Sep

28

2022

Works Ministry Sensitizes Directors on Asset Declaration, Infringement

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has organized a sensitization workshop for its directors on strict compliance with Asset Declaration Processes, Code of Conduct and the consequences attached to infringements.

Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary of the Works and Housing Ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, said that the purpose of the workshop was to enlighten the participants on the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal and its application as they relate to Asset Declaration.

Alkali, represented by the Director Highways Planning and Development in the Ministry, Engineer Uzor Chukwuwinke Ogbona, pointed out that it had become imperative to organize the workshop because of the increasing cases of allegation of infringement of the codes by public officers thereby resulting to frequent invitations for questioning by the Bureau.

"This has become necessary in view of the report of increasing cases of alleged breach of the provisions of the Act by our officers occasioning their invitations for questioning by the Bureau," he said.

Accordingly, he added that all the other levels of the officers in the ministry would go through a similar workshop because of the sensitivity and importance of Asset Declaration to public officers.

"Given the importance and seriousness attached to the issue, the Ministry is determined to ensure that this enlightenment programme is cascaded to all levels of officers from the Directorate cadre downwards," he added.

Engr. Uzo implored participants to use the opportunity of the workshop to ask pertinent questions on issues that needed clarity, pointing out that the facilitators were experts in the field recommended by the Code of Conduct Bureau that could respond to these questions.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Professor Muhammed Isah who was represented by a member of the Bureau, Professor Samuel Ogundare, informed the participants that in a bid for government to ensure that public officers maintained a high level of integrity while discharging their duties, a set of codes have been established to guide them.

He explained that the codes specify the standard of integrity expected of public officers as well as how to meet them, adding that safety of public officers has been captured in the codes in discharging their duties.

The Chairman urged the participants   to oblige the Bureau with suggestions from their experiences on how to minimize infringement of the codes.

" It is also our wish that since most of you will be exiting from the service soon, you will share your experiences with us on how we can minimize the judgement in these codes,"Professor Ogundare said.

In her presentation, Mrs. Ofor Ijeanuli, a Deputy Director from the Code of Conduct Bureau, in her paper presentation titled: Code of Conduct Act & Code of Ethics in Government Business, mentioned that there are fourteen codes synonymous to rules guiding the public officers of which Asset Declaration is one of them.

She noted that civil servants were mandated to declare their assets every four years within the period of years they are still in service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pointing out that failure to do that was an infringement.

Explaining further, Ofor stated that public officers are expected to submit a written declaration of all their properties, assets and liabilities and those of their unmarried children under the age of eighteen years including their spouses that are not working.

Accordingly, she disclosed that, the Code of Conduct for Public Officers should serve as a mechanism for continuous self-assessment by public officers to meet up with public expectations, scrutiny and evaluation, noting that any property acquired in abuse of or corruption in office will be forfeited to the state.  

It was a very fruitful discussion in which a large number of the Director's participated in with genuine questions asked and explicit answers given by the officials from the Code of Conduct Bureau in the Ministry's Headquarter conference room in Mabuchi, Abuja.

Sep

08

2022

Keynote Speech Delivered By H.E Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN As Guest Speaker At The Niche 2022 Annual Lecture On Thursday September 8, 2022 At The Muson Centre, Lagos

The theme chosen by Acclaim Communications Ltd, for this year’s annual lecture, which is “2023 AND THE FUTURE OF NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY” was perhaps too tempting for me to resist, and the invitation, issued since April 20, 2022, was more than timely, which is not easy to say these days for some speaking events.

Given that we are 20 Days to the formal commencement of campaigns for the 2023 general elections, this year’s annual lecture coming 170 days to the first of the elections in February 2023 provides a potential platform for many possibilities.

However, I have elected not to be partisan, and instead chosen to be even-handed, I believe this is the challenge, albeit self-imposed that the theme of the lecture now presents.

Let me start from the beginning about the 2023 general elections.

Shortly after the announcement of the results of the 2019 General Elections proclaiming the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari, and whilst the opposition petition in the election tribunal was still pending, I started hearing talk of 2023.

Initially I dismissed it as offhanded or, at the worst, isolated but it turned out that I was mistaken; it continued.

Therefore, long before the Presidential Election petition was resolved and before Buhari was sworn in for a second term in 2019, talk of the 2023 election, especially the presidential one, had started gathering momentum.

This is the context in which I present my thoughts about the 2023 General Elections and Nigeria’s democracy.

Therefore, you can see that rather than focus on what was going to happen to our lives as a result of the new mandate, now clearly won and lost as determined by the Election Tribunal, some were already thinking about the next election.

So, it should not surprise anyone when you hear rhetoric like: “this will be a most defining election,” “this will be an election like no other,” and so on and so forth.

But truth be told, this rhetoric is common in every democracy and at the onset of a new election cycle.

This is understandable because no two elections are the same; and the intensity always varies anyway as indeed the number of voters and sometimes the number of parties; and the novelty of some candidates.

Unlike economists who urge the probability that “all things being the same,” politics and elections draw their oxygen from the probability that things will not remain the same, especially if you are in opposition.

For example, young people who were by age not eligible to vote in a previous election, would have attained voting age at the next election cycle and become eligible to vote if they register.

In our current situation we now have 12,332,336 newly registered voters for the 2023 election, whereas there were 14,360,053 newly registered voters in 2019, while 6,944,752 registered as new voters in 2015.

