, Works and Housing one of his first moves was to invite, in batches, the over 200 Federal Government contractors - many of whom  had abandoned their projects for lack of payment - for a chat. The outcome of those meetings was the re-mobilisation back to sites of the contractors, leading to the recall of over 750, 000 workers. Effect: resuscitation of the economy. As many got their jobs back, so did suppliers of materials as well as providers of food and drinks on the various sites; not to forget compensations to people whose lands were acquired to make way for roads’ construction.

Of course, while doing these, the eyes of this football-loving minister are firmly on the ball.

Currently, for him, it is work for the delivery of President Buhari’s Mandate of using infrastructure to transform Nigeria’s economy and lift millions out of poverty. Those millions would include Peter, the Painter met by the Hon. Minister at the site of the National Housing Programme(NHP) in 2019; Mrs Folake Emmanuel the Food Vendor at the site of the NHP in Oyo State and her husband, Mr Emmanuel, whose hitherto idle concrete mixer roared into action at the site fetching N20,000 daily ; Rilwan Adamu from the NHP site in Jalingo ; Fidelis the Carpenter at the NHP site in Gwagwalada , FCT ; and Engr. Obosi , the enthusiastic youth met at the site of the NHP in Ikot Ntuen /Affa Nsit , Uyo , Akwa Ibom State among so many others.

And he is on the way.

For example, out of the 643-kilometre SUKUK-funded roads which the President wants finished, a total of 411.96 kilometres have been completed from February 2019 to date.

As at February 2020, all the piling works of the 2nd Niger Bridge project had been completed while the deck is being launched and the approach roads to the bridge from Asaba and Onitsha are simultaneously being constructed. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

In the Housing Sector, the Ministry has delivered a significant number of houses through the National Housing Programme and in collaboration with its parastatals - the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), as well as by synchronising the deliverables of the Ministry and its parastatal with those of the Public Private Partnerships.

FMBN alone completed 43 Housing projects between 2015 and 2019, delivering a total of 5, 542 housing units while currently implementing 15 projects that will deliver 581 housing units when completed. The bank also issued 5, 301 mortgages totaling N38.2 billion within the period while in the last one year up to May 2020, 331 mortgages totaling N2.9 billion have been issued. It is supposed to do more with the National Cooperatives Housing Partnerships. It also granted Home Renovation Loans totaling N34.85 Billion to 42, 037 people between 2015 and 2019 and in the last one year N5.7 Billion of the loan has been granted to 6, 675 people. The FHA also has delivered 461 housing units while 1, 407 housing units are under construction.

Through road construction and rehabilitation alone, 201, 719 direct and indirect jobs were generated while 15, 158 jobs were also created through road maintenance by FERMA.

The multiplier effect of the roads’ construction can be felt in increased agricultural productivity and food security through easy evacuation of farm produce to markets across the country. This has also reduced travel time and complemented other infrastructure along the alignments where roads are constructed. Improved road infrastructure has also impacted positively on security by way of reduced crime rate on the roads.

The Sector has also contributed to the growth of mining for road construction materials such as limestone, granite, sand and laterite.

The Housing Sector has not done less either. The Sector has created 516, 998 jobs since inception of this administration, greatly impacting on the fight against poverty through empowerment skills acquisition.

Property values have appreciated between 30 and 40 per cent with approval/issuance of Certificates of Occupancy and Consents as well as provision of Road Transport Infrastructure.

The BRF Way also manifests in how he reacts to criticisms, particularly from those he considers “right-thinking and well-meaning: redoubling his efforts. “Criticisms inspire and challenge me,” he told an interviewer on a TV programme recently, “because I believe the critic…has entrusted our government, through President Muhammadu Buhari, to me with the responsibility to serve him. So in the same way that I could go to a restaurant and if the quality of food is not good, I am entitled to complain. I see critics in that light. Really and truly what I used to say is that if critics ask more of us we must feel proud that they are asking more of us because they actually believe we are capable of doing it. If they don’t believe in our ability to do more, they won’t ask us. So now that they are asking us I am inspired.”

