May

22

2022

Press Statement

The attention of the Ministry of Works and Housing has been drawn to the activities of the Management Committee of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), a transition committee created by law to undertake routine management of the ARCON upon expiration of tenure of its statutory council and pending the constitution of a new council.

2.            In spite of presidential approval for the inauguration of a new council, it has not been possible to inaugurate the council as a result of litigation instituted by members of the Architecture Profession seeking to stop the inauguration.

3.            In the face of this self-induced stalemate, the Management Committee is purporting to exercise powers which only a full committee is permitted by law to exercise.

4.            Such conducts are clearly not only in violation of their enabling statute but could also attract criminal sanctions. These activities include:  a plan to organize the 2022 Colloquium for architects in Nigeria from Monday 23rd –Thursday 26th May, 2022 and a plan to undertake Architects Professional Competency Evaluation (APCE) Exercise. These are core functions of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria and not that of the Management Committee.

5.            In order to forestall any breach of law and guide the Management Committee of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, the stakeholders, and members of public appropriately, it is pertinent to make the following clarifications in line with the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria Act (Cap A19 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004).

6.            The membership composition of the Council is spelt out in Section 2 (2) of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria Act, Cap A19 L.F.N 2004 which provides for the constitution of a 49-member Council of ARCON.

7.            It is this Council that the Act vests with the performance of the core functions of ARCON as provided for by Section 2 (1) (a- c) of the Act. These functions can only be undertaken by the Council when there is a quorum of the membership of the Council.  This is expressly stated in Section 4 of the First Schedule to the Act, thus: “The quorum of the Council shall be ten, so however that, at least one of the persons appointed by the Institute and five of the representatives of the States of the Federation are present at the particular meeting and the quorum of any committee of the Council shall be determined by the Council''

8.  The Ministry is not unaware of the provisions of Clause 1 (5) of the First Schedule to the Act, which provides that: “Notwithstanding that the term of office of a member of the Council has expired by the effluxion of time, a person appointed as the President, Vice-President or Treasurer of the Council shall continue in that office until a fresh appointment is made to the office.” It is the position of the Ministry that this provision does not entitle the President,  Vice-President or Treasurer who now constitute Management Committee to assume the role of the Council having regards to the statutory provision of Quorum of the Council. Clear guidance is provided by Section 27 of the Interpretation Act Cap. 123 L.F.N 2004, Thus: “any act or thing which a statutory body is authorized or required to do 
shall only be done by a majority of members of such statutory body or a quorum of them.''

9.           A compound reading of the provisions of Section 4 (on the Quorum of the Council), Clause 1(5) of the First Schedule to the Act and  Section 27 of the Interpretation Act clearly indicates that, the President, Vice-President and Treasurer of ARCON do not constitute a quorum for the purpose of carrying out the core functions of the Council. It therefore, follows that the President, Vice-President or Treasurer who now constitute Management Committee can only oversee the routine management of the Council. Moreover, Section 7(3) of the First schedule to the Act further provides that: A decision of the Committee shall be of no effect until it is confirmed by the  Council.

10.    The attention of the Ministry of Works and Housing has been drawn to the  activities of the Management Committee particularly the  newspaper publication  in The Guardian Newspaper of 16th May 2022 in respect of the Architects Professional Competency Evaluation (APCE). These are core statutory functions of the Council when properly constituted and therefore ultra vires the functions of a Management Committee to act upon.

11.       Consequently, in exercise of the supervisory powers of the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing pursuant to the provision of sections 3 and 4 (1) of the Act, as well as Clause 2(2) of the First schedule to the Act, I have been directed by the Honourable Minister to convey the following to the Management Committee of ARCON that the Committee should:

i.             refrain forthwith from all activities which constitute statutory functions of the Council as enumerated in Section 2 (1) (a- c) of the Act until a new properly constituted Council is in place;

ii.            only oversee the routine administrative management of the Council until a new properly constituted Council is in place;

iii.          Retract recent statement in the advert by the Committee on the Architects Professional Competency Evaluation (APCE);

iv.          intensify efforts to reconcile the warring factions to embrace dialogue in resolving issues leading to the stagnation of the Profession rather than engage in   needless litigation that created the current impasse; and

v.           ensure that the issues that led to the litigation that created the current impasse are speedily and amicably resolved in the best interest of the Architecture profession and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

DATED THIS MONDAY, 23RD DAY OF MAY 2022.

Signed:
Bashir Nura Alkali, FCA, FCTI
Permanent Secretary
For: Honourable Minister
 
 

May

07

2022

FG To Finance Numan Jalingo Rd with N3bn Sukuk Fund –Sambo

………Says people of Taraba are happy with FG internal road works in Jalingo

The Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing, Mr. Mu'azu Jaji Sambo said there is a provision of N3bn Sukuk fund in year 2022 by the Federal Government to finance the Numan- Jalingo Road in Adamawa and Taraba States, adding that once the Sukuk fund is accessed shortly there would be remarkable progress at the construction site. He made the disclosure during his working tour to the rehabilitation of the road and other road projects in Taraba and Adamawa States.

The Minister said that, “The 103-kilometer Numan-Jalingo Road is part of the Maiduguri –Calabar Highway. The section of the road that is not motorable is not acceptable. The road is the only connection between the North and South on the North Eastern axis of the country."

Sambo said the people of Taraba State are very appreciative and delighted with the 80 housing units commissioned in Taraba State this week by President Muhammadu Buhari and they are very calm and happy with the ongoing works on township roads in Jalingo.

The township roads: Hassan,Yelwa and DSS are three critical roads in Jalingo   which have defied all the civilians administrations in Taraba State since 1999.

Sambo said that the successful works on the internal roads in Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital has given the people the hope that this current administration is capable of delivering the Numan -Janligo Road.

He remarked   that he wouldn’t blame the contractor for the slow pace of work, saying it was due to the insufficient budgetary provision in the past and covid -19 pandemic that affected the progress of work.

He said, however, with the current improved funding provision the contractor was expected to service its equipment and be more serious on the construction work.

He added that if the company was found not to have the capacity to complete the job, government would not hesitate to terminate the contract and re-award it to a competent one.

While briefing the Honorable Minister on the progress of work on the Numan- Jalingo Road Project, a Senior Civil Engineer at the site, Engr. Maria Kenneth Zirrah representative of the Federal Controller of Works Adamawa State said insecurity, lack of construction materials and funding were responsible for the slow pace of work on the road project.

The Project Engineer of Deux Project Limited, the contractor for the Numan-Jalingo Road Project, Engr. Frank Koshihuk who spoke on behalf of the contractor said inflation, funding, insecurity were the major challenges on the construction of the road project.

He promised that as soon as the funding pattern for the rehabilitation works improved, the work would be completed within 8months.

The Minister of State also inspected the construction of Zing –Yakoko-Monkin Road in Taraba State during his 2-day working inspection visit.

Apr

12

2022

Bashir Nura Alkali Resumes Office As New Permanent Secretary For Works Ministry

The newly appointed Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali has resumed duty following the recent approval and redeployment of Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR.

The Permanent Secretary in his taking over speech at the Ministry’s Headquarters Conference Room, Mabushi, Abuja yesterday appealed for the support of the management and staff of the Ministry to move the Ministry forward.

Alkali expressed hope that the cordial relationship he had with the staff and management at Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development would be the same and better in Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. He added, ‘’Every Civil Servant would want to come to this Ministry because of its activities and programmes. ‘’Every Civil Servant will want to come to Federal Ministry of Works and Housing because the experience there is huge and challenging and by extension if you could manage in the Ministry, I believe you could manage anywhere in Nigeria,’’ he said.

The Permanent Secretary, pledged to work with the directors and staff he met on ground and to assist the Honourable Ministers in carrying out the mandate assigned to them. ‘’I will say I’m here to work and from what I had been told and seen we have excellent directors and staff that are going to assist in this job. I was just telling the Minister that our job as Permanent Secretaries is to assist the Ministers implement and deliver the mandate of the Ministry and I believe that is what we are going to do,’’ he said.

He assured of paying attention to issues brought to his attention by staff with a view to addressing them’’. I assure you that I’m a listener, I will listen to everybody but I will not be able to solve each and every problem of individuals’’, he said.

Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali had worked in Ministries of Justice, Police Affairs, the State House. His last posting was at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as the Permanent Secretary before his deployment to Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

Earlier in his remarks, Engr. Chukwunwike Ogbonna Uzo, Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary welcomed the new Permanent Secretary, and said that it was his first time for over thirty-three years of service to witness a Permanent Secretary taken over in a Ministry and all his former directors accompanying him. That tells you the kind of person the new Permanent Secretary is. ‘The people he is leaving behind are not happy losing him. But it is a gain to us in Federal Ministry of Works and Housing,’’ said Engr. Uzo.

Uzo handed over two sets of hand over notes. That of the former Permanent Secretary and that of when he acted as the Director, Overseeing the Permanent Secretary’s Office.

Mar

31

2022

East -West Road Returns to Works Ministry for Completion 13 years after

... As Akpabio handed Project back to Fashola

.... We need peace to deliver the project  - Fashola

As directed by the Presidency, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has handed  over the East-West Road back to the Ministry of Works and Housing for completion.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio handed over  the project back to the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN Wednesday, March 30, 2022. 

At the handing over Fashola said, "It is an uncommon act because it is the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria that this project that started then in the Ministry of Works be transferred to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and thirteen years after the President directed that the project be handed over to the Ministry of Works and Housing for  completion."

Accordingly, the Works and Housing Minister said that peace is needed within the host communities for the project to be delivered.  “One condition for any project to take place is communal peace. If we don’t have peace there, we cannot do anything,” he said.

While appealing for peace, collaboration and sacrifice from the communities, Mr. Fashola also urged  representatives of the various communities at the event to take the message back home that peace is needed to deliver the project.

On the progress of work done he said, “Progress has been made from 2009 till date no doubt but unfortunately that progress is not reported because of the passion with which the uncompleted part has been reported."

Fashola directed the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary  in his Ministry, Engr.Chukwunwike Ogbonna Uzo to constitute a requisite team from the Ministry to undertake actual assessment with the contractors so that the Ministry will be able to sign off in the proper engineering and civil construction terms at  the point the Ministry is taking over, adding that Mr. President will be briefed on the progress of work done so far.

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio said that  in order to fast tract the completion of the project, the people of Ogoni Land demanded that  the project be supervised by  Federal Ministry of Works and Housing that has much more experienced professionals in terms of engineering services.

Akpabio explained that the project was awarded in 2006 by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo and that as of 2022 Sections 1-4 of the project is  eighty percent completed.

 “As we hand over the East-West road to you today, about 80% of the project has been completed and that the situation today is that it is easy to drive from Port Harcourt to Yenagoa under fifty minutes.”