So, if the hype about 2023 is anything to go by, the number of 12,332,366 newly registered voters does not support it, because it is 2,027,687 less than the 14,360,053 newly registered voters in 2019.

Obviously, we have seen all the hype before and they detract from the real question which in my view should be: how can democracy, especially the 2023 elections, make our lives better and our country greater?

I think we should focus on this question because we must remember that democracy is simply concerned about the popular participation in choosing a leader or set of leaders.

Democracy does not guarantee that the leader or those leaders will deliver or indeed are able to deliver on what we want.

Put conversely, what really is it that we expect from those we elect and what do they promise to do before we vote, and what have they done for us?

Did we vote for, or did we collect tricycles, sewing machines, generators etc. from them?

If we did, can we legitimately expect that the budget from which these things were procured will also provide healthcare, drugs and diagnostic equipment in our health facilities?

If they have sponsored weddings for our families, financed the burial of our dear departed ones or paid school fees for a whole community do we understand that these things or some of them are funded by the budget from which we also expect good schools, good roads and other public infrastructure and services upon which our prosperity depends collectively?

Put differently, how many of us who vote truly understand how the process works?

How many of our electorate understand what the actual constitutional roles of our legislators, Local Government Chairman, Governors, and President are?

These questions may look ordinary, but my experience in government suggests that they are not. I have been surprised by how unfamiliar some of us are with the constitution and our responsibilities, although I must concede that we are fairly well acquainted when it comes to our rights.

Truth be told, elections are only a part of the democratic process; and this requires not only the successful party to play their role in the formation and running of government, but the opposition as watchdog, and government in waiting, has an equally important role to play in enriching the process.

Governance in power is not easy, and I daresay opposition is even more hard work.

Let us ask ourselves when last an opposition party prepared and detailed an alternative budget to that of the party in government.

True enough, we hear criticisms of what the party in Government is not doing or getting right; but when I ask, can you recall an opposition party offering a credible and alternative solution to what the party in Government has done wrong.

To be fair I must acknowledge the generalizations such as we will do this and do that, but very often that is where it ends.

On the question of revenue or lack thereof for example and the borrowing by Government, apart from the legitimate concerns about borrowing which are rightfully expressed, I have challenged the critics to provide the alternative; and I am still awaiting a response.

If you listen to any of the several Morning shows the issue will come up and you will hear the criticisms, which are legitimate, but you will not get any credible answer to the question – what are the alternatives?

The answer must lie somewhere between cutting waste, reducing the size of Government, raising taxes, stopping some programmes, projects or policies.

But who is ready to have these conversations in real politics?

This is something we must demand in the run up to the 2023 General Elections in order to sustain the future of our democracy.

Yes, democracy heralds freedoms including the freedom to speak. But what kind of speeches are we engaging in? Heckling, online trolling, hate and in person verbal abuse in some cases or talk about ethnicity or religion.

How do we resolve the revenue problem we have with fuel subsidy without leading to social unrest which the two dominant parties have not yet resolved, and the other contenders remain quiet about.

Why has parliament, where all the people of Nigeria are represented, not taken a bipartisan position on the matter after consulting with their constituents, the Nigerian people, and say that we have your mandate to do this or that about the subsidy.

Why can we not have a voting process that shows how each legislator voted, to show that the vote was the result of consultation with the constituents and ensure that they will re-elect the legislator again.

Why is it not a stipulation that our elected representatives live in our constituency so that they understand what we experience and present it for government attention.

Is this type of hands-on representation less important than the occasional goodies shared at seasonal meetings by absentee representatives?

When the campaigns for election to executive office starts and we hear of free this and free that, do we engage in a conversation about how much it would cost and where the money will come from?

After all, to use the cliche nothing is free even in Freetown.

When those promises do not materialize, are we complicit in their stillbirth by the lack of engagement or the quality of engagement.

Let me segue to another issue, to which perhaps we should pay attention, and this is the Federal Government.

In particular, I seek to highlight what I perceive to be a lack of appreciation of what constitutes the Federal Government and what her role is.

To start with, there is a lie that is being told and repeated and some are beginning to believe it, that we do not have a Federal type of constitutional governance partly because they think our Federation is not perfect which I agree with, but an imperfect federation is not the same thing as a non-existent Federation.

The truth is that the imperfection is probably one of the reasons why there are provisions for amendments in the constitution.

If a constitution provides that the federal, state and local governments have different responsibilities and some shared responsibilities as our constitution does in the exclusive and concurrent list of the second schedule and the fourth schedule, I think the minimum requirements of federalism have been met.

Whether the states or local governments should get more powers, lies with us to exercise the amendment in a process requiring federal legislators to initiate it and 2/3 of the states to concur with it.

If that has not happened, it seems to me that it does not extinguish the existence of a federal arrangement, neither is it solely the fault of one person such as the president or the federal government.

This brings me to the heart of the matter about our understanding of the Federal Government.

Not infrequently, I have heard some federal legislators laying the blame of some failing or the other on the “Federal Government,” when in fact what they probably intended is the “Federal Executive” arm of the Federal Government.

The fact is that the federal judiciary, legislative and executive all constitutes one Federal Government operating in three arms.

If we decompose the constituents of the federal government, it will become obvious that it is all of us, the states, through our representatives who make up the federal government.

For example, in the Federal Executive arm of Government, the election of the president and vice president only represents a partial composition of the federal executive. By virtue of section 147 (3) of the constitution, ministers must be appointed from each of the 36 states before the federal executive is probably properly constituted.