Doing more is the BRF Way to make the other class of critics - those “who make comments about things they are not aware of” and “those who do not believe anything” recant. When in February, he was inspecting the 2nd Niger Bridge project, one of the journalists on the tour went to him and apologised profusely for writing uncharitable and unconfirmed things about the project. By way of response he took the journalist to the top of the bridge where decks were already being laid. They took photographs there and in his excitement the journalist posted the photograph on his medium’s online platform.

The BRF Way sure works.

And, as Fashola clocks 57 today, one can’t but pray to the Almighty to keep giving  him ideas to perfect The BRF Way for the greater good of mankind.

Mr Hakeem Bello, FNGE is Special Adviser
Communications to the Hon. Minister

Jun

18

2020

Private Sector Engagement In Highway Development, Management, Avenue To Mitigate Paucity Of Funds - Fashola

Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has stated that private sector engagement in the development and management of roads is an avenue to mitigate paucity of funds which has hindered road development in the past.

Fashola stated this in his presentation on Public Private Partnership (PPP) on Highway Development and Management Initiative to the joint National Assembly Committee on Works, Wednesday June 17th, 2020.

He explained that Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) was created by his Ministry to manage and develop the federal road networks, with the objective to attract sustainable investment and funding in the development of road infrastructure and to maximize the use of assets along the right of way.

" The rationale behind the private sector engagement under the HDMI would provide an avenue that would mitigate paucity of funds, which had hindered roads development in the past" he said.

Ten (10) roads are to be concessioned under the first phase of the HDM initiative, namely: Benin – Asaba, Abuja – Lokoja, Kaduna – Kano, Onitsha – Owerri – Aba, Shagamu -Benin, Abuja -Keffi – Akwanga, Kano – Maiduguri, Lokoja – Benin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba.

The total length of the federal road network is 35,000km, but the proposed project in the first phase will cover a total lenght of 2.275km.

The project will attract a capital investment of N163.323bn at a cost of about N16bn per each of the 10 roads, in addition to about 23,322 jobs that would be created.

Explaining further, the minister said investors are expected to provide streetlights, toll plazas, rest areas, and weighbridge stations.

Accordingly, the Minister further explained that the HDMI was broken into two categories, namely: Value Added Concession(VAC) and unbundled Assets Approval (VAA).

He added that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, (FMWH), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission,(ICRC), Bureau of Public Procurement, (BPP) and Special Purpose Vehicle Concessionaire were the defined stakeholders to provide the regulatory framework in the implementation.

Earlier, Senator Adamu Aliero, Chairman Senate Committee on Works who co -chaired the Joint Session with Honourable Buba Abubakar, Chairman House Committee on works, stated that it was imperative to engage private sector partnership to tackle the bad roads in Nigeria as government alone could not bear the burden of fixing them.

He said the Public Private partnership reduces the financial burden of government thereby allowing funds to be utilized in other relevant social economic sectors.

Senator Aliero assured the Honourable Minister of the tacit support of the National Assembly and promised to provide legislation that will strengthen and protect the laudable investment initiative.

Present at the presentation were the Minster of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Bukar, some Directors of the Ministry, and the Director General/CEO of Infraustructural Concession Regulatory Commission, Engr. Chidi Izuwah and and some other stakehokders.

Jun

01

2020

Isang Iwara Bows Out Of Service

The Director of Human Resources Management, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mrs. Isang Iwara on Friday 29th May, 2020 bowed out of service in grand style after a meritorious service to her father land.

Friday  marked  thirty-four years and six months she joined the service. She will be sixty years on Saturday hence her retirement yesterday.

Mrs.Isang Iwara born on the 30th of May, 1960, joined Cross River Civil Service in November, 1985. She  transferred her service to the Federal Civil Service as Assistant Director, Administration in 2004 and was promoted to the position of Deputy Director Administration in 2010. In 2014 she became a full fledged Director. She was posted to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in 2018 as Director, Human Resources Management  from where she retired.

Speaking at the event the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Housing, Mohammed Burka represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Famous Eseduwo congratulated her, saying that it was not easy coming out of the service unscratched because the service is most of the times turbulent.

Bukar  urged the retired Director to sustain her positive contributions to the service in nation building.