On the length of the road, he said it is a 328 kilometre road that starts from Effurun in Delta State and transverses the Niger Delta, Rivers State and ends up in Oron in Akwa-Ibom State, while Section 5 of the road is from Oron to Calabar in Cross River State.

On Funding, the Minister said that the sum of 10.4 billion naira was awaiting release and that he has directed that the money should be released to the East-West Road Account to be controlled by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
 

Mar

28

2022

Roads: President Buhari Wins Great Builder Award For Africa

·       As Fashola receives Award of Excellence for commitment to road infrastructure

·       Nigeria to host the 2022 Inaugural  on March 31
 
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has won the Super Prize Great Builder Award while the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, received an Award of Excellence for the African Road Builders -Trophee Babacar Ndiaye for the year 2021.

President Buhari was chosen for the award for significant Improvement in road transport network in Nigeria while the Minister was chosen as recipient of his award for commitment to road and transport infrastructure in the country during the 2021 Inaugural Conference of the African Road Builders - Trophee Babacar Ndiaye - which was held in Cairo, Egypt.

With headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d' Voire, the African Road Builders - Trophee Babacar Ndiaye holds the annual event with the objective of celebrating good examples and encouraging all African countries to improve road and transportation Infrastructure.

The Conference also aims to promote development of road transport in Africa by rewarding each year an African Head of State for significant Improvement in road transport in his country.

The Conference members and participants drawn from some African countries also include; Political authorities from the member countries, Road and Transport Authorities, The African Development Bank, Development Partners operating in the member countries, Local Road and Transport Actors in Nigeria, among others.

Nigeria is billed to host the 2022 Inaugural Conference – “Conference Inaugurale”, in Abuja on Thursday, 31 March, 2022, during which President Buhari will be conferred with his Award at the closing dinner of the conference. The Conference theme is "Building Roads, Building Economies – “Construire Des Routes, Batir Des Economies”.

Mar

23

2022

Fashola Restates FG’s Commitment To Quality Education As AKTH Receives 1.06 Km Rehabilitated Internal Road

·       CMD, other academic, non-academic staff, laud Buhari, Minister for intervention
 
The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, took delivery of a 1.06 kilometer internal road rehabilitated in the institution by the Ministry of Works and Housing with the Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, restating Federal Government’s commitment to the development of education in the county through the provision of quality infrastructure.

With the handover of the 1.06 km internal road, which included the construction of reinforced concrete culverts and drains, AKTH joined the Federal Tertiary institutions which have benefitted from the ongoing Federal Government Road Intervention Scheme across the country which has so far reached 46 Federal tertiary in across the six geopolitical zones.

Fashola, who was represented at the occasion by the Federal Controller of Works in Kano State, Engr. Yahaya Baba Ali, said President Muhammadu Buhari's administration has successfully intervened in the internal road network of 46 Federal Tertiary institutions handing over 29 in 2021 with17 others now ready to be handed over, while work is ongoing on 30 roads in similar institutions across the country bringing the total number to 76.

Noting the show of joy and enthusiasm that always accompanied such handovers, especially among students of benefiting institutions, the Minister declared, “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”.

Earlier, in his welcome address the Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital, Prof. Abdurrahman Abba Sheshe, expressed happiness that an important project of that magnitude was executed in the institution, pointing out that it would allow easy access for patients seeking medical treatment in different parts of the hospital.

"We are indeed very happy that the Federal Government, under President Muhammadu Buhari and through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, realized the importance of this project which was carried out through special intervention. The result is what we are seeing all around the hospital today”, he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Board of Directors, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, represented by Dr. Dahiru M.D Shehu, expressed the hope that the present administration would continue to bring in more projects to the hospital.

"I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, for the road which will help in the development of the Health Sector in the country," he said. He also commended the administration of President Buhari for the support given to the hospital in terms of improvement of the healthcare system in the county.

The Principal Imam, Academics, AKTH. Mallam Zakariya'u Muhammad thanked President Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing for the internal road adding, “This has brought relief to the people. Before the intervention visitors to this hospital suffered from dust due to the bad road and during raining season patients and pupils found it difficult to access the road."

The ward head in the Hospital, Alhaji Suleiman Shehu, expressed his happiness over the intervention and thanked the government for removing the pains of the people while using the road. “We can now move freely on the road”, he said.

Mar

17

2022

Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Agog As Fashola Commissions, Hands Over Internal Road

•  Minister reiterates FG’s commitment to impacting Education through Infrastructure upgrade nationwide
•    Medical Director says intervention is the first since the establishment of the school. “Pro. Adeoye Lambo and his wife are dancing in their graves”, he says
•    Some people only close their eyes to what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing for the country –SUG President
 

Students, Academic and non-Academic staff of the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, were jubilant on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, as the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, commissioned and handed over a 1.3-kilometre internal road rehabilitated in the institution by the Ministry.  

Wednesday’s ceremony would bring to 35 the number of rehabilitated internal roads commissioned and handed over to various institutions since the resumption of the second session of the Season of Completion and Impact in Federal Tertiary Institutions temporarily suspended earlier as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

In his address at the ceremony, which attracted a large number of the academic community, stakeholders and members of the public, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, said the objective of the Buhari administration in extending its Infrastructure delivery Initiative to the schools was primarily to enhance the learning environment in the institutions.

Fashola, who was represented at the ceremony by the Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Engr. Umar Bakare, said the 1.3 kilometre road, which, according to him “is part of Federal Government's Intervention Roads Rehabilitation Programme for Tertiary Institutions across the country”, would help the movement of people, ease learning and facilitate speedy healthcare delivery service in the institution.   

The Minister, who handed over the road to the Provost / Medical Director of the Institution, Dr. Paul Agboola, declared, “Today we converge here at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta to hand over an important asset , a 1.3 kilometre  internal road rehabilitated and reconstructed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on behalf of the Federal Government”.

According to him, the fact that the quality of infrastructure and upgraded learning environment  in all the institutions nationwide would impact positively on the productivity of students and the academic as well as the non-academic staff was already being attested to by students of the  institutions that are already enjoying their upgraded infrastructure assets.

 “It is undebatable that quality of healthcare delivery will be impacted by and those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedbacks from staff in the hospital where this intervention has taken place”, the Minister said adding that because of its convictions, government had taken on the rehabilitation of internal roads and other assets in 76 Federal Tertiary institution across the country with 29 roads already completed and handed over with 17 also completed and being handed over while 30 others are ongoing. 

In his remarks earlier, the Medical Director of the institution, Dr. Paul Agboola, noted that the Buhari administration’s intervention in the school was the first since the establishment of the school adding that the act would surely invoke great joy in the hearts of the academic community as well as the founding fathers of the institution.

 “Since the establishment of this hospital several decades ago, this is the first time in recent years where internal road networks construction within the hospital is carried out by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. This singular act has put smile in the faces of the hospital staff and patients. In fact, one of our outstanding founding fathers, Late Professor Adeoye Lambo and his wife are dancing in their grave saying thank you to  President Muhammadu Buhari and his team, especially the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola , SAN”. 

Also the institution’s Head of Administration, Mr. Richard Kayode, in his remarks noted that before the rehabilitation the road was “almost impassable to motorists and caused discomfort to pedestrians especially during the Raining Season”, adding, “We say thank you to the Federal Ministry of Works Housing and its head, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. President Muhammadu Buhari has been doing a lot from what we can see today in road repairs across the six geo political zones of the country”.

In her remarks, the Chief Nurse /Tutor in the institution, Mrs. Dada Joseph, commended the quality of the road saying “it is the type that can stand the test of time”, adding that the road represented a major achievement for the Buhari government in assisting the school. “For some years back, it has been difficult moving around while people complained about the road including patients and staff”, she said. 

The Press and Public Relations Officer of the Hospital, Mr. Oluwatoyin Abiola, in his  vote of thanks on behalf of the institution, said, “On behalf of the entire Management and the Board of Directors, I am saying thank you to President Muhammadu Buhari for repairing the internal road in our institution. It is a plus to his administration."

One of the contractors who spoke at the event from Henod Integrated Limited, Prince Louis Okojie, thanked the institution and Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for giving the company “the enabling environment to complete the scope of work within the time frame without disturbance or financial constraint”, adding, “We thank the Honourable Minister much more for believing in indigenous contractors to handle this project”.

The Vice President of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution, Comrade Odutola  Samuel, while expressing delight that the repaired road would provide good opportunity for the students and staff to teach and learn in conducive environment “after so many years of bad road and hardship”,  gave kudos to the Federal Government for the gesture that has also been extended to other institutions across the country, adding, “Some people only close their eyes to what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing for the country”. 

The event was well attended by representatives of Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, staff and students of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta and contractors of the project. 
 

Mar

09

2022

Convoy Of FG’S Team To Second Niger Bridge Not Involved In Road Crash 

No fatal crash occurred during Tuesday’s inspection of the Second Niger by a Federal Government Team led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari. 
 
Contrary to the sensational report making the rounds on the social media, the Team which also comprised the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, his Labour and Productivity counterpart, Dr. Chris Ngige and the Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr Uche Orji  on arrival at the Asaba Airport in Delta State visited the Interchange along Owerri-Onitsha Road and the East approach to the Bridge in Onitsha from where they walked across to the West approach. 
 
After a media briefing by members of the Team, the Chief of Staff was conducted to the West approach at Asaba and the Toll Plaza of the Bridge before returning to Abuja. 
 
It was discovered much later that one of the vehicles in the Team of the Commissioner of Police from Anambra State had a mishap during which two policemen sustained injuries. It was confirmed from the Nigeria Police, Anambra State Command that they were treated at the Federal Medical Centre Asaba and had since been discharged. 
 
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN, following anxious calls from well-meaning members of the public about the safety of the members of the Federal Government delegation, expresses deep sympathies over the injured two men of the Anambra Police Command. 
 
However, no lives were lost at all as claimed in the false report by the online platform of a national daily. 

Mar

09

2022

FCE Guzau Joins Beneficiaries Of FG’s Ongoing Road Intervention Scheme

· As Fashola commissions, hands over 1.5 km rehabilitated road to the all-female institution
 
The Federal College of Education (Technical) Guzau, Zamfara State, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, joined other beneficiaries of the on-going Federal Government Road Intervention Scheme in Federal tertiary institutions across the country as the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, commissioned and handed over a 1.50-kilometre internal road rehabilitated by the Ministry.

The road, which, according to some students and staff of the all-girls institution, was in a very dilapidated condition before the intervention by the Federal Government, constituted a very big challenge to both residents and day students, especially in terms of access to lecture halls and hostels as it is a major link between the halls of residence and lectures as well as administrative blocks.

In his address at the event which attracted top administrators of the institution and other dignitaries, including the Emir of Guzau, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Bello, among others, Fashola reiterated the commitment of the President Muhammad Buhari administration to extend infrastructure provision to tertiary institutions saying the purpose was to improve the education environment of the institutions.