In effect, each of our states makes up the much-vilified Federal Executive because the ministers represent us there.

On the federal legislative side of the federal government, the 109 senators and 360 representatives are elected to represent us from senatorial districts and federal constituencies created within our states.

The same is true in the federal judiciary at least at the Federal High Court level and largely so at the Appeal court, except for the supreme court that does not have 36 seats.

The point I seek to make therefore is that it is the representatives of the 36 states who truly constitute the federal government rather than any behemoth or entity.

So, if we agree for example to amend the constitution to allow state policing, I don’t see who can stop it. But do we have a consensus on this matter?

If the Government is not giving us what we expect, I think we should all look in the mirror and ask ourselves what we have put into it, because we are the ones who constitute it.

I must emphasize that democracy works when a working majority exists. Without a working majority in parliament, the work of the executive becomes more difficult.

Therefore, I fail to understand why a party that has a Legislative majority is accused without more, of being a Rubber Stamp.

They are not elected to “fight” the executive especially of their own party, and they are expected to use their majority to push their Party and government agenda through.

That is why elective seats are hotly contested and won. But I find it even stranger and inexplicable that a party that have won legislative majority then literally surrenders its mandate in the parliament by handing over not just Committee Chairmanship seats to the minority, but also committees that are critical in the party’s agenda.

Apart from Public Accounts and probably Ethics, minority should not chair a committee.

Of course, if only briefly I cannot but point out the fact that there are things we expect from different levels of government and legislators that are not their constitutional responsibilities. We would do well to read our constitution before the campaign starts and before we vote. (EXAMPLES ORALLY).

It is these things that should shape the future of our democracy in 2023 and beyond.

These things require us to focus on the kind of people we will elect to states and federal constituencies because it is those people who will determine many things that will affect us.

The kind of people we elect for example to the Senate, will determine what kind of people they will confirm to become ministers, heads of parastatals and so on, which will determine the quality of service we get.

The kind of people we elect, will determine the quality of policies, budgets, programmes and projects that are designed and delivered to us.

The local elections, to elect people to serve in the local governments, as state legislators and as governors are extremely important to our quality of life and deserve that we pay the utmost attention to them without losing sight of the federal elections.

Issues like water supply, rent, land acquisition, building permits, refuse management, sanitation, traffic management, primary health and education, community development are local and not federal issues.

As a small business operator, you need more support from your State Governments than the Federal (save for fiscal and monetary issues) in order for your business to thrive.

I have spoken to the freedoms that democracy offers and the freedom of speech in relation to our rhetoric. The other side of the coin is the role of the press.

While I respect and understand the responsibility to report the news, I hold the view that the press has a big responsibility in shaping the news.

Before I am misunderstood, let me explain.

While they have done a good job serving us with the developments relating to fallout from the choice of running mates and even the purported suspension of a presidential candidate, they can do more to focus on conversations that affect the majority of potential voters.

I am certain you agree with me that the majority of potential voters will be more likely interested to know if there is any plan to improve their children’s education and access to healthcare.

They certainly will be interested to know if something will be done to bring water to their taps at home and what the plans for more reliable electricity will be.

You can bet that those who pay 2 to 3 years rent in advance will be interested to know if anything can be done about it and what that would be.

These are examples of conversations that I think the media can focus on and thereby shape the news.

While there is a lot of work still to be done, it is proper at this point to also highlight the successes our democracy has delivered because the democratic experience since 1999 came at great cost.

Therefore, before I close, let me remind us about some of the things our democracy has delivered since 1999 so that we keep stock, and we believe and reaffirm our commitment to the choice that democracy offer is us and we remain faithful to its ideals.

Our democracy has delivered an interstate train service, the first and only one since the one built by the colonial government.

Our democracy is delivering solutions to problems that seem to have defied solutions, like a road and bridge network to Bonny Island, like the Second Niger Bridge and the reconstruction of the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Kano-Maiduguri Expressway and an extensive broadband rollout nationwide.

And lest I forget, our democracy delivered access to telephone service for many Nigerians.

Our democracy has delivered an increasing reliance on Tax revenue as the basis of Government expenditure.

This is important because it increases the focus on representation.

While there is still a lot to do, these are building blocks of hope around which to build our prosperity.

They represent critical items of infrastructure and fiscal options about our current and future livelihoods around which to frame the issue for 2023 elections and plan the future of Nigeria’s democracy.

Therefore, let me close by saying that we can win elections without exaggerating our problems. We can do so by offering credible service and well thought out solutions.

We can win elections without disrobing our country before the global community.

We can do so by valorising Nigeria’s possibilities and not by widening her fault lines.

Elections and Democracy must represent for us a feast of ideas and choices that bring out the best of us and the best of our country.

Thank you for inviting me, and thank you for listening.

Aug

27

2022

FG Challenges Its Contractors On Quick Delivery Of Road Projects Going On Across The Country

 In its quest to improve the socio- economic lives of its citizenry and the nation the Federal Government has challenged its contractors handling federal road projects across the country on quick delivery before the end of its tenure.

The Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing,Hon. Umar Ibrahim EL – Yakubu stated this while inspecting the Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road Section 1, covering Kano – Wudil – Shuarin awarded to Messrs Dantata and Sawoe Construction Co, Nigeria Limited since 2006.