He commended her for her expertise in  the  discharge of her duties while in service,adding that she was a person that was able to bring result with little resources.

The Permanent Secretary charged members of staff to imbibe Mrs.Isang Iwara's attribute of prudence as things are not what they used to be especially during this Covid-19 era.

Giving a goodwill message, the Deputy Director (Staff Welfare and Training, Housing) Mrs. Cecilia

Akuns described Mrs.Isang as an embodiment of a seasoned technocrat that Civil Servants must emulate. That though she has retired, she should make herself available any time she is called to serve in higher capacity.

In her vote of thanks, the retiring Director of Human Resources Management, Mrs. Isang Iwara thanked the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr.Abubakar Aliyu,FNSE, Mohammed Bukar,the Permanent Secretary , director colleagues and other members of staff for affording her the opportunity to serve Nigeria in various capacities in the Civil Service.
Mrs. Iwara  also thanked members of her staff and said that the successes she recorded were due to the crop of hard working and dedicated staff of the Ministry and the support she enjoyed from the management.
The retiring Director enjoined staffers of the ministry to extend their support and cooperation to her successor to serve the ministry and the nation better in service delivery.

Mar

26

2020

FG Committed To Development Of Education Through Provision Of Quality Infrastructure – Fashola

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN Tuesday reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to the development of education in the country through the provision of quality infrastructure, saying it remains a vital means to impact quality in that sector.

Fashola, who spoke while handing over two kilometres rehabilitated internal roads and a paved parking lot to the Kaduna Polytechnics, said the Buhari administration also chose to invest in infrastructure renewal in the education sector in order  to improve the learning environment in the tertiary institutions pointing out that the various feedbacks from the students of those institutions testify to the positive impact on the sector.

The 2.0 kilometre road project includes: Hamman Tukur Avenue, Yusuf Aboki Avenue, Abdullahi Crescent, Aminu Aliyu Close, Salisu Iliyasu Close, Yusuf Hassan roads and a roundabout  linking them.

The minister, who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works Kaduna State, Engr. Finbarr James declared, “It is un-debatable that the quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment and those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedbacks from students in the schools where this type of intervention has taken place.”

Fashola noted with delight that the gap of Nigeria’s infrastructure needs was steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repair, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached schools. He  added that aside the impact in schools the project also generated employment for people thereby contributing to the job creation initiatives of the Federal Government.

Urging the academic community to take ownership of the infrastructure and ensure that they are carefully utilized in order to last their lifespan, Fashola promised that Federal Government would continue to intervene in education, explaining that the intervention by Federal Government would improve the ambience and environment of Federal Tertiary Institutions to enhance academic activities.

The Rector of Kaduna Polytechnics, Professor Idris Bugaje, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the Minister of Works and Housing for the intervention recalling that he met all the infrastructure in dilapidated state when he came to the institution. He added that with this intervention the institution had been able to repair most of the roads in the main campus and a few ones outside.

He told the audience at the brief ceremony, “When I came here in October 2017 the Kaduna Polytechnics was in very bad shape. The roads, the buildings, all the infrastructure had  dilapidated.

We have also been able to do the pavement of the campus parking lot et cetera.”

“So we are most grateful to the Minister of Works and Housing”, he said, appealing to the minister  that because the Polytechnics operates multi-campuses, the Federal Government should also intervene in the other campuses of the institution across Kaduna State.

In her remarks, the Kaduna Polytechnics Director of Works, Engr. Umm Kulthoom Aminu, also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the Minister of Works and Housing for including the Polytechnic in the on-going interventions pointing out that no regime in the country had ever dreamed of carrying out such intervention in the institution prior to the present one by the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration

In an interview with newsmen, the director declared, “We are grateful to the Federal Government and the Minister. No other regime except this one has ever thought or looked at the tertiary institutions. And as you can see yourselves, our parking space is something we will be grateful for,  it will be here after this government and after other governments.”

She, however, pleaded with the minister for more interventions saying, “The Kaduna Polytechnics is a multi-campus institution. Aside this Main Campus in Tudun Wada, we have another campus in Baranawa, we call it College for Environmental Studies. We have another one in BYPASS, we call it College of Social Sciences. We have another campus, the College of Business and Management Studies  where we have our farm, demonstration farm in a village called Nariya.