The Minister, who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works in the State, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad Isa, said in addition to improving the quality of education in the institutions, the objective was also in line with the progressive ideal of the Buhari administration to improve human condition, adding that the scheme represented “a critical intervention to support education”.

The Minister told the esteemed audience which also included the Chairman Governing Council of the Institution, Architect Ubokutom Nyah, “It is undebatable that the quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment.” He added that those in doubt of the assertion should “Simply listen to feedbacks from students in the various institutions that have already benefited from the scheme.”

Pointing out that the Ministry is currently intervening in internal roads in 30 Federal Institutions across the country, Fashola said the Ministry had already successfully intervened in 45 such institutions, 29 of which had been handed over since 2021 while the handing over of another set of 17 completed ones, including the FCE (Technical) Guzau, has commenced.

“Today, we converge at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Guzau, to hand over an important asset, 1.50-kilometre rehabilitated road by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on behalf of the Federal Government”, the Minister said, adding that while a lot of work still needed to be done in all sectors of the nation’s economy, including education, the Buhari government has stepped up to lead the process of getting that work done.

He declared with delight,” The gap of our infrastructure need is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewals and constructions on our major highways and it has now reached the schools,” pointing out that the interventions have enhanced the enthusiasm of students with regards to attending classes as some defective roads in the institutions had been restored to good condition.

Pointing out that although the interventions come as civil Works project, they represent an investment in education as well as means of job creation. The Minister added that during the construction of the road, 31 people were employed in the process “contributing to the job creation initiative of the government”, expressing the hope that the benefiting schools would take ownership of the assets and protect them from abuse.

In his address, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Hassan Muhammad Nashiha, commended, the Federal Government for the intervention in the institution describing it as unique in the history of governments in the country. He specially congratulated the Minister “for undertaking the project in a very special way”.

He also commended the Chairman Governing Council of the Institution, who, according to him, has brought so many projects to the institution during his tenure, including renovation of hostels and toilets as well as recreation centre. The Deputy Governor, however pleaded with the Federal Government to build a perimetre fence around the institution considering the state of insecurity in the state.

Also in his goodwill message, the Emir of Gusau, HRM Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Bello, thanked President Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing for carrying out the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the road in the institution saying it had constituted a grave challenge to students. He also pleaded with the government to help put a perimetre fence around the school especially as it is an all-female institution.

As for the students, the event was an occasion to express their joy and gratitude to the Federal Government and particularly the Minister of Works and Housing whom they praised for his consistency and dedication in carrying out the project to conclusion.

From the President of the Institution’s Students’ Union Government (SUG, Comrade Mariam Salisu, who studies Home Science to Nwada Oluchi Alago, who studies Home Economics and Fatima Abubakar, a Second Year Primary Education student; through Salihu Hamisu of ICT Department and Promise Julius and her two friends, Yemisi and Justina, who both study Biology and Integrated Science as well as Fatima Mohammad, a physically challenged student in Special Education Department, the intervention was both “God-sent and timely.”

Also present at the occasion were the Secretary to the Government of Zamfara State, The Chief of Staff to the Governor and some top officials of the State Government, deans of faculties and Directors of Departments as well a the executive officers of the Students Union Government and the students body who came in their large numbers to show their gratitude to the Federal Government for the intervention.

Mar

08

2022

Palliative Measures On Nigerian Roads Are Paying Off – Fashola

·    Says Rehabilitation, Construction works ongoing across the country as Ministry presents 2021 Ember Months, Post Rainy Season Palliative Works Report to Stakeholders

·      Minister urges truck drivers to desist from parking on road shoulders

·      NARTO, NURTW, other stakeholders commend FG as FRSC reports 9% reduction in accident rates during the period

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN has said the Federal Government's ember months palliative measures on fixing Nigerian roads are paying off.

Fashola made the remark in Abuja during a performance review meeting of stakeholders on the 2021 Ember Months and Post Rainy Season Palliative Works on Nigerian Roads.

Fashola said that the Ministry and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) yearly undertake routine palliative repairs of federal roads across the country during the ember months and post rainy season to facilitate easy movement of travelers, motorists, goods and services.

Fashola reiterated that different seasons bring different challenges and so the plan for every season is based on the report available and with such feedback things would be done better.

“Seasons of the year bring different challenges, so what works for one season is not going to work for another season and we must remember this as public servants.  It is with plan we can make things better. Things don’t happen by accident, we can control how they happen with good planning,” he said.

The Minister explained that ember months is not a period to toy with. It is a period when most things begin to happen naturally and based on that the roads become so busy which compels the Ministry and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to carry out palliative works on the roads to reduce accidents and other ugly incidents on the roads.

“So, let’s remember what ember months is, it is months indicating clearly that the year is coming to an end.  And as the year ends certain things begin to happen naturally.  People still travel, there are a lot of social and religious gatherings and movements, people consume a lot more items than they normally consume and the roads will be busy,” he added.

Fashola stated that with the ember months palliative measures on busy roads to ensure seamless travelling by the general public, accidents rate according to reports by the Federal Road Safety Commission reduced by 9% which is a positive development.

“There is an indication that accidents rate has reduced with about 9% and that is a very positive thing, which means there were less deaths and loss of property,” he said.

The Minister tasked every road user to be conscious of the fact that the road is a shared asset and can only last when used properly and no asset will last if it is abused.  He urged the truck drivers to avoid parking on road shoulders because it reduces its life span.

He, however, stated that road palliatives are not the final answer but construction and rehabilitation and that the Ministry has repaired and constructed many roads and still doing more across the states of the Federation.

The Minister charged contractors on Nigerian roads to use proper road signages at all the construction sites and to ensure that standards are not compromised. He warned that any contractor not complying with the standards must be sanctioned according to the law.

In their remarks at the event,  the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) representative, Deputy Corps Marshal Operations, Kayode Fanola, the National President Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO),  Yusuf Lawal Othman and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) representative, Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Anthony Asogwa, commended the Ministry and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency for the laudable achievements on roads maintenance palliatives across the country during the ember months as they helped curb accidents rate.

Earlier, the Director Highways Construction and Rehabilitation in the Ministry, Engr. Folorunso Esan, made a detailed presentation on the various Highways across the country where the ember months and post rainy season palliative measures were carried out.

Engr. Esan stated that the Federal Government released the needed funds to carry out the palliative works on the affected roads.

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Engr. Nuruddeen Rafindadi also corroborated the fact that the Federal Government provided the needed funds for the execution of the repair works on the affected roads.

Feb

25

2022

FG Completes, Hands Over 1km Road to Fedpoly Kazaure

The fast moving train in the Season of Completion and Impact involving the commissioning of projects under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing moved to Jigawa State, North Western Nigeria, Thursday, February 24th, 2022.

Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure in Jigawa State was the beneficiary this time around. And the project commissioned and handed over consisted of four link roads totalling one kilometer length rehabilitated with asphalt overlay in the institution by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

The four link roads were: Road A linking four classrooms and three lecture halls; Road B linking the three halls with the 500-seater lecture theatre; Road C linking the 500-seater theatre with students’ hostel; while Road D connect the students hostel and the accommodation tower.

In his address, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Jigawa State, Engr.  Atewolara Oladele Gabriel said that the Ministry was working on 76 road projects in selected Federal Tertiary Institutions across the nation.

"We have successfully intervened in the internal road networks of 46 Tertiary Institutions and handed over 29 as at 2021 and we now have another 17 ready to be handed over while we are currently attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 76", he said.

The Minister explained that the quality of infrastructure in the tertiary institutions would improve the learning environment, and impact positively on the quality of education, pointing out that the feedbacks from the students of the schools where this type of intervention had taken place testified to it.

"The summary of all the feedbacks from students and Management staff of the institutions has demonstrated that the gap of the nation's infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs and construction on the major highways and schools," he said.

Accordingly, the Minister stated that the construction of the internal roads in the tertiary institutions by Federal Government was a pointer to the progressive ideals of the Buhari administration in improving the human condition by supporting education.

In his response, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Sabo Wada Dutse, expressed happiness and excitement at the intervention, which he described as significant to the development of the Polytechnic.

The Rector stated that, with the road intervention, the Polytechnic community was now living at peace with no fears of reptiles which the area was prone to before the intervention.
He, however, solicited further intervention by the Federal government in areas like street and security lights and construction of sports complex in the Polytechnic whenever the opportunity arises.

Chairman Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Federal Polytechnic Kazaure Chapter, Dr. Abdul'azeez Ibrahim Badaru, expressed appreciation to the Minister for including the Polytechnic in the Tertiary Schools Road Intervention Scheme.

He said ", this will ease the stress of both staff and students. The access roads will enhance the environment and improve teaching and learning”. He also thanked the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Babangida Hussain, for what he has done for the Fedpoly Kazaure
" I want to appeal to the Honourable Minister to please include Federal Polytechnic Kazaure in the Housing scheme of the Ministry as the houses in the school are very few and very old, built by the Jigawa State Government before the conversion of the Polytechnic to a federal institution”, Dr Badaru added

Accordingly, he said the gesture would alleviate the suffering of the staff, who mostly come from Kano and other distant places, adding that it would also boost morale and performance, suggesting that the Ministry should construct at least 100 units of houses.

The President of the Students Union Government, Fedpoly Kazaure, comrade Adamu Sani Yarima, expressed profound gratitude to the Federal government and the Ministry of Works and Housing under the watch of Mr. Babatunde Fashola for supporting the Institution with the roads.
Comrade Yarima, also requested for more interventions especially in recreational facilities such as sports complex in the polytechnic.

Feb

17

2022

FG ADDRESSING ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS –FASHOLA

·   As Minister hands over 1.05 KM internal road rehabilitated by Ministry in University of Abuja

·   “It used to be one of the worst roads we have in this campus, especially during the Rainy Season; now it has become the best”, says VC

The Federal Government is working assiduously in addressing the road infrastructure challenges in tertiary institutions across the country, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has said. Fashola, who spoke in Abuja, Thursday during the formal commissioning and handover of the 1.05 kilometre road project rehabilitated in the University of Abuja by his Ministry, said Federal Government’s intervention in the development of infrastructure in the nation’s tertiary institutions was aimed at boosting the quality of Education in the institutions.

The Minister, who was represented at the occasion by the Federal Controller of Works in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Engr. Usman Yakubu, said the intervention was giving students renewed hope and enthusiasm with regards to attending classes where Federal Government has restored motorability to the hitherto defective roads.

He disclosed that under the Tertiary Institutions Road Intervention Programme initiated by his Ministry, the Federal Government is currently working on 76 road projects in selected Federal tertiary institutions spread across the nation.

"We have successfully intervened in the internal road networks of 46 Federal Tertiary Institutions and handed over 29 of the roads as at 2021 and we now have another 17 ready to be handed over while we are currently attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 76”, the Minister said.