El-Yakubu said that on the part of  government, it will continue to  push and support  speedy completion and commissioning of all roads nearing completion before the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

“On our part, we will continue to push you to ensure quick delivery.  We want to be able to commission this project before the end of this year.  I don’t know why you are mentioning next year. We don’t have many months left to commission this project, and I am sure putting in the right resources after the rainy season , you will be able to meet up,” he said.

The Minister of State noted that all road contracts are being awarded to competent and capable contractors and so there is no reason why you can’t  deliver on time as funding which might be the challenge has been addressed by the Government of President Muhammdu Buhari by providing alternative funding schemes apart from the yearly budgetary allocation.

“You have I suppose the capacity and competence to do the job. I believe you can do better so you need to challenge yourself but if you hadn’t the competence and the capacity, that’s a different thing but you do. So it is a matter of harnessing those potentials and leveraging on the resources at your disposal,” EL-Yakub said.

EL-Yakub also disclosed that the project has taken too long but the commitment of the present administration to deliver on road infrastructure because of the recognition of its importance to lives and livelihood in job creation and national development, the road needs to be completed and delivered.

“We want to complete this project, it has taken too long, Nigerians have been patient but thank God for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari that has commitment to delivering road infrastructure because of the recognition of what it does to lives and livelihood of Nigerians.  You know every side of it creates job and we need those jobs both direct and indirect,” he said.

The Minister admonished all contractors to be engaging the youths more especially the graduates to be given  proper training on construction sites for them to have practical knowledge of what they studied in the universities and higher institutions in order to ensure competent personnels and technicians in the construction industry.  He added that more Nigerians should be allowed to participate in construction companies be it foreign or Nigerian owned. 

He appreciated the contractor for the work done so far and encouraged them to increase their pace and achieve more before the end of the year.

Briefing the Honourable Minister of State earlier on the scope of work, the Engineer Representative on site, Engr. Hanish Kolayoka Sarjius explained that the 207.73 km road project was awarded in 2006 but has a set back because of lack of fund but since the project was placed under SUKUK, there has been an appreciable work done on the road.

He added that the flyovers 1 and 2 and river bridges 1, 2, and 3 have been completed and so the overall percentage completion work to date is 69.57% with a time lapse of 103.83%.

The Project Manager of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Engr. Roy Hunushi appreciated the Federal Government for awarding the contract to them, saying that the project would be delivered and that they were working in line with the laid down procedures.

He requested for the release of fund to enable them deliver the project as scheduled though the rainy season has delayed the pace of work on site.

Aug

26

2022

Road Infrastructure, Catalyst to the Nation's Economic, Social, and Environmental Development – Fashola

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN said that road infrastructure promotes the nation’s economic, social and environmental development which has necessitated increased investment in road infrastructure by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Honourable Minister disclosed that while delivering his keynote address at the National Council of Works meeting at Bristol Palace Hotel in Kano, Kano State with the theme, “Infrastructure, The Season of Completion.”

Fashola reiterated that the theme of this year’s council is timely as it provides the opportunity for the Council to put policy framework that would create enabling environment to complete several road projects initiated by the administration of Mr. President as he completes his second tenure in 2023.

‘’The theme is timely as it provides the opportunity for the Council to put policy framework that would create enabling environment to complete several road projects initiated by the administration of Mr. President as he completes his second tenure in 2023. It is pertinent to note that the effects of road infrastructure on economic development, productivity and growth cannot be over -emphasized due to its impact at National, State and Local government levels,” he said.

The Minister disclosed that the success of the Nigerian government in providing road infrastructure will not be measured by the amount of funds invested but by the extent to which road infrastructure contributes to the nation's economic, social, and environmental goals.

Fashola noted that road infrastructure investment should be viewed as a means to an end and not an end itself.

“It is important to note the increased investments in road infrastructure which is evident by the number of completed roads and   the need to manage such investments sustainably.

The Minister revealed that the anticipated benefits of the investments in the road sector cannot be achieved without timely completion of the road projects as the theme of this year’s Council on Works reflects.

He noted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari awarded several new road projects in addition to the inherited ones of which many have been completed and commissioned across the six Geo-Political Zones of the Federation while others are yet to be completed.

Fashola disclosed that  the investments of the Federal Government in road transport infrastructure has continued to impact positively on communities across the country as President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the first phase of roads in the following locations: Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kontagora-Makera Road, the Vandeikya- Obudu Cattle Ranch Road, the Nnewe-Oduma Road, the Kano- Maiduguri Road Section III (Azare-Potiskum) and the  Kano-Maiduguri Road, Section II (Shuwarin-Azare) connecting Jigawa and Bauchi States in the last quarter of 2021.

“The Federal Government also commissioned the second phase of road projects in 2022 which include: Efon-Alaaye Erinmo – Iwaraja Road in Ekiti and Osun States; Isoko Ring Road in Delta State, Hadejia – Nguru Road Phase II, Kirikasama – Nguru in Jigawa State; Gombe – Numan – Yola Road Phase II (Gombe – Kaltungo) in Gombe State; Nguru – Gashua – Bayamari Road Sections I & II, Phases I & II in Yobe State; and Lafia – Obi – Awe – Tunga Road in Nasarawa State,” he said.

The Minister noted that significant progress was recorded in road development in the year under review in line with the Ministerial Mandates set for the Ministry through the execution of many road projects spanning over 13,000km of roads and bridges nationwide and urged states and other stakeholders to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government in the development of road infrastructure in Nigeria.

He urged that we must maintain the infrastructure we build to preserve their live span and get the best value for the money spent on them.