According to her the small road leading to the farm needs rehabilitation due to the insecurity in the state, particularly the incidence of kidnapping and other crimes that occur along the road. She believes an intervention on the road would facilitate the movement of students to  and from the farm for practicals under a more secured environment.

The Welfare Officer of the Polytechnics’ Students Union Government, Mr. Isa Ibrahim, in his remarks also expressed “sincere appreciation to the Federal Government for deeming it fit to choose Kaduna Polytechnics as one of the tertiary institutions to touch in the on-going interventions across institutions in Nigeria”.

Ibrahim, who is in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Technology, said, “This is my five years here as far as this Polytechnics is concerned and nothing of this nature had happened. We thank the Federal Government for seeing the need to touch these roads and since the interventions, movement has been made a lot easier for pedestrians and vehicle owners within  the school campus including the lecturers and the students.”

In an interview with journalists the Controller of Works Kadun State, Engr.Finbarr James reiterated that the need for the interventions in the nation’s tertiary institutions by the Federal Government was a response to create a conducive learning environment and impact on the quality of education in the institutions. He added  that prior to the intervention in Kaduna Polytechnics the roads were in “a sorry state” with the walkways impassable in some areas.

“Those who drove at nights within the campus often got accidents, students got accidents at nights while going to classes, vehicles were having accidents. There is a roundabout there where there was not traffic lights, people drove any how even with the bad state of the place. It was and obvious problem and when we saw all these things we had to write to include this institution as one of those to benefit from the interventions.”

Mar

23

2020

Environmental And Other Factors Affecting Work On  Port Harcourt-Enugu,  Aba -Port Harcourt  Road- Fashola

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing,  Babatunde Raji Fashola,  SAN said what was delaying the completion of the Port Harcourt- Enugu, Aba-Port Harcourt highway were  environmental and other factors.

Fashola stated this in Port Harcourt Rivers State  during an  inspection of the Port Harcourt - Enugu section of the highway.

He said: "We must first remember that if you do not have water,  you cannot be a Port City. Essentially,  we are building on water. It is a very challenging environment for infrastructure, " he explained.

He appealed to the host communities to be patient with  the Federal Government and show cooperation as Government was committed to providing bigger,  better,  wider and safer road for them.

"As you can see, our plan is to deliver eight lanes from what was four lanes since we intend  to make our experience better this rainy season than last year."

He added that though the work would  not finish this year,Government intended  to finish the four lanes,  divide the four lanes into two;  an incoming and out ward bound traffic that would facilitate free flow of traffic.

According to the minister,  that would serve as a form of relief to commuters and other road users  as nine Kilometres of the road from  Eleme junction is in between Port Harcourt urban and metropolitan.  "It is another challenge as it is  already  a built up area, " he said.

Speaking on why the road  construction was delayed,  Fashola stated, " A lot of sand filling is going on here,  the road is dug well over two metres and we have to remove the bad soil and replace it with good soil and this accounts for a lot of dredging work going on here."

He also explained that part of the road was passing through already built area,  some buildings had to go as well as relocation of power lines.  "These are the challenges and the reasons this road is taking time to be built."

Fashola further said that our experience this year would be better than last year. But he quickly called for the cooperation of commuters, communities, Local and State Governments to fast track  the construction of the road. "We expect people to cooperate with us.We expect  people not to park vehicles  on the construction sections because you obstruct traffic. Our highways are not parking lots" He directed  that any vehicle parked on any part of the construction sections of the highway should be  impounded.

Mar

20

2020

FG's Road Intervention In FCE Eases Access To Seven Schools - Provost

Provost of the Federal College of Education, Katsina, Dr Aliyu Idris Funtua has stated that the construction and rehabiliitation of the 1.22km internal road in the Federal College of Education Katsina by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has provided easy access to seven schools within the college.

Dr Funtua listed the schools touches by the road within the College as; schools of education, languages, Adult & nor formal education, sciences, primary education & early childhood care, computer science department, and Art and Social sciences school.

Other areas where the road passes are, Library and Girls Hostel.