According to him, "It is undebatable 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 the students of the schools where this type of intervention has taken place."

Fashola said the summary of all the feedbacks from students and Management staff of the University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, had demonstrated that the gap of the nation's infrastructure needs was steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs and construction on the major highways and schools.

The Minister described the construction of the internal roads by Federal Government in the nation’s tertiary institutions as a pointer to the administration’s progressive ideal of improving the human condition by supporting Education.

In his response, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’ Allah, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister for selecting the University of Abuja to benefit from the special Government’s intervention in infrastructure development saying the road used to be the worst in the institution especially during the Rainy Season.

“It is a very important road in the university, it used to be one of the worst roads we have in this campus especially during the Rainy Season and now it has become the best. We give thanks to Federal Ministry of Works and Housing”, the Vice Chancellor said.

According to him, “Tertiary institutions cannot achieve their greatness if infrastructure in the schools is not developed. With this internal road completed and handed over, Nigerians will be proud because it is a unity institution and belongs to all irrespective of your region. The internal road is very important and it will serve as a boost for sustainable social, academic and economic well-being of the students as well as the staff of the institute”, he said.

In his remarks, the institution’s Head of Works and Services, Engr. Joshua Musa, thanked the Ministry for the project saying that the road was a death trap before its rehabilitation. He said, “it is a big blessing to the entire students and management of the institute. We are grateful and very happy that the road has been fixed. Before now, we have recorded a lot of bike accidents on the road because of its bad nature”, he explained.

Reiterating Engr. Musa’s position, the Registrar of the School, Mallam Yaya Ibrahim, declared, “We are fortunate to be able to witness the handing over of this project and we thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing for making this to happen. It is a laudable project and will ease our movement within the school premises”.

Feb

03

2022

Sukuk Funding Has Enhanced Completion Of Priority Roads, Bridges Across The Country By FG - Fashola

As one of the beneficiary ministries of SUKUK funding for road transport infrastructure in the country, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, on Thursday provided details on roads and bridges which the SUKUK funding has enabled the Ministry to undertake since its inception in 2015 across the length and breadth of Nigeria  

SUKUK, which the Minister described as a form of Public Private Partnership (PPP), was among the funding options adopted by the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to fund the construction of critical roads in Nigeria.

At the symbolic presentation ceremony of the N250 billion Federal Government 2021 SUKUK cheque to the three beneficiary Ministries, Fashola gave account on how his ministry spent the previous SUKUK funds given to his Ministry. 

The Minister stated that from the first SUKUK funds of N100 billion, released in 2017, 25 roads, covering 482 kilometers length were delivered; the second SUKUK of 2018 had 28 roads covering 643 kilometers length delivered, while the third SUKUK funds of N162 billion covered 44 highway and bridge projects with the total length of 757 kilometers covered across the nation.

Fashola went further to explain that SUKUK financing has enhanced completion of some priority road and bridge projects across the country which includes:  the completion of 296 KM Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Yawuri in Sokoto and Kebbi States, completion of 142 KM Section II (Shuwarin - Azare ) of Kano-Maiduguri road, completion of 106 KM Section III (Azare- Potiskum) of the Kano-Maiduguri road  and the completion of 1.2 kilometer /360m length Ikom Bridge. 

The Minister also explained that the impact of debt and borrowing on the economic lives of the people was significant; pointing out that proper usage of the debt on infrastructure in Nigeria had helped  in galvanizing the economy. “Another thing to take home is that debt properly used can galvanize the economy. It is that debt instrument that serves so many people from diverse parts of Nigeria here today,” he explained.

Speaking on wealth creation through proper usage of borrowed funds, he said: "Wealth is distributed across when committed to infrastructure. Money moving around the economy, it creates consistent employment and engagement. Suppliers are at work, " he said

Fashola commended the supportive role of all the stakeholders that made it possible for the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to succeed in the delivery of road transport infrastructure to Nigerians, listing the National Assembly for their approval, Federal Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office. 

Earlier, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. (Dr.) Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, listed the three beneficiary ministries of the N250 billion 2021 SUKUK and the amount allocated each as :  Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (N210 billion), Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (N29 billion) and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (N10 billion).

Mrs. Ahmed disclosed that so far from 2017 to date the total SUKUK funds issued to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing was N362.577 billion which the Debt Management Office issued on behalf of the Federal Government for the funding of key road projects through SUKUK, stating that government has given priority to capital expenditure spending in order to sustain the momentum of the economy.

In her remarks, the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Mrs. Patience Oniha, said that presentation of the N250 billion SUKUK cheque to the three ministries was in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s strategic objectives of development of infrastructure.

She said: “Improvement in infrastructure is widely accepted as one of the best means of creating jobs, supporting and attracting new businesses and promoting growth and development due to its multiplier effects”.

She added that the introduction of SUKUK as a source of raising funds for government has improved road infrastructure across the six geo-political zones of the country. “sI am pleased to report that since the debut N100 billion Sovereign SUKUK in September 2017, the DMO has issued three more, getting better each time and bringing the total amount raised through SUKUK so far to N612.577 billion,” she said.

Jan

28

2022

INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY: FASHOLA CLARIFIES MISREPRESENTATION OF HIS STATEMENT ON NIGERIA, US

* Alerts right thinking and well-meaning people to the antics of the main opposition

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN on Friday clarified the statement mischievously attributed to him in a section of the media as saying that Nigeria's achievements in Infrastructure has surpassed that of the United States.

Responding to a journalist’s question on the issue during an inspection tour of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Abuja- Kaduna- Zaria -Kano Dual Carriageway Sections I to III, Fashola said:"The first point to make is that I didn't say that Nigeria's infrastructure was better than America's infrastructure because certainly anybody who knows what he is doing will know that America is a much richer nation, their infrastructure is well ahead of Nigeria."

"What I was talking about at the presentation with the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Youth Ministerial Conference was about the challenges of infrastructure and that it is universal, every country commits to infrastructure as a legitimate way to create work, to grow the economy and distribute wealth as we have seen here."

"That’s the first point I was making, and that in a democracy you always  need the Parliament to authorize what you spend on infrastructure and so I was making the comparison that Buhari has been able to get his Parliament to authorize his spending, and that is why we were even able to gather here (at the Special Ministerial Conversational Conference). But that the American government is struggling to get authorisation from their own parliament to start what we are already doing. I didn’t say our infrastructure is better than theirs," he said.

According to the Minister, the deliberate misreporting of his clear statement of fact and the almost spontaneous orchestration of reactions based on the misrepresentation on the social media should send a clear warning to right thinking and well-meaning Nigerians about the type of campaign which the main opposition wants to run towards the 2023 election.

“It’s a campaign of lies and misinformation. The main opposition has a very uncomfortable relationship with the truth, so they are going to run a campaign of lies and disinformation, so we must be ready for it.”

"The progress we are making here make them very uncomfortable, so they can't disprove that work is going on, they can't disprove that infrastructure is being developed so they are going to look for every way to distort  and misinform the public," he said .

Noting that he remains undaunted by the unwarranted attacks based on misinformation, the Minister said he took time to make the clarification in the course of the inspection tour to alert well-meaning Nigerians to the kind of campaign which the main opposition wants to run.

Jan

28

2022

President Buhari's Infrastructure Drive Legitimately Enhancing Economic Growth, Prosperity Among Nigerians - Fashola

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN has said that the APC government under President Muhammadu Buhari is leading millions of Nigerians to prosperity through the massive infrastructure it is providing across the country.

Fashola stated this in Kano as a Guest Speaker at Special Ministerial Conversational Series with the theme, " Progressive Mission: The Road to our Future" organised by the Progressive Youth Wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Thursday, January 27th, 2022.

The Minister explained that the Progressive government of President Buhari has 941 road and bridge as well as other infrastructure projects across the states of the federation thereby impacting positively on the lives of the people in many more ways through the various construction works.

According to Fashola, the many infrastructure projects across the country are: ongoing highway and bridges projects, tertiary institutions internal roads rehabilitation, construction of new Federal Secretariats in six states and rehabilitation of 24 Federal Secretariats across the country.

Other areas are; construction of housing estates under the National Housing Programme in 34 states, rehabilitation of 34 bridges across the nation and scheduled maintenance of roads.

Listing the economic benefits of road construction to the people, Fashola said a lot of jobs have been created for suppliers of sand and building materials, artisans, labourers, farmers and even food vendors who make their daily earnings from the construction sides.

Confirming the different experiences of people as regards to how the roads construction impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians, the Minister quoted what Nigerians across the social strata said about the roads that were recently commissioned in their respective areas.

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

Justifying the need to consistently focus on providing infrastructure, Fashola explained that the growing population oftentimes necessitated growing the country's infrastructure to meet up with the increasing needs of the populace.

He explained that all over the world, it would difficult to find the inaugural address of Presidents and Governors that would not contain a commitment to the development of the infrastructure of their society.

" What really distinguishes this Progressive government under President Muhammadu Buhari is the focus and change it brought in governance. Infrastructure is one area that we are not only different but better,” he said.

May

28

2022

FG Commissions Erosion Control Project in Taraba State

The Federal Government has commissioned the completed Erosion and flood control project at the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital.

President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented at the event by the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Mu'azu Jaji Sambo as the Special Guest of Honour observed that the project was approved under the ecological intervention projects in 2020 to address the perennial problem of erosion in the area so as to enhance the comfort of the youth corps members during their orientation programme.

Sambo emphasized the zeal with which the Buhari led administration had been executing infrastructural projects across the country since inception.

He said, " Since the inception of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration various government Ministries and Agencies have taken steps to boost infrastructural development for the wellbeing of the citizenry."

He explained that the commitment of the administration to infrastructural development was informed by the social economic role that it plays in enhancing connectivity, safe mobility and the provision of opportunities, all of which add value to the living standards of the people.

The Minister described the project as well envisioned and positioned, adding that it underscores the administration's sincerity of purpose and responsiveness in tackling the challenges of its citizens thereby making life more meaningful. He praised President Buhari for carrying every part of the country along in the distribution of social amenities.

The Minister commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha and the Ecological Project Office under the leadership of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aisha Lawal for ensuring timely and speedy completion of the project and many others across the country in fulfillment of government promises to the people.

The Taraba State Governor, Architect Darius Ishaku who was represented by the Commissioner Taraba State Ministry of Youths and Sports Development Mrs. Napisa Clara Ibrahim commended the Federal Government for executing the project which will bring relief to the benefitting community.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Ecological Project Office, Dr. Habiba Lawal said the project was executed by the Ecological Project Office to tackle the erosion and flood problem as well as enhance the road sustainability by constructing concrete drain networks within the camp.

She disclosed that the contractor, Messrs. Peters and Partners Inter-Global Limited worked assiduously and conscientiously to ensure that the project was completed on time and in accordance with the specifications contained in the contract document.