He highlighted alternative funding options initiated by the present administration to tackle critical roads across the nation apart from the ministry’s budgetary allocation such as: Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund; SUKUK fund; Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme (RITCS); Multi-lateral loans/grants; Collaboration with other Government Agencies e.g The North East-Development Commission.

He urged the delegates to contribute meaningfully during the Council deliberations bearing in mind that their recommendations will have far reaching impact on Nation building that will help the highways to become safer and more comfortable for all and serve as means of sustained economic growth and development of our nation.

He also noted that the nation’s economy will be revamped and sustained through continuous and deliberate actions of government at all levels in completing all on-going projects.

He expressed his heart felt gratitude to the Kano State Government for accepting to play host of this year’s National Council on Works comprising all other states and other stakeholders, he thanked the governor immensely for that.

During his opening address at the Council meeting, the Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje thanked the Federal Government for the provision of various intervention infrastructure projects across the state looking forward for more of such interventions such as: the replacement of road intersections with flyovers particularly at various junctions connecting the ongoing Western Bypass Road and other road and housing infrastructure in the state.

Governor Ganduje noted that before the coming into power of the present administration, many Federal highway projects in the state were abandoned, but now they are receiving commendable attention from the Federal Government.

He thanked the Minister for accepting to host the Council meeting in Kano and assured all delegates maximum security and safety during their stay in Kano State.

While delivering his address, the Chairman House Committee on Works, Hon. Abdullahi Kabir Abubakar stated that this year’s theme “Infrastructure, the Season of Completion” is suitable and well timed because this is indeed a season of projects completion and commissioning in the life of this administration as it is determined to complete as many projects as possible, the projects it inherited and the projects it initiated are highly commendable.

He commended the administration for introducing many interventions such as: SUKUK, Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) and the TAX CREDIT SCHEME to compliment the Ministry’s budget in providing funds to develop over 1000 contracts covering over 13,000km of roads across the nation.

Hon. Abubakar appealed to state governments, private organizations and government agencies to support the federal government in the area of compensation to local communities because delay by state governors to compensate the local communities for the Right of Way delays speedy completion of road projects.

The Kano State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructural Development, Engr. Idris Wada Saleh welcomed the delegates to the 28th Meeting of the National Council on Works and expressed gratitude to the Honurable Minister of Works and Housing, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN and His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Kano State for accepting to host this year’s Council on Works and providing the enabling environment for the event in the beautiful city of Kano “The center of Commerce” and wished all delegates fruitful deliberation and a peaceful stay .

During his closing remarks, the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing, Hon. Umar Ibrahim El-Yakubu opined that the recommendations made at this meeting will re-enforce our resolve to complete and deliver more infrastructure that will not only have far reaching impact on the socio-economic well-being of the citizenry but also generate employment and stimulate economic growth.

Hon. El-Yakub thanked the government and people   of Kano state for taking the responsibility of hosting the meeting.  He expressed profound gratitude to all delegates from the states, regulatory and professional bodies for their tireless efforts in making the Council a memorable and successful event.

The 28th Meeting of the National Council on Works was attended by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing;   the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing, The Executive Governor of Kano State ; the Permanent secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Commissioners of Works from States of the Federation;  Permanent Secretaries of Works from 36 States of the Federation and FCT;  Heads of Federal and States Agencies in the road sector, Heads of Regulatory and Professional Bodies, Representatives of the Federal Roads Safety Corp (FRSC) and Department of Roads Traffic Services (DRTS), amongst others.

Aug

24

2022

Opening Remarks By The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry Of Works And Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali, At The 28th National Council Meeting On Works, Holding In Kano, Kano State On Wednesday, 24th August, 2022

 Protocols

The Hon Com for Works & Infrastructure Engr Idris Wada Saleh

The PS Kánó State Min for Works and Infrastructure Arc Ahmed Salisu

Permanent Secretaries here present

President NSE here represented

MD FERMA

SOGOF
Federal Controllers of Works here present

President Surveyor’sCouncil of Nigeria

Directors from the FMWH and other MDAs both state and Federal

Reps of other agencies both state and federal

Members of the Press

Ladies and gentlemen

2.    I am pleased to welcome you to the 28th Meeting of the National Council on Works holding in Kano, Kano State which incidentally is also my home state. As you are aware, the theme for this year’s National Council Meeting is “Infrastructure, the Season of Completion”. The theme is apt and timely, considering the push by all governments at this point to complete and commission most of its roads and bridge projects initiated and/or inherited.

3.     Accordingly In order to ensure that the target of completing and commissioning of these projects is achieved, it has become necessary for all stakeholders to consider and provide creative and contemporary ideas and policy suggestions that will support the attainment of the above target. You may recall that a few weeks ago the National Council on Housing was also held in Sokoto where far reaching decisions were taken on sustainable development in the housing sector especially with a view to the provision of social housing and other related matters.

4. I must at this juncture thank our esteemed host, the Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR (Khadimul Islam) and the good people of Kano State for the gesture of receiving us to deliberate on this crucial theme that was carefully chosen to ensure that the massive spending of public funds by governments at all levels in Highways and other roads infrastructure to ensure smooth mobility and access is duly accounted for through completed and commissioned road infrastructure across the country. It is of special note that the Kano State Government under his able stewardship has brought tremendous developments in the road sector that are worthy of emulation.

5 The Meeting is therefore significant as it will afford stakeholders the desired opportunities to identify some of the challenges in the highways and related sectors that could militate against successful completion and commissioning of roads in the country as this Administration winds up and to discuss strategies and possible practical solutions towards addressing them.