The Provost made this remarks during the handing over of the 1.22km internal road project completed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

"I remain grateful for this gesture, a commendable intervention. The road is the best road in the school that touches seven schools and has provided ease of access within the college" he said

Dr Funtua who commmended the Federal Government and the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, also solicited that the minister to extend another 10km road in the school in the near future.

The minister was represented at the handing over ceremony by the Katsina state Federal Controller of Works Engr Tunde Balogun.

The Minister said that,  " it is undebatable that the quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the leaning environment and those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedback from the students of the schools where this type of intervention has taken place."

Accordingly, Fashola also disclosed that, out of the forty three of such road intervention in tertiary institutions by his ministry across the country, seven have been completed of which the one in the Federal College of Education Katsina was among

Resentatives of the students in the college who spoke include; Zaharadeen Sani, Aliyu Sa'du and Zulaihat Abdulrahim.

According to the  students, "the poject was timely, beneficial and has eases access to seven schools for our lectures and easy access to Library and Female Hostels"

Zaharadeen said ' this is a remarkable achievement since the inception of this administration and we appreciate the minister for this intervention"

Mar

18

2020

Build On Knowledge And Value- Fashola

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN  has urged builders in Nigeria to deploy  knowledge and value in building projects, pointing out  that it was the combination of both that give value to building.

"We need to build on our knowledge and value. It is these that give meaning to the bricks and mould we use. If we build without knowledge,  it will not last, " he said.

Fashola made the remarks while receiving the Fellowship Award of the Nigerian Institute of Building in Abuja yesterday.

The Minister used the occasion to debunk the news going round that Federal Government was planning to sell un-occupied  houses. According to Fashola  what the Government was saying was to encourage big house owners to break them to small units so that people can rent or buy them and start to make income from such houses.

He also charged builders to build what people can use, instead of building big houses only to be left unused. He said,  "Build to the sensitivity of the young generation by building small houses."

Fashola thanked the Institute for the conferment of the award on behalf of the Ministry saying that it was a recognition of hard work and team spirit.

"On my own, I will do my best to live up to the responsibility of encouraging the building of affordable houses",  he stated.

Earlier,  the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Building,  Builder Kunle Awobodu said that, "The conferment of the prestigious honorary fellowship of the institute is the highest recognition to be bestowed on  an individual solely based on performance evaluation of which Fashola is a beneficiary."

He said that construction of buildings is a barometer of a thriving economy, adding that what distinguishes a city from a town,  and a town from a village is the number and quality of buildings.

Speaking further,  he stated that,  " Any nation bereft of  building codes is vulnerable to inappropriate building construction."

He therefore called on manufacturers of building materials, artisans and professionals that the culture of doing it right must be embraced.

He enjoined the Minister not to relent in his efforts to ensure the use of Nigeria's building code to guide building construction in Nigeria.

Mar

16

2020

Loko-Oweto Bridge A Major Intervention By Buhari Administration In Linking Nigeria - Fashola

* As Minister inspects the 2.2 km Bridge linking the East to the North of the country
* Says when finished, will reduce journey time from the East to the FCT and impact positively on cost, ease of doing business
* Loko-Oweto, 2nd Niger Bridges across two largest rivers in Nigeria to improve national integration, coexistence – Fashola
* Now Loko is London because of this Bridge, says Emir of Loko, expresses profound gratitude to Buhari

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, at the weekend inspected the progress of work on the Loko-Oweto Bridge linking Nasarawa and Benue States describing it as a major Bridge intervention by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in linking the various regions of the country together.

Fashola, who spoke with newsmen after inspecting the 2.2kilometre Bridge which crosses the River Benue, said the Bridge was a strategic transport route to connect the Northern part of the country to those coming from the Eastern part adding that it would reduce drastically the travel time between the two regions.

The Minister told newsmen at the interaction, “This is a Bridge that connects North and South of Nigeria, Oweto in Benue and Loko in Nasarawa, which links you to the Federal Capital Territory. So this is a major strategic transport route to connect this part of the country and all those coming from the East of Nigeria”.