The Permanent Secretary stated that the purpose of the commissioning and handing over of the project to the benefitting community was to enable them exercise ownership and to ensure its care, protection as well as sustenance.

She therefore implored the residents of the NYSC orientation camp and its environs to jealously guard the facility. Dr.Lawal applauded  the exemplary and towering leadership qualities of the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing.

The Director General of the NYSC, the Chairman Taraba State NYSC Governing Board and the Taraba State Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment were represented at the occasion.

May

11

2022

Fashola Meets Stakeholders On Rehabilitation Of Eko Bridge, Burnt Section At Apongbon, Other Brigdes, Seeks Cooperation Of All Commutters

...Says the rehabilitation of the Bridge is part of ongoing rehabilitation works on bridges across the country neglected over the years

....AMATO, transport companies, Apapa Local Government officials and traffic regulatory agencies also in attendance

....Reiterates directive for the evacuation by traders, other businesses from under bridges in Lagos, other parts of the country by June 9

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, on Monday in Lagos briefed transportation stakeholders on the ongoing rehabilitation works on bridges nationwide including Eko Bridge and the recently burnt section at Apongbon with an appeal to commuters for cooperation as the Federal Government provide solutions to the vital road transport infrastructure neglected over the years. 

Addressing a Town Hall Meeting of the Stakeholders including representatives of Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), transport companies, Apapa Local Government officials and traffic regulatory agencies held at the Conference Room of the Ministry’s Central Workshop in Ijora, on comprehensive repair of the bridge, and others across the country, Fashola explained that the repairs on Eko Bridge had become expedient as several portions of the bridge had become worn out due to years of neglect.

Fashola, who had earlier gone round to see the situation under some bridges in Lagos Island, including Oja Oba/ Third Mainland Bridge/Ring Road, Obalende under Bridge and Apongbon under Bridge incuding the burnt section, where he sensitized traders, artisans and other squatters on the dangers and risks to life that their operations constitute, also extended the evacuation ultimatum to the squatters till June 9, warning that they either comply voluntarily or face forced eviction.

At the meeting also attended by top officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, the Permanent Secretaries of the Lagos State Ministries of Environment, Transportation and Office of Infrastructure, alongside their Directors, at Ijora-Olopa, in Lagos, the Minister said the government was tackling the problem holistically, and needed support of stakeholders for smooth operations.

Soliciting for the support of the Lagos State Ministries of Environment, Transportation and Office of Infrastructure, as well as the Local Governments, to help create awareness among the people over the roles to be played by all stakeholders during rehabilitation works, Fashola added, “We know the problem, we know the solution, we have a plan but we need your support”.

The Minister also appealed to the transportation Stakeholders to encourage their members to build truck parks, urging them also not to always resort to “subtle threats or blackmail” each time issues of their members parking in the wrong places was pointed out to them.

Fashola said that the colossal damage to the Apongbon section of the Eko Bridge was being addressed by the contractors on the project.

Speaking with some of the business owners under the bridges, Fashola said government was giving them one month to relocate their businesses from under the bridges, saying that what happened at Apongbon section of Eko Bridge was an eye opener and government would not want a repeat of the incident.

“We are building new bridges and maintaining some old ones so it will not be right to continue to allow you people to do business here as usual. Your businesses here constitute a threat and government wants you people to leave”, the Minister said assuring commuters on Eko Bridge that Government was working hard to mitigate their inconveniences while the rehabilitation work lasts.

Recalling that Eko Bridge was built in 1975 and noting that it serves as a a strategic link between the Island and Mainland areas of Lagos, Fashola, who said emergency repair work has already commenced on the Bridge including the damaged section, cited its strategic importance to Lagosians as reason for the expediency.

On the burnt section of Eko Bridge at Apongbon , the Minister, pointed out that the repair work needs planning, adding, “I have instructed the Ministry’s Engineers to carry out comprehensive assessment of repairs we need to carry out to know what it will cost government”. He explained that the cost was not in the 2022 Budget “because nobody planned for it”, but added, “So, we have to navigate and overcome the problem”.

Earlier, while delivering his welcome address, the Director of Highway Bridges and Design Engr. Oluropo Oyetade, said Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing was supervising 1732 bridges across Nigeria adding that Lagos State, with105, ranked fourth after Taraba, Niger, and Cross River. He said out of that number, government has intervened in 23, with 10 completed, 11 ongoing and new contracts awarded for Carter and Iganmu Bridges in the 2022 Budget.

According to the Director, the first phase of the emergency repair of Eko Bridge was carried out in June 2020, during which another set of defects were noticed adding that this led to another contract award for Phase II in September 2020 during which more defects were detected, adding, “The Honourable Minister then directed for a holistic review of the whole bridge. This took all Directors of Highways months to accomplish and culminated in award of Comprehensive Maintenance of Eko Bridge in February 2022”.

In his own remarks, the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olowoshago Kamal, promised collaboration with the Federal Government for speedy completion of the rehabilitation works.

While expressing concern on how to evict traders in a popular fish market and truck drivers who have occupied the under bridges, Chairperson of Apapa Local Government, Mrs. Idowu Shobanjo, said that the traders and the truck operators were insisting on remaining under the bridges and on roads adding that they anchored their insistence on alleged promises the State government made to them. 

Several business activities including mechanic workshops, ram market, welder workshops, selling of other various commodities were going on as at the time the Minister and his team visited the under bridges.

Apr

25

2022

HDMI: Works And Housing Ministry Concludes Evaluation For First Phase Of The Value-Added Concession’s RFP Submissions

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has concluded evaluating proposals submitted for phase one of the Value-Added Concession (VAC) under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

The HDMI is a PPP initiative of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing that seeks to attract sustainable investment and funding in the development of road infrastructure and maximize the use of assets along the Right of Way (ROW) of federal highways in the country.

The first phase of the VAC under the HDMI seeks to concession 12 economically viable road corridors to technically and financially capable private sector firms/consortia. The 12 highways represent 1,963km or 5.6% of Nigeria’s 35,000km Federal Highway as follows:

Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Kano-Katsina, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, Sagamu-Benin and Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga Highways; the others are Kano-Maiduguri (Kano-Shuarin), Kano-Maiduguri (Potiskum-Damaturu), Lokoja-Benin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba, Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta and Lagos-Badagry-Seme Border.

The Value-Added Concession Request for Proposal (RFP) Evaluation Report was presented and approved on Thursday, April 21, at the Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting chaired by the Minister of Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN. 

Members of the PSC from the Ministries of Works & Housing, Environment, Finance, Budget & National Planning and Justice, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, and Bureau of Public Enterprises attended the meeting.

Speaking, the Head, PPP Unit, FMWH, Abimbola Asein, disclosed that the Project Delivery Team (PDT) had concluded the evaluation of the Bidders' technical and Financial proposals and proposed Preferred/Reserved Bidders had been identified. 

She, however, explained that the HDMI Project Steering Committee (PSC) reserves the right to disqualify any Preferred Bidder found to have supplied inaccurate or misleading information, following due diligence or is unable to reach a mutual agreement on the Project's Technical and Financial

Parameters.

After deliberating on the prayers presented by the PDT, the PSC approved the prayers and adopted amendments agreed on during the meeting. 

The PSC reiterated the importance of due diligence on the preferred bidders and recommended the constitution of a team made up of high-ranking officials from the relevant Ministries, noting that this would help achieve value for money for Nigeria during negotiations.     

The rationale behind the HDMI, a private sector engagement, is to provide alternative sources of financing for road development and management in the country.

It is consistent with the provisions of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Establishment Act 2005; National Policy on Public-Private Partnership ("N4P"); Federal Highways Act CAP. 135, 1971; and Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy. 

The scope of the VAC under the HDMI includes the expansion, re-alignment, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the existing road pavements and bridges; construction of interchanges and pedestrian crossings and construction and operations of tolling facilities. 

There is also the installation and operations of weighbridges; installation and operation of intelligent traffic systems for remote highway monitoring; physical patrol of the highway; provision of towing services, ambulance service, and refuse management. Others include the provision of directional

signage, rest areas, and highway illumination, amongst others.

The Request for Qualification (RFQ) Notice was published on March 29, 2021, through the HDMI Portal. At the close of the RFQ portal on May 31 2021, 75 firms/Consortia successfully submitted valid applications. 

An Inter-Ministerial Evaluation Committee evaluated the 75 submitted bids, wherein 18 firms / Consortia were prequalified, having met all the criteria outlined in the RFQ notice.

The RFP documents were then issued out to the 18 prequalified bidders on October 29, 2021, through the HDMI portal. 

The deadline was February 22, 2022, while documents from the 18 bidders were officially opened during the RFP Bid opening ceremony held on February 23, 2022.

The Project is now at the Due Diligence Stage and will be followed by Negotiation of Technical and Financial Parameters. The Negotiated Parameters will be populated in the Full Business Case (FBC) to be forwarded to ICRC for FBC Compliance Certificate. 

The Compliance Certificate will be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and approval. If approved, the Concession Agreement will be vetted by the Federal Ministry of Justice within a stipulated time frame to enable Commercial Close.

Apr

01

2022

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Acceptance Speech Of The 2021 Trophee Babacar Ndiaye

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is an auspicious African day, in the capital city of Africa’s most populous nation.

It is an African day of Pride, where the story of Africa’s long-awaited Renaissance begins to unfold inside her largest country by population and GDP.

It is a day of Pride for the African Union and Her Dreams for the continent.  The policies and programmes that have been inaugurated over the years are beginning to bear fruits and results.

The Trans African Highway programme, launched in 1971 sought to connect the whole of African through a major system of Nine (9) highways, the TAH1 to the TAH9 covering an aggregate distance of 56,683km.

The African Development Bank, a financial institution set up to support the African Countries in their developmental objectives.

The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement set up to create a unified, borderless market of over one billion people to facilitate intra-African Trade.

I am delighted to report that Nigeria is playing her membership and leadership role in all of these institutions and in the pursuit of achieving their objectives.

Only a few days ago in the city of Lagos, our private sector opened a 3,000 metric tonne granular Fertilizer Company to support Farmers and Agriculturalists on the African continent and beyond.

Our collaboration with the African Development Bank has been productive and results are now manifest in projects like the Mfum-Bamenda Bridge that connects Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon.   I also acknowledge the support of the Bank in financing Feasibilities, Consultancies and Pre-construction work on the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor comprising Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire which is part of Trans African Highway No. 7 from Dakar in Senegal to Lagos in Nigeria.

I am happy to report that the Nigerian sections of this highway is now under construction on the Lagos-Badagry corridor through our local financing institution such as the Tax Credit Scheme introduced by Executive Order No. 7; and in collaboration with the Lagos State Government.