6. We are required to have the objectives of the National Development Plan 2021 - 2025 in mind as we look at ways of ensuring that road projects are completed and commissioned in order to galvanize national growth and sustainability. I am aware that our directors and other executives in the road sector have spent the last two days discussing these issue and these should form the basis for our discussions and our recommendations for the consideration of the council. Our recommendations should focus on restoring economic growth, the ease of doing business, local content utilization, investing in our people and creating a competitive economy through the availability of good and completed road network across the country.  

7. Distinguished delegates and officials, the timing of this meeting, therefore, is very auspicious as it affords us the opportunity to think through and make necessary arrangements as well as take critical steps to ensure that road infrastructure projects are completed, commissioned as well as maintained throughout their lifespan. This will also ensure that money spent on roads and bridges impacts on the Nigerian economy and the citizens positively.

8. Finally, Let me take this opportunity to thank all those other officials and experts who have made this council meeting a success especially the Hon Comm Kánó State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, the Permanent Secretary, Directors from the FMWH and other Federal and State MDAs, Our Dev Parners, the Local Organizing Committee, the Press and Security Agencies. I thank you most sincerely.

9. On this note, I once again welcome you all and wish us fruitful deliberations.

10. Thank you

Aug

20

2022

FG Reiterates Determination to Complete More Road Infrastructure Projects Across the Country El- Yakub

The Federal Government has reiterated its determination to complete more highway projects across the country for the benefit of Nigerians and members of the Public before the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

The Minister of State for Works and Housing, Hon. Umar Ibrahim El- Yakub gave the assurance in Kano, Kano State during an inspection tour of phase one of the Kano-Katsina dual carriage way over the weekend.

El-Yakub said, "We will give all the necessary support to ensure all road infrastructure projects across the country are completed so double your effort to deliver on time."

Hon. El-Yakub noted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is known for investment in highway infrastructure development. The Minister added that road and other infrastructure development projects have generally gotten more boost from this administration than previous ones.

"I believe that most roads and other infrastructure development projects in the country have gotten more boost from this administration of President Muhammadu Buhari who is known to invest in infrastructure development and to ensure completion of infrastructure projects that were started by previous administrations in this country."

The Minister stressed the need for the installation of road markings and signages on the already completed sections of the road for smooth and safe driving on the road.

" I understand you have enough materials at your disposal to do the markings and the signages.  We expect to see that is done because they are very essential in ensuring smooth and safe driving on roads," said El-Yakub.

He reiterated that the Ministry would not relent in ensuring that the quality of work on all road projects across the country are in line with acceptable
standards.

As the 73.10km dual carriage road project is now being funded by Sukuk, the Minister added that funding is no more a challenge.  He promised the contractor that all the necessary support needed would be given for timely completion of the project.

" The Federal Government has solved the funding problem by putting the project under SUKUK funded projects," he said.

The Minister of State encouraged the contractor to keep up with the pace and the quality of work on ground.  He further urged them to intensify more efforts to complete the road project   on or before the agreed completion date.

"I can see the reconstruction work. You have achieved a lot.  That is appreciable despite some challenges. The work will continue to progress. We intend to complete this road hopefully before the end of this year, but you said next year but I want us to challenge ourselves and try to finish the project before the end of the year because you have done more work," said the minister.

The Director Highways, North West Engr. Adetayo Taiwo said the road project inspected had progressed smoothly leaving no stone unturn.

"The contractor has left no room for any form of condemnation, they are working the way they should work," he said.

The Project Engineer Messrs China Engineering Construction Company Ltd (CECC), Engr. Ren Shao Shuai said the project would be delivered on time. He added that they were working in line with the laid down specifications. He thanked the Federal Government for the opportunity to work in the country.

Another road inspected was the construction of a 38.7km Yakasai- Badune-Damargu-Marken Zaklli Single Carriage Way in Bichi Local Government Area of Kano State being handled by the same contractor.

Aug

05

2022

Permanent Solution to Completion of East West Road Underway - Fashola

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has assured Nigerians that steps are being taken to provide a permanent solution to completion of section 4 of the East West Road measuring 15 kilometres from Onne Port junction to Eleme Port junction in Rivers State.

The Minister gave this assurance during a meeting with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana in his office at the Ministry's Headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja on Thursday, August 4,2022.

Due to public concerns the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry who handed over the supervision of the road to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing early this year wrote to inform the Minister of Works and Housing of their decision to do some remedial works on the road through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

However, based on advice of Directors from Federal Ministry of Works and Housing who inspected the road last month and discovered that its cardinal problem is lack of drainage, Fashola decided that a permanent and holistic approach should be taken so that the problem is put to rest because without the drainage whatever work that is done on the road will not last.

Already request for additional funding to complete the work has been sent to the Bureau of Public Procurement to obtain a Certificate of No Objection (approval) expeditiously so that the work can be completed.

Fashola assured the people of the area and other road users that the Federal Government is committed to the completion of the road as well as other roads across the Nation, this he opined is President Muhammadu Buhari's Administration's priority to enhance impactful Socio-Economic development and therefore craved the patience and understanding of Communities along the East West Road axis.

Jul

27

2022

FG’s Investments in Roads, Bridges, Other Social Capital Projects Aimed at Creating Choice, Imminent Prosperity - Fashola

•    Says Lagos - Badagry Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Others making rapid progress with dedicated funding

The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN has said that the commitment of the Federal Government to public assets like roads, bridges, ports, dam and other social capital investments is aimed at creating choice and imminent prosperity for the citizenry.