He said anyone familiar with the territory of Benue State would also know that from Oturkpo, going to Oturkpa and to Ogbulafor, one would link the East of Nigeria. “So this is going to reduce the journey time between the Eastern Region of Nigeria and the Federal Capital, through Nasarawa and neighbouring states by many hours”, he said.

Noting that the journey from the East to Abuja takes sometimes a whole day or more, Fashola declared, “Now, you can make this connection in about six hours from the East of Nigeria to Abuja. So, this is a major impact on business, reducing cost, time and improving the ease of doing business”.

“When I came here in 2016, only one side of the Bridge was completed; now, the entire bridge is completed. The only work that remains now is the connecting roads to link the Bridge to the towns”, the Minister said adding that the road from Oturkpo to Oweto has been completed, with only three and half kilometres remaining to link the Bridge to the road on the Benue side.

He said although there is still some work to be done on the Loko side with about 74 kilometres of connecting road to complete, vehicular traffic has commenced on the road because of the evident shortness of the link adding that it has now become a major route for transporting yams and other agricultural produce from Benue State to Nasarawa and to other parts of the North.

Emphasizing the objective of the Bridge intervention by the Buhari administration, Fashola declared, “This is the Bridge that crosses River Benue while the 2nd Niger Bridge is also going on. They are the two major Bridge interventions across the two largest rivers in Nigeria to improve national integration and further improve national coexistence in the country”.

“The last time I visited here no vehicles was passing because the connection was not complete. But what has happened now is that even as the road remains uncompleted we see trucks moving through because the road is evidently shorter”, the Minister said adding that it is going to develop into a major economic route for Nigeria, especially for farm produce from farmers and other agricultural produce.

The Minister also noted that there are now street lights on the Bridge, explaining that when it was still combined with Power, the Ministry thought it wise to address the issue of electricity so that the host community would also benefit from the project which, according to him, is now a few months to completion.

“We are a few months away from its final completion”, the Minister told newsmen adding, “You can also see now that there is street light; there was no electricity when we came here in 2016; of course we were then a combined Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. So we also addressed the electricity solution so that this community can also benefit”.

Noting that there is still work to be done and the need to secure required resources against the backdrop of the current global economic challenges, the Minister, however, expressed delight that a lot of progress has been made, adding, “I want the work to be finished quickly, the government wants it finished like yesterday; the President wants to hand it over day before yesterday”.

In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Loko, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Sabo Umar, expressed delight at the visit of the Minister and the Minister of State and also the pace of work on the Bridge saying the people of the Loko Community were pleased that the project would open the community up and boost economic and social activities between them and other parts of the country.

Describing the project as the biggest in Nigeria at the moment, the Emir expressed profound gratitude to the Muhammadu Buhari administration saying the project has turned the Loko Community into a busy vehicular link route between the Eastern part and the Northern part of Nigeria.

“The Loko community is extremely happy with the Muhammadu Buhari government because of this project. From Loko here, you can see the movement of vehicles. Though the project is yet to be completed, you can see more than 500 vehicles passing from the North to the East and from the East to the North”, the obviously elated traditional ruler said.

He said the route was hazardous before the project commenced because, according to him, the journey was made by boat across the river Benue, adding, “But you can see now that only the small part that remains to join the road to the Bridge but yet if you are here you cannot believe the economic activities that are going on across the Bridge on a daily basis.”

“If you are here in this community, you will see that now Loko is another London because of this Bridge. That is why we are very grateful to the Government of Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

Accompanying the Minister on the over six hours journey from Abuja, were the Minister of State, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, Directors of the Ministry including the Director Highway, Construction and Rehabilitation,Engr. Oluyemi Oguntominiyi, his Bridges and Designs counterpart, Engr. Emmanuel Adeoye, the Federal Controller of Works Nasarawa State, Engr. Wasiu Taiwo and Special Advisers as well as journalists from the Electronic and Print Media.

Mar

13

2020

Fashola Hands Over Road To Federal Polytechnic Offa

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has handed over to the authorities of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State  a 2.23 kilometres road in the institution which was rehabilitated by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on behalf of the Federal Government.

The Minister who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works Kwara State, Engineer Wasiu Kunle Atitebi affirmed the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to bridge the gap in the infrastructural needs of the nation through the repairs, renewal and construction of roads on the highways and schools.