I am able to report that apart from Trans African Highway No. 7, Nigeria is also connected by Trans African Highways No. 2, Algiers to Lagos and Trans African Highway No. 8, Lagos – Mombasa.

The East to West crossing of Nigeria across the Second River Niger Bridge which will be finished this year is a major investment by Nigeria on the Lagos-Mombasa Trans African Highway, as is the Enugu – Abakaliki to Mfum Highway.

The 375Km Abuja to Kano that is now under construction is Nigeria’s major part of the Trans African Highway No. 2; Algiers to Lagos.

Apart from these Trans African connections, we are rebuilding, expanding or replacing strategic Highways and Bridges across our country.

The Apapa-Oworonshoki Highway in Lagos is strategic for trade and business facilitation to support our busiest and largest Sea Port in Apapa and Tin Can Island.

The Suleja-Minna Highway is critical to our petroleum distribution network and access to strategic petroleum products Depot in Niger State; and it is receiving attention, while the Calabar-Itu-Odukpani unlocks access to agricultural produce and supports mining and extractive activities for construction, in the South South and South East of Nigeria.

Ladies and Gentlemen, these are only examples of over 13,000Km of Road and Bridge construction, expansion and rehabilitation nationwide.

They have been a major boost for the growth of our economy, keeping people at work; driving a supply value chain, stimulating productivity at Quarries, Cement Factories, Steel Factories, and the Petroleum sectors for lubricants, fuel and bitumen.

Our most recent GDP results of 3.40%, the biggest in the last 7 years clearly show that the construction sub-sectors and related sub-sectors of the economy were among the big performers of the growth surge.

Very evidently, infrastructure investment is good for the economy.

By building Roads, we are building Economies.

The founding vision of African Leaders is coming to fruition, Evidence of the African Renaissance is being showed today in Nigeria.

The Trophee Babacar Ndiaye 2022 at the 7th Edition of Africa Road Builders symbolizes this Renaissance.

On behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I accept the Africa Road Builders Award for the Hope, Prosperity and Progress that it symbolizes.

State House
Abuja

Mar

30

2022

FG Scales Up Infrastructure Development in Tertiary Institutions

Hands Over 1.1km road to Fed. Poly Ukana-Uyo

76 Tertiary Institutions to benefit

The administration of President  Muhammadu Buhari has again lived up to its campaign promise of bridging the infrastructural gaps in the country by providing accessible roads network in tertiary institutions across the six geopolitical zones.

That was evident as a fully rehabilitated and constructed 1.1 kilometre road at the Federal Polytecnic Ukana-Uyo in Awka Ibom State executed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing was commissioned and handed over to the institution on Tuesday,  March 29,2022 by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing,Mr.Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN.

Represented at  the  ceremony by the Federal Controller Works in Akwa Ibom State, Engr.Gabriel Akinwande  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."

Fashola described the construction of internal roads at various campuses as a deliberate step by government to positively impact on the quality of education as well as create a conducive learning environment for renewed enthusiasm with regards to attending classes by students.

 '' We have successfully intervened in the internal road networks of 46 tertiary institutions and have handed over 29 as at 2021.We now have another 17 ready to be handed over with about 30 more roads in similar institutions across the country receiving attention of the Buhari-led administration," he added.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Rector of the Federal Polytecnic Ukana, 
Akwa Ibom  State, Dr. Udak Ukekpe appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his interest in enhancing education in the country through the provision of logistics like the construction of internal road network in tertiary institutions.

He added that the road rehabilitation was timely and will add great value to the students and other road users in the campus, noting that the action of the Federal Government will also go a long way in addressing the infrastructural deficit in the institution.

Dr. Ukekpe pleaded with the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN  to further assist the institution in the remaining 3.1km road  left to be covered.

In an Interview, the Vice President of the Students Union Government (SUG) Ms. Blessing Mbonisa said the construction of the road had made the school opened to everyone and that it has boosted the morale of the students academics.

A lecturer, the coordinator of Mechanical Engineering Department, Engineer Emabong Etieakpan, while appreciating the Minister, pointed out that the road has been helpful to both staff and students most especially the motorists and those walking in and out of the school.

“There was no road in this place before. It was a busy area that nobody can access, but now, with the road construction, students can now easily go to their lecture rooms without flood which was not like that before."

The event was well attended by students, staff and board of directors of the school as well as the traditional leader of Ukana West in person of His Royal Highness Okuku Sylvanus Obot Ekanem.
 

Mar

24

2022

FG Hands 0ver 1.6 Kilometre Road To Bayero University Kano.

.     To install transformers for the institution soon

.     Plans to work on more internal roads in BUK

The Honourable Minister of  Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola ,SAN,  has  handed over the 1.636 internal road in Bayero University Kano  to the University authorities on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

Represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Kano State, Engineer Yahaya Baba Ali, the Minister stated that the internal road construction and rehabilitation in tertiary institutions by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on behalf of the Federal Government was part of the steady effort by the Federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to bridge the gap in the Infrastructural needs in the country. 

Fashola said "The gap of our Infrastructural need is steadily being bridged by the gradual process of repairs, renewal and reconstruction on major highways and it has reached the schools."

He further said, "We have successfully intervened in the internal roads network of 46 Tertiary Institutions and handed over 29 as at 2021 and we now have another 17 ready to be handed over while we are currently attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 76".

The Minister revealed that efforts were being made for another  intervention work on the internal roads of BUK  that is three times bigger than the one that was being handed over to  the University. This is in addition to the plan to construct a pedestrian bridge at the entrance gate of the institution to put a stop to the accidents that occur sometimes when people are trying to cross the road to the University. 

In his address, the Vice Chancellor of the University , Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas who was visibly overjoyed expressed gratitude to the Federal government and the Ministry of Works and Housing for the intervention work adding that the road being handed over which leads to the solar plant of the institution was in a very bad shape before.

He said, " We are really very grateful to the Minister and the Federal Government and we are appreciative of another gesture of coming in to rehabilitate more roads for us so we extend our gratitude to the Minister and the Ministry."

The VC also disclosed that the University had received the award letter to the contractor that is coming to install transformers in the institution, adding that once that is done most of the problems of the school associated with power supply will be a thing of the past.

 Mustapha Aminu, a Deputy Registrar in the University said in an interview, "Before the commencement of the project,  this place was very hard to reach .  Now with the completion of the road done by the Federal Government, it has linked the main road that leads to all parts of the University community. So it will make movement and other activities easier.I want to commend the effort of the Ministry for doing a great job."

The Acting Director Establishment in the institute, Binta Yahaya Naisa said, " The road was bushy, so bushy that sometimes people could not pass through.  But now that the road has been constructed, it has opened up the place so much that you can see the next village from here."
" It is a very good development .  It will improve our security and provide easy access from one place to another."

Nura Garba had this to say, "It is a road that leads to other parts like farms around and new hostels under construction." It was very difficult to pass through this place especially during the raining season, we had to park our cars far away."

" This work is a sigh of relief, you can see people moving around. It is so good to move around here now because the contractor has done a very good job so we thank the Federal Ministry of Works for doing this great job."

Mar

22

2022

FG Committed To Development Of Quality Education Through Quality Infrastructure - Fashola

..... 1.06 km internal roads with reinforced concrete culverts and drains handed to AKTH

.... CMD lauds Buhari for the intervention
 
Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, has said that the Federal Government will remain committed to the development of Education in the county through the provision of quality infrastructure.

The Minister spoke in Kano while handing over 1.06 km internal road, including construction of reinforced concrete culverts and drains at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano (AKTH), Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

Fashola was represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Kano State Engr. Yahaya Baba Ali.

He said " it is undebatable 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 feedback from students in the schools where this type of intervention has taken place".

The Minister stated further that President Buhari's administration has successfully intervened in the internal Road networks of 46 Tertiary Federal institutions and handed over 29 as at 2021.

Accordingly, he said that another 17 tertiary institutions Internal roads are now ready to be handed over, while work is ongoing on 30 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 76.

Earlier, in his welcome address the Chief Medical Director AKTH Prof. Abdulrahaman Abba Sheshe expressed happiness an important project of this magnitude has been executed in the teaching hospital, pointing out that it will allow easy access for patients seeking medical treatment in different parts of the hospital.

" We are indeed very happy that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari through the Federal Ministry of Works realized the importance of this project which was carried out through special Intervention, the result is what we are seeing all around the hospital today" he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman Board of Directors, AKTH, represented by Dr. Dahiru M.D Shehu said he is hopeful that the present administration will continue to bring in more projects to the hospital.

" I thank Pesident Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola for the road which will help in the development of the Health Sector in the country" he said.

He also commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the support given to the hospital in terms of improvement of the health care system in the country.

In an interview, the Principal Iman Academy AKTH Mallam Zakariya'u Muhammad thanked President Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing for the internal road.

He said " this has brought relief to the people. Before the intervention visitors to this hospital suffer from dust due to the bad road and during raining season patients and pupils finds it difficult to access the road".

The ward head in the Hospital, Alhaji Sulaiman Shehu, expressed his happiness for the intervention and thanked the government for removing the pains of the people while using the road, saying that they can now move freely on the road.

Mar

15

2022

Commitment To Human Resources Determines Quality of Life – Fashola

…As Ministry of Works and Housing hosts 2020 Staff Recognition and Reward Ceremony in Abuja

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN has declared that the commitment of the human resources comprising men and women determines the quality of life in every given environment.

He stated this at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing 2020 Staff Recognition and Reward Ceremony during which 35 outstanding members of staff were honoured for productivity and diligence in service delivery at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on Monday 14th March 14, 2022.

The Minister emphasized that the quality and quantity of man and woman power commitment determines the quality of life and should be accorded adequate attention and care hence the institution of the awards to encourage better productivity from the staff.

“I believe that human resources require more attention to get the best out of them and it is part of the reason why we undertake this process of recognition and reward ceremony to those who have given their skill, their time, some beyond the call of duty and who have demonstrated a commitment that is an enchantment to others,” he said.

Fashola said that Civil and Public Servants are goal getters who can do everything and anything if they are challenged, stating that whatever government initiates, civil and public servants will deliver on them.

“I also tell my colleagues when we hold our monthly meetings, that perhaps we have not paid enough attention to the activities and possibilities that lies in the public service.   I truly believe that Civil and Public Servants can do everything and anything if they are challenged, if a government responds today and say I want to run a policy of education, civil service will deliver and if after an election and a change of government and it comes and says I want to deliver a programme on free education, the same civil service that delivered paid education will move again and deliver on free education,” he said.

The Minister also reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring adequate and conducive environment for workers to thrive by making sure that the federal secretariats across the nation are in good working condition.

“At our assumption of duty, we saw that the federal secretariats across the nation where some of our staff work require attention. Today, we have essentially refurbished, renovated and now undertaking daily and routine maintenance in 24 Federal Secretariats across the nation to make the place more habitable and hoping that this will provide better and more deserving work accommodation and better environment for civil and public servants not only in our Ministry but all Federal and Public staff employed in all states.”