Noting that the choice would come in form of reduced journey time and better travel experience, the Minister also assured that the Federal Government will complete Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge and other critical road transport infrastructure of the nation soon.

Fashola, who spoke while hosting a team of senior management staff from the PUNCH Newspapers, led by the PUNCH Editor, Mr Dayo Oketola, said that the Federal Government has gotten N16bn Tax Credit Fund for the construction of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

Fashola stated that the speed of work on that road, as well as some others, were dependent on the funds available for such projects adding that with the Tax Credit Fund work was progressing substantially on that axis.

Defending borrowing to finance infrastructure, he said, the Buhari Administration has paid over N700 billion since coming into government which was part of the debt left by previous Administrations.

According to the Minister, borrowing as an essential component of public finance becomes necessary in order to be able to respond to the unceasing request for vital infrastructure from the citizenry.

“The public assets – roads, bridges, highways, ports, dams are the social capital investments that the government must make” for individuals and businesses to get on with their life.

According to the Minister, such investments create choice and ultimately prosperity. “All of us know the impact of choice in our lives, if you have to wear only one clothe as against if you have four… You are going to have two Bridges across the Niger, it’s a sign of imminent prosperity, that is what is being done now…”

Explaining that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was responding to the infrastructural needs of the various parts of the country through a combination of borrowing and various innovative funding initiatives.

“You are complaining about debt, where do you think, money is going to come from to build the Badagry road? So that is why there was no progress on it in the past.”

He added, “But the reason why there has been an appreciable progress now on that road is because we got Tax Credit Fund for it.’’

On the Lagos-Ota Road, Fashola said the contract sum was over N50bn, “but go and look in the budget and see how much is there (for the road), may be N200m,” adding that with the injection of N7bn this year work progressed on the road.

Speaking on the forthcoming election, Fashola opined that it was important to have the next election focus on the issue of public financing knowledge because often times the nation go into election without debate about funding and to find out where the money is going to come from when aspirants make promises.

"Somebody has to pay for it. It is either debt or increase on taxation or better still through private investment, this, the Ministry is currently doing something in that direction through the Tax Credit Scheme, the Highway Development Management Initiative which is trying to concession 12 highways."

Responding to the question on subsidy, the Minister stated that, what a Nation wants to do is determined by its leadership and that the issue of subsidy would be best addressed by the Nigerian people themselves through their representatives at the National Assembly.

"I agreed that the amount of money that is committed to a single product in terms of subsidy is a matter for concern and I think it is a debate we have shied away from. The matter is a combination of policy and economy and cannot be separated."  He added that if it were simply an economic decision, it would have been removed.

"So, it is the decision of the Nigerian people. If they take that decision, government will implement it," he said.

Earlier, the leader of the Nigerian Punch Newspaper Management Team, an Editor, Mr. Dayo Oketola commended the Minister for the numerous programmes and projects embarked upon since assumption of office.

He noted that The Punch Newspaper will as a medium continue to inform Nigerians and also to educate them saying the organization are partners in progress with the government of the day.

" We believe in the project Nigeria and we pray and hope it will work," he said.

Jul

03

2022

Our Commitment to Infrastructure Development Bearing Results - Buhari

President Muhamadu Buhari has said that the commitment of his administration in infrastructure development across the nation is already bearing results. 

The President spoke over the weekend in Gashua, Yobe State, north-eastern Nigeria during the official commissioning and handover of the completed section I phase II and section II phase I of the Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari road.
 
President Buhari was represented at the event by the Honourable Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar D. Aliyu, FNSE.

“Our commitment to improving road transport infrastructure, our determination to improve the ease of doing business, create jobs and prosperity to lift people out of poverty brings us here today because the results of our investment are manifesting,” he said.

Accordingly, he explained that the road has been built to the highest quality of design and workmanship and if well used and not abused, it should last for the designed service life.

While assuring Nigerians about the desire of his administration to complete all ongoing projects, President Buhari said “I can confidently say that as we enter the final lap of the tenure of the Buhari administration we are also entering a season of completion and delivery of projects.”

The President also cautioned Nigerians to desist from indiscreet road abuses, comply with the highway code, and reminded them to adhere to the maximum 100 kilometers per hour speed limit on Federal Highways nationwide.

“Now that we have this new and well-built road, we have duties to ourselves and to other road users and one of those duties is to ensure that we drive in accordance with the law as stipulated in the Highway Code.”

He listed the road abuses to include: overloading of vehicles which accelerates pavement damage; spilling of petroleum products, which dissolves all the components and allows water to penetrate, and converting the road shoulders to permanent parking places, that brings the onset of road failure from the shoulder.

" Nigerian citizens should do their best to avoid these practices, and to report them when they occur and also act in a lawful manner to stop them" he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola represented by the Director Highways, North-East, Engr Celestine Shawusu, said that the projects represent major investment in road Transport infrastructure, which was a commitment of the Buhari administration as a driver for economic growth and prosperity.

He explained that the projects were visible and incontrovertible assets in proof of what Nigeria’s resources are invested in, from a combination of our earned resources, and borrowings.