Fashola observed that good roads would undoubtedly improve the condition of learning in schools which would translate into greater quality education. The Minister disclosed that there were forty three of internal road intervention projects in tertiary institutions across the country out of which eighteen had been completed.

Earlier, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dr. Lateef Ademola commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the advancement of Nigeria by ensuring that internal roads in higher Institutions of learning were rehabilitated and provision of assistance to Institutions oflearning through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND)and other relevant bodies.

He also appreciated the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Rji Fashola, SAN for his positive disposition towards the completion of the project. He said the road had subjected the staff and students of the Institution to excruciating pain in the past due to its deplorable condition. The Rector promised to ensure that the road was properly maintained by the Works department of the Polytechnic.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Intitution, Chief Oseloka Zikora said the road was vital to the Polytechnic in many ways, adding that its rehabilitation had saved the Staff and students of the Institution from some health hazards suffered in the past due to the profuse inhaling of dust before it was rehabilitated.

The Students Union Leader of the Polytechnic, Abiola Azeez Babatunde expressed gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing for removing the suffering of the students who according to him passed through a lot of stress in the past while passing through the road.

Mar

11

2020

UNIMAID Students Appreciate Buhari, Fashola for Internal Roads

Students of the University of Maiduguri (Unimaid) have expressed appreciation to   Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN  and President Muhammadu Buhari over the rehabilitation of some internal roads in the University.

The appreciation was made during the formal handing over of 1.653 km roads rehabilatated by the Federal  Ministry of Works and Housing under its intervention initiative. The project also included asphalt overlay of 0.303 km road in the University.

University of Maiduguri is among the 18 Federal Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria that  benefited from the first phase of  the  internal roads intervention project of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, spearheaded by Fashola.

Speaking on behalf of the Students, the President of the Students Union Government, Comrade Abdulrahman Zanna said that the intervention  brought the much needed impact on  the education sector and would greatly enhance  learning  and boost the morals of the students in the pursuit of knowledge.

Zanna explained that Unimaid has been witnessing increasing number of students from the entire north east region coming for studies and requested for more of such intervention for the University.

He explained that the effort of President Buhari in the provision and improvement of infrastructure in the nation's tertiary institutions was  a clear demonstration of his commitment to close the infrastructural deficit in the country.

Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Professor Aliyu Shugaba said that the road was the busiest road on the campus day and night because it connected the students' hostels and the commercial center on the campus.

He said, "Motorists have now found succor plying the road. Prior to the rehabilitation, the experience on the road was bad."

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN was represented at the handover ceremony by the Borno State Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Yahaya Ali.

Fashola said, "The gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the schools."

He also explained that the quality of education would no doubt be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment, pointing out that the feedback from students in the institutions that benefited from such intervention attested to that.

"The intervention by Federal Government will improve the ambience and environment of Federal Tertiary Institutions to enhance academic activities," he said.

The Vice Chancellor assured the Minister that the road would be taken care of, adding that, "There is greater need for more road to serve the University because of it's expansive land."

Among the dignitaries present at the handing over ceremony were the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University, Professor Biodun Adesanya and other management staff of the Institution.

Professor Adesanya, in a good will message, commended the Federal Government and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN for coming to the aid of the tertiary institutions in Nigeria, describing it as a good initiative that would greatly grow the education sector.

Mar

07

2020

FG Receives Accolades On Rehabilitation Of Internal Roads At UNN

The University of Nigeria Nsukka community has expressed joy  and appreciation  to the FG for the  rehabilitation of Internal roads in the university community.
The university community showed their appreciation at the handing over ceremony of 2.2km  internal roads rehabilitated in the university  by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN.

The Minister who was represented  at the event by the Federal Controller of Works, Enugu State, Engr. Olufemi Oyekami, said that the rehabilitation of some roads in the university was to enhance quality of education in the institution and to bring succor to the users. According to Fashola, ‘’We are steadily reducing the gap of Nigeria’s  infrastructural needs by the gradual process of repair, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the school.”