Fashola applauded the awardees and admonished them to keep on working hard, adding that the reward called for more work. He added that the awardees represent the 5000 staff strength of the Ministry nationwide who do the hard work, and make possible some of the things that seem impossible before now.

“For me, the Nigerian Civil and Public Servants deserves to be resourced, rewarded and also to be accountable,” he said.

In his welcome address, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. Chukwunwike Uzor said the awardees were carefully selected using quantifiable and objective parameters that ensured that the best candidate emerged from each of the category’s field of selection, explaining that it was necessary to ensure transparency, integrity in the mode of selection, and above all to achieve the objective of the exercise which promotes excellence.

He congratulated the awardees and advised them not to rest on their oars, adding that to whom much is given, much is also expected.

In her goodwill message, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan represented by the Permanent Secretary Staff Welfare, Office of the Head Of Service Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe   congratulated the Management and Staff of the Ministry for joining the train of MDAs that have accepted the need for recognition of the contribution of staff who have shown outstanding performance and exemplary conduct in the discharge of their duties towards the attainment of the mandates of the Ministry.

She urged the awardees to be shining stars and examples for other members of staff and also continue to maintain the reputation of effective service delivery for which the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is known in the public service.

The Head of Service also encouraged those that were not so lucky at this year’s award to work harder to be the shining stars for recognition at the next recognition and award ceremony.

The awards were in the categories of: Most Hardworking Junior Staff, Best Performing Senior Staff, Best Performing Task Team and Most Outstanding Director of the year.

Responding on behalf of the recipients, the award winner of the Most Outstanding Director of the year, Director Highways, Planning and Development, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. Ibi Terna Manasseh, thanked the management and staff of the ministry for the special award.

Mar

09

2022

Varsity Lauds Fashola Over 2.0 km Internal Road Intervention

•    Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has been commended for the 2.0 kilimeters road Intervention project done in the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUS)

Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Lawal Sulaiman Bilbis gave the commendation during the official handover of the completed road to the University, Wednesday, March 9, 2022.

The Minister, represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Sokoto State, Engr Akintunde Akintade, said that the Ministry is working on 76 road projects in selected Federal Tertiary Institutions across the nation.

"We have successfully intervened in the internal road networks of 46 tertiary institutions and handed over 29 as at 2021 and we now have another 17 ready to be handed over, while we are currently attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 76," he said
 
Fashola explained that there were clear indications that responses from institutions who benefited with the intervention revealed that the gap of the infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs and construction on the major highways and schools.

Accordingly, he added that the construction of the internal roads in the tertiary institutions by the Federal Government has enormously helped the students' renewed enthusiasm to attend classes because bad roads across the tertiary institutions have been restored to good condition.

Similarly, the Minister explained the project has created jobs for no less than ninety (90) people during the execution which contributed tremendously to the job creation initiatives of Buhari’s administration.

In his response the Vice Chancellor of UDUS, Prof. Lawal Sulaiman Bilbis, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Garba Mahuta applauded the Minister His Excellency Babatunde Fashola for the intervention, describing it as a giant stride in the course of humanity

Prof Bilbis stated that the rehabilitation of the road commenced last year and was completed 100 percent by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing under the able leadership of Minister Fashola

The President of the Students Union Government (SUG), Umar Shamsudeen, said he was so delighted with the road project and under his tenure the project would be protected and maintained, adding that the road would enhance the environment and improve teaching and learning.

While speaking, the Sector Commandant of 10.1 of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Sokoto State, Muhammad Kabo, appreciated the effort of the Federal Government in putting the road in good condition and appealed to the road users to always observe road signage and speed limit.

Mar

09

2022

Second Niger Bridge To Be Ready By April - FG

·  As Gambari, Fashola, Ngige, others inspect Bridge, record milestone of walking from Asaba to Onitsha end of Project

The Federal Government has assured that the Second Niger Bridge will be completed by April 2022 and would be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari before the end of the year.

Describing the Second Niger Bridge as a national infrastructure with immense socio-economic benefits for the contiguous states and indeed the entire nation, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari , Prof. Ibrahim Gambari who in company with the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, his Labour and Productivity counterpart , Dr. Chris Ngige and the Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji inspected the bridge on Tuesday March 8, 2022, said  that the project has once again demonstrated the President’s commitment to the bridging of the infrastructure gap in the country. 

He said that the project being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is funded through the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund in conjunction with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

On tolling of the asset when completed, Prof. Gambari said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had developed a National Tolling Policy for the entire nation and that whether or not the bridge would be tolled was not the key issue, adding that the priority of the government was to get the project delivered. He added that if the road was eventually tolled, there would be alternative route. “So, when this bridge is tolled, the old bridge is an alternative route, so you have the choice to make between speed and price,” he said.

Speaking on the possibility of managing the bridge through a concession arrangement, the Minister of Works and Housing said the major responsibility of the government was to deliver the project in collaboration with NSIA saying, “Once we have finished, if they choose to concession, they can concession.”

Fashola said that the Ministry has secured the approval of the Federal Executive Council on a National Tolling Policy that is of international standard.  “Concessioning of projects is regulated by law. There are rules on how it is done. We are currently supervising the concession of 12 highways across Nigeria through the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) and the process is opened to the general public. “So, if we choose to concession this one, it will also be opened to the general public,” he said.

He stated that the Chief of Staff to the President was on tour of the project to see that what the Ministry has been reporting is in consonance with what is happening on the Bridge so that he can brief Mr. President appropriately.

The Minister said work on the bridge had reached appreciable level and appealed to the communities around the impressive Second Niger Bridge project to bear with the Federal Government as power supply was going to be interrupted for two weeks to put finishing touches to the project, adding that adequate notice would be given ahead when that would be done.

The Federal Controller of Works in Anambra State and the Engineer Representative of the 2nd Niger Bridge, Engineer Ajani Adeyemo said that the existing Niger Bridge was built in 1965 noting that it has remained the crucial East-West link over the years. However, due to age and excessive axle load and the heavy traffic congestion arising from the enhanced economic activities in the South-East and South-South transport corridors, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing initiated the second Niger Bridge which has attained 93 percent completion under the leadership of President Buhari.

According to him, the bridge when completed would reduce the strain on the existing Niger Bridge, improve traffic flow, improve health, security and create opportunities for the host communities as well as Nigerians to improve their socio-economic activities.

The highlight of the inspection visit was the historic walk of the Chief of Staff to Mr.President, the Honourable Ministers of Works and Housing, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity and others including senior journalists from various media houses from the Onitsha end to the Asaba side of the Bridge.

Mar

04

2022

FG COMMITTED TO BRIDGING INFRASTRUCTURE GAP IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS - FASHOLA
 
The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has restated Federal Government’s commitment to bridging the road infrastructure challenges in tertiary institutions across the country.

The Minister who spoke in Enugu at the official commissioning and handover ceremony of the 1.0 kilometre road project constructed at the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy Enugu State by his Ministry said the gap of the nation's infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of rehabilitations and constructions and it has reached the tertiary institutions.

Fashola, who was represented at the occasion by the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu State, Engr. Olufemi Oyekanmi explained that the intervention by the Federal Government was to boost quality of education and renewed hope and enthusiasm with regards to attending classes as defective roads have been been restored to motorability.

"It's undebatable 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 feedbacks from the students of the schools where this type of intervention have taken place" the Minister said.

He disclosed that under the Tertiary Institutions road Intervention Programme initiated by his Ministry, the Federal Government is currently working on 76 roads projects in selected Federal Tertiary Institutions across the nation.

" We have successfully intervened in the internal Road networks of 46 Tertiary Federal Institutions and handed over 29 as at 2021and we now have another 17 ready to be handed over while we are currently attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country, making a total of 76", Fashola said.

The Minister described the construction of the internal roads by the Federal Government in the federal tertiary institutions as a pointer to   President Muhammadu Buhari's administration's progressive ideal of improving the human condition by supporting education.

In his response, the Rector Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Dr. John Emaimo thanked the Honourable Minister and Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for selecting the college to benefit from this laudable Government Intervention in bringing infrastructural development gap saying that it is a dream fulfilled bearing in mind the deplorable state of the roads before the intervention.

According to Dr Emaimo, infrastructure is critical to the progress  of stakeholders it can attract.

He added that with this kind gesture from the Ministry, the institution wears a new look making it conducive for both teaching and learning.

The Rector appreciated the Honourable Minister yet for another project currently being executed by the Ministry which he said is the provision of street lights to illuminate the campus during night hours.

Emaimo however, requested for the Ministry's intervention in the construction of two more roads in the school premises which are in a deplorable condition.

Feb

23

2022

FG’s Achievements on Roads, Housing Infrastructure Remarkable - Fashola

 .... 1,019 road, bridge projects ongoing, 941kms completed, commissioned

 *... National Housing Programme in 34 states ready for Commissioning *

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has stated that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has achieved more on infrastructure development for the country  than any other administration in recent times. 

Fashola , who made a presentation on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at  a Town Hall Meeting organized in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohamed, spoke alongside the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. (Mrs.) Zainab  Shamsuna Ahmed  and Minister of State for Power, Engr. Goody Agbah who also presented the score cards of their Ministries as part of the Federal Government’s achievements in Infrastructure development.

The Minister explained that the Progressive government of President Buhari was currently handling 1,019 roads and bridge projects nationwide, adding that it within 18 days towards the ends of last year, it commissioned 941 kilometers of roads connecting 10 states across five geo-political zones   which are impacting positively on the lives of the people in many more ways.

The commissioned roads are: Kebbi-Sokoto-Kontagora-Jega - Yawuri Road in Sokoto and Kebbi States; Shuarin-Azare Road in Jigawa and Bauchi States; Azare - Potiskum Road in Bauchi and Yobe States; Vandeikya – Obudu Road in Benue and Cross River States and Nnewe – Oduma Road in Enugu and Ebonyi States.

He also stated that bridges such as the joint border bridge in Mfum ,  Cross River State which is a major international link to Cameroon ; Ikom  bridge which was now a gateway to the northern part of the country through Katsina-Ala ìn Benue state had all been completed by the Federal government.

Accordingly, the Minister revealed that the Bonny-Bodo project construction which has four major bridges and eight minor ones were already in an advanced stage of completion. The project, according to him, is one of the major projects which had defied execution by past administrations but the Buhari administration has tackled and is making significant progress.

Other such difficult projects in which the administration has brought to near completion include, the Second Niger Bridge in Anambra and Delta States, the Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria- Kano Road, the Apapa – Oworonsoki Road and the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway.

Fashola listed other infrastructure projects across the country to include: ongoing highway and bridges projects, tertiary institutions internal roads rehabilitation, construction of new Federal Secretariats in six states and rehabilitation of 24 Secretariats across the country and construction of housing estates under the National Housing Programme in 34 states. 