Fashola noted that 18 out of the 43 on-going road intervention projects had been completed. He said, “Today we hand over this one as a critical contribution to support education.” He added that no fewer than 27 people were directly employed in the course of the job thereby contributing to the job creation initiative of the  Federal Government.

The Minister disclosed that similar road rehabilitation projects were going on at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu and the Federal University of Health and Dental Technology, Enugu, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR deserved to be applauded.  He urged the university community to ensure that the roads were properly used and maintained.

In his response, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsuka,Prof.Charles ArinzeChukwu Igwe  ably  represented by  the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, UNN, Prof. Pat Okpoko described the rehabilitation project as laudable and beneficial. Prof.Igwe added that the rehabilitated internal roads would ease access  within the campus, improve communication, the ambiance of the environment  and  restore the dignity of man.

He demanded for more Federal Government road intervention in the institution as some  other roads in the school were dilapidated due to age.  “Our infrastructure is weak due to age.  The Federal Government may wish to consider our size and age in sharing the number of roads intervention among tertiary institutions across the nation.”

Prof. Igwe said that the institution’s resources were minimal.  He requested for more of these kind  gesture to be done for the institution to promote seamless academic process.  He thanked the Honourable minister for the kind  gesture and pledged that the university community would ensure that the projects were maintained  to last long.
The President of the Student Union Government, Comr. Chimezie Fortnatus thanked the Minister on behalf of the students saying that the project has brought relief to over 40,000 well meaning students of the institution who are positive minded.
 
He said that appreciation is an application for more, requesting the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to rehabilitate and build more internal roads for them to ease movement  in the campus.
The Three rehabilitated roads in the institution are: 1,040 meters Ikejiani Road, 400 meters Ugwuegede Road and 580 meters Engineering to Odim gate road.

Mar

04

2020

FG’S Interventions In Tertiary Institutions Critical contribution To Education Sector – Fashola

* It was an excellent job done by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Says VC
* It is a welcome development that the roads are now motorable and enhancing easy movement of both staff and students-Lecturer
* Omah Mbah, Sociology Student, says, The roads are beautiful, motorable and neat. My friends and I have been taking pictures on the new road
* As Minister receives award for rehabilitation, reconstruction of 4 internal roads in BUK

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, Tuesday in Kano handed over four rehabilitated/reconstructed internal roads in Bayero University Kano to the authorities of the institution describing Federal Government’s interventions as critical contributions to support Education in the country.

Fashola, who was represented at the event by the Federal Controller of Works Kano State, Engr. Idi Saje said, “The gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the schools.”

The Minister, who was later given an Award by the University Community for the intervention, declared “To date , 18 (Eighteen ) out of the 43 ( Forty three) interventions have been completed and today we hand over this one in Bayero University Kano, Kano State as a critical contribution to support education.”

While presenting the Award to the Minister on behalf of the University Community,  the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza Bello, expressed their joy, saying that the road intervention would make their lives around the school bearable, resulting in spending less on transportation, reduction in airborne diseases and stress of moving around. He added that it would also enhance regular attendance of classes, less discomfort on the roads while fatalities would be reduced completely.

The Vice Chancellor, who said it was a great pleasure to receive the roads on behalf of the University, added that the roads were properly constructed with drainages. He declared, “It was an excellent job done by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and we assure the Honourable Minister that the roads will be well used and maintained”.

Speaking earlier, the Director Physical Planning Unit of Bayero University Kano, Q.S Muhammad Gazzali, who represented the institution in supervising the project attested to the high quality of the roads, adding that they would stand the test of time.

The representative of the contractors that handled the projects, a staff of Views Tours Nigeria Ltd, Engr. Abideen Abdulazeez thanked the Honourable Minister for adequate funding of the project.

A Professor of Pharmacy in Bayero University Kano, Prof. Chedi Bashir, described the intervention as “a welcome development that the roads are now motorable and enhancing easy movement of both staff and students”.

A Sociology student from the Social Science Faculty of Bayero University, Omah Mbah expressed her joy over the rehabilitated roads. She said the roads are beautiful, motorable and neat. She added, “ My friends and I have been taking pictures on the new roads." She commended the Minister and the Federal Government for the wonderful road projects.