The Minister commended President Muhammadu Buhari for making available resources to continue with infrastructural development throughout the federation.

According to him, if all infrastructural facilities are in place, they will ease the process of doing business and increase productivity, pointing out that farmers as well as other Nigerians engaging in various businesses could now move their products or render their services with more ease.

On the economic benefits of road construction to the people, Fashola said, a lot of jobs have been created for suppliers of sand and building materials, artisans, labourers, farmers and even food vendors who make their daily earnings from the construction sites.

For other Nigerians to appreciate what the present government has done on infrastructure, Fashola recalled the testimonies and experiences of some Nigerians as regards how the roads construction impacted positively on their lives. He quoted what Nigerians across the social strata said about the roads that were commissioned in their respective areas.

“President Buhari is legitimately distributing wealth through investment in road infrastructure and the 100 million Nigerians he said would be taken  out of poverty in a decade would be achieved." he said.

“What really distinguishes this Progressive government under President Muhammadu  Buhari is the focus and change it brought in governance. Infrastructure is one area that we are not only different but better,” the Minister added.

Earlier, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs.  Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed revealed that the federal government had planned to spend about N1.42 trillion on infrastructure and N2.11 trillion on human capital.

She stated that under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, RITCS, a total of 33 road projects have been embarked upon, covering a total length of 1, 564.95 in 2021. 

Feb

12

2022

FG Reiterates Commitment To Speedy Completion Of Road Projects Financed Through NNPC Tax Credit Scheme

• Contractors attest to release of funds, as Truck drivers express delight on progress of work on Suleja-Minna Highway, Lambata-Lapai- Bida Road.

• Funds for Roads under the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme not domiciled with us – Works Ministry

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to making sure that all the roads financed under the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme are completed and delivered as scheduled.

The Director Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Folorunso Esan, stated this at the inspection of the ongoing dualization of Suleja- Minna highway, Phase I and II; and the reconstruction of Lambata -Lapai-Bida road in Niger State which are among the critical roads to be financed under the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme.

"I am here to see that they have improved on their mobilization and they are working."

Esan said that adequate fund has been released to the contractors through the governance process established to ensure prompt delivery of the road projects, adding that no contractor has any reason not to deliver as scheduled.

It would be recalled that during the presentation of the symbolic cheque for the 21 roads by the NNPC in the presence of all stakeholders and the media on December 21, 2021 the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN in his remarks said that a governance process was being put in place and that the governance process requires the Ministry to do certification of the certificates for jobs done promptly within five days.

The Minister added on that occasion that as soon as the certificates were certified they would be escalated to the NNPC which would be required to pay within 30 days and that the staff of the Ministry has certain number of days within which to act to certify the certificates.

The Minister also gave assurance then that all the unpaid certificates that were in existence before the scheme was approved and all the certificates that budget provisions were inadequate to pay, would be paid as from signing of the contract with the NNPC adding that what it meant was that there would be money to pay the contractors who would in turn pay their suppliers of construction materials in the chain of distribution of wealth across the divide.

The Ministry has therefore clarified that given the governance process put in place for the scheme it was impossible for the Ministry officials or any other person to “hijack” the funds for any other purpose as was recently alleged in some quarters. It also noted that with many of the construction companies just resuming from the yuletide break, work has resumed on the sites with earth works progressing.

Engr. Esan disclosed that the inspection team was among others reasons, on sites to prevail on the contractors to accelerate their work speed to ensure early completion and delivery of the roads because these are major road networks with heavy traffic flow in the North Central region connecting towns and cities within the region, South Western states and other regions in Nigeria.

The Director, while expressing satisfaction about the volume of work done on the sites, said that the Ministry would carry out the appropriate tests to determine the quality and the durability of the construction work on roads to ensure compliance with acceptable standards.

Esan pleaded with road users especially truck drivers to be patient with the government and construction workers as they ply the roads while construction work is going on because managing traffic and doing construction work on the roads is bound to slow down the pace of work, assuring them that the challenged spots would be taken care of to address the outcry of tanker and truck drivers.

 “We are expecting that before the rainy season, all the challenged spots will be addressed so that outcry from the truck and tanker drivers will not be there,” he added.

The Director, however, assured Nigerians of speedy completion and delivery of the roads as scheduled despite the heavy vehicular movement on the roads, noting that inadequate funding which used to be a major challenge has been permanently solved through the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme because the Corporation would fund the road projects to their completion.

He added that the Suleja-Minna dualization which was projected to be completed in January 2024 would be completed much earlier due to the availability of fund.

On the Bida- Lapai-Lambata road, the Federal Controller of Works, Niger State, Engineer Samotu Moshood, explained that 46kms amounting to 36 percent of the work has been completed and before the rainy season commences, the work is projected to have extended to Lapai which would be additional 60kms, and the extension would continue to Agaie, another 80kms before the end of the year 2022.

The length of the road is 124.81kms which commenced from Lambata town passing through Lapai - Agaie and terminating at Bida.

"The construction of the road is very imperative to link the Bida-Mokwa section already completed under the World Bank due to the importance of the segment of the federal highway being a major link for vehicular traffic from the South West to the North Central part of the country and beyond,” said the Controller of Works in the State.

The Project Manager of Messrs. Salini Nigeria Limited, Engineer Daniel Kassa, the contractor handling the Suleja-Minna Road, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for selecting the project to be among the beneficiaries of the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme.

He disclosed that the company had been fully mobilized to the sites with adequate funds and assured Nigerians of accelerated speed on the work to enable it complete the road and deliver as scheduled.

Kassa added that the federal government does not owe them anymore as the debt has been cleared.

Also, Project Manager China Global Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Chen Xian, the contractor handling the Bida-Lapai-Lambata highway revealed that the Federal Government has fully mobilized his company to the site.

Xian who lamented that scarcity of water, was currently a hindrance to the progress of their work with the onset of dry season, assured road users that the troubled spots would have been worked upon before the rainy season because a means of supplying water to the site would be found, adding that the entire job would be completed and delivered by December, 2022.

Musa Adamu and Gbenga Durojaye, who are truck drivers passing during the inspection were elated at the commencement of the work on Bida-Lapai-Lambata road and urged the Federal Government to ensure speedy completion of the road as it would enable smooth driving and reduce the hours of travelling to the barest minimum.

Jan

28

2022

FASHOLA CONDOLES WITH  ADENIRAN OGUNSANYA FAMILY OVER DEATH OF FORMER SSG

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN has condoled with the Adeniran Ogunsanya Family, the Government and people of Lagos State over the passage of the former Secretary to the State Government, Princess Adenrele Adeniran Ogunsanya.

Expressing deep shock and sadness over the death of Princess Adeniran Ogunsanya, who served as Secretary to the State Government from 2007 to 2011 during his first tenure as Governor of Lagos State, Fashola said that her passing was a huge loss not only to the historic town of Ikorodu and Lagos State but to the country in general.

In a Press Release signed by the Special Adviser on Communications to the Hon. Minister, Fashola noted that Princess Adenrele Adeniran-Ogunsanya’s single minded devotion to public service, politics of inclusion and women advocacy as well as her humaneness would be sorely missed by all.

A scion of the famous Adeniran-Ogunsanya family whose patriarch served meritoriously as Minister in the First Republic, Fashola said that Princess Adeniran-Ogunsanya brought her rich experience to bear while serving as the Secretary to the State Government in the Class of 2007-2011 in the Lagos State Cabinet which he had the privilege to lead.

While praying that Almighty God will grant the immediate family members of the deceased the fortitude to bear the sad loss, Fashola implored them to take solace in the fact that Princess Adeniran-Ogunsanya throughout her earthly sojourn bore aloft and admirably without stain the banner of committed public service for which the family had always been known.   He also prayed that Almighty God grants her soul peaceful repose.

Jan

28

2022

Aggressive Work on Road Projects to Resume as 2021/2022 SUKUK Fund is set to be released

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN has assured Nigerians that work on road projects being funded through the SUKUK would soon witness an increase in pace as government is set to release the SUKUK fund for 2021 and 2022.

Fashola gave the assurance, Thursday, January 27th, 2022, while speaking to journalists after inspecting the ongoing Dualization of the Kano - Katsina Road Phases I and II in Kano and Kaduna States in response to a question on the funding challenges faced by the contractors handling such projects.

The Minister said, "The Minister of Finance has told us that very soon SUKUK Fund for 2021 and 2022 will be ready for release and that will be in a couple of weeks from now, so that all of the backlog of funding on Works and certificates that have accrued will be paid and work can continue.”

The Minister expressed satisfaction on the progress of the project which was a single carriageway before the decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to expand it to a dual carriageway thereby making it more efficient for the increased volume of traffic in that area.

On the Issue of compensation for the people affected by the project, Fashola said, " That is essentially a state government responsibility because of the power granted to the state under the constitution with respect to land control and what we need really is the right of way, this is the cooperation needed from the states."

He however expressed confidence that the challenge of compensation will soon be over with the assurance given by the Kano State Government that steps were being taken to settle it and hoped that the Katsina State Government would do the same.

He explained that the reason why some Sections of the roads were skipped was because of the pending issues of compensation, adding that as soon as they were settled, the contractors will return to those portions to do their work.

The Minister described the road as strategic because it is serving the biggest grain market in the country from where goods are moved to as far as Libya.

On the economic and social significance of the roads to the people, Fashola said when contractors get money they pay their own suppliers like those who supplied asphalt, crush stones, sand and so on thereby redistributing the wealth of the nation around the economy and creating employment in the process.

Fashola said when the President said he was going to take one hundred million people out of poverty, he was referring to the employment that would be generated through investment in infrastructure development among others.

He stated that with the support of the President his Ministry will continue to implement programmes that will engender the distribution of the wealth of the country to people at the lowest bottom of the pyramid.
 
" These were the things the President referred to when he said he wants to remove 100 million people out of poverty," he said.

"As you build efficiency, you are building prosperity. Even though the President cannot reach physically everyone individually, he is having a handshake with the people through infrastructural development."

Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Kano State, Engineer Yahaya Baba Ali informed the Minister and his entourage that the dualization of the 73 kilometres Kano - Katsina Road Phase I begins from Dawanau roundabout in Kano and terminates at the Katsina border. The road, he said serves the biggest grain market in the country which is located at Dawanau in Kano State.

Engineer Ali also informed the Minister that the contractor had completed work on the construction of additional carriageway, while the reconstruction of the old carriageway had reached 30 percent.

The representative of the CCECC, the construction company handling the project, Mr Ren Shaoshuri gave the assurance that the project which had reached 83 percent will be completed on target if funding is provided.

Engineer Goni Tahir, Federal Controller of Works in Katsina State also assured the Minister that the contractor was ready to deliver the Phase II of the project with improved funding.