Fashola also acknowledged and commended the commitment of the President and his Vice, the professionalism of staff of the Ministry in the delivering of the projects and the support of Ministers in the Federal Executive Council and the members of the National Assembly, especially the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Works in the 8th and 9th Assembly for their support.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, represented by the Yobe State Federal Controller of Works, Engr O.B. Akinmade, said that the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari has focused its attention on the completion of several on-going projects to stimulate economic development, create jobs and promote local content.

He explained that it was part of the developmental agenda of the administration in addressing road infrastructural development of Nigeria.

“The focus is to link the major arterial roads to refineries, ports, tertiary institutions and high-volume commercial centers with a view to reducing travel times, vehicle maintenance costs, safety and security of commuters.” he said.

In his remarks, Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni stated that the project was both historic and important to the State.

He said after several years of neglect by previous governments, the Buhari's administration has been able to rehabilitate the road for our use.

He said: " the importance of the road to the socio-economic development cannot be overemphasized."

On his part, the Emir of Bade, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman thanked President Buhari and said that ten years ago, journey from Nguru to Gashua usually takes them about two and half hour, but they now make the journey in less than forty-five minutes. "This has facilitated movement of goods from our farms to the market thereby boosting our economic activities," he said.

A road user by name Abubakar Babaginda commended Federal Government for the road saying travel time has reduced drastically. " Before now we find it difficult to ply this road, we spend many hours to get to Gashua due to the bad road, but now we spend fewer time. We are grateful, " he said.

Jul

02

2022

Remarks by The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN represented by the Director Highways North East Celestine Shawusu at The Project Completion and Hand Over on Saturday 2nd July, 2022 at Gashua Town, Yobe State 

On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari, I bring good tidings to the people and Government of Yobe State, who will be impacted by the Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road that our President will hand over today.
My principal message to you all is that this is the first of the second phase of project Completion and Handovers our country will be witnessing as we progress further in this season of completion and impact which started in the last quarter of 2021. 

In this second phase of completion Mr. President has also approved that Ministers from the various States where projects have been completed should represent him to perform the handover formalities.

The other handing over formalities that will follow these formalities Yobe will be in:
a)    Delta for Isoko Ring Road Section II covering Aviara – Uzere; and
b)    Gombe for Phase II of the Gombe – Numan –Yola Road covering Gombe – Kaltungo.
These projects represent major investment in road Transport infrastructure, which is a commitment of the Buhari administration as a driver for economic growth and prosperity.

They are visible and incontrovertible Assets in proof of what Nigeria’s resources are invested in, from a combination of our earned resources, and borrowings.

This occasion affords the opportunity to restate that in addition to other innovative sources of funding, our Budgetary provisions are also being diligently applied to complete projects such as these.
I want to express deep gratitude to the Ministry of Finance, and the members of the National Assembly, especially the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Works in the 8th and 9th Assembly for their support.
To our staff and contractors who have worked very hard to bring these projects to conclusion I also say thank you, as I cannot fail to acknowledge the cooperation of the host communities where these projects pass through or are hosted.
I hold them out as examples of what peace can achieve, and the investments that collaboration and some sacrifice can deliver if we embrace partnership with Government.
Ladies and Gentlemen, none of these would have been possible without the support of Ministers in the Federal Executive Council during debates over the projects.
To all Ministers in the first term and this current term, I express gratitude on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Housing for your support. 
To the President and Vice President who preside for long hours over the Council meetings, your leadership is now bearing fruits and the evidence of change is now manifesting.
Ekiti/Osun, Jigawa, Delta, Nasarawa and Gombe, among several other States bearing witness and there is more to come. 
Thank You.

BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA, SAN
MINISTER OF WORKS AND HOUSING

Jul

02

2022

FG Committed to The Completion of Abuja - Kaduna - Kano Road - Engr, F. Esan

The federal government has reiterated its commitment towards the completion of the Abuja - Kaduna-Kano Road phase 2 & 3 soonest.

The Director of Highway Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Folorunso Esan stated this while inspecting the road construction by Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd on Friday 1st July, 2022.

Esan confirmed that the two sections, section 1 & 2 of the road are the major concentration now while section 1 will take of shortly.

"It's the same road and if we deliver a section of the road that means we are done with that particular section as you can see in this section two being inspected and section 3, that means we can concentrate our resources in section one” he said

The Director said the project is being done in phases with the first phase being the 74km Kaduna-Zaria section, which is already nearing completion.

He said that the second phase, which is the 137Km Zaria-Kano section, will be completed in the first quarter of 2023 while the last phase, the Abuja-Kaduna will be taking off.

Folorunso added that the issues concerning challenges which the contractor was encountering in the cause of the work has been addressed and so nothing hopefully will stop them from working and also the   relocation of facilities causing obstruction on the road construction like electric poles has been attended to, noting that the contractor is going to meet up with the contract completion date.

" Challenges are addressed and there is nothing that will stop then from working, another thing is relocation of facilities, for which approval has been gotten by the contractor to remove any obstruction on the site" he said

The Director said he is impressed with the level of work on going, the quality and standard meets FG expectations.

He encouraged them to keep up with the pace and not to hesitate to report any challenge that may crop up at any time.
 
The site manager of Julius Berger Construction Company for section 2, Engr. Theo Scheepers thanked the Ministry who timely helped tackle all the challenges and little hurdles they had earlier encountered. He promised that the contract will be completed six months before the date of agreed completion given them elapses.

Also, for the section 3, Zaria to Kano, the site Manager, Engr. Finn Drosdowki is also of the same view that they are going to meet up with the completion date.

Jun

28

2022

BRF: The Omoluabi Eko At 59

By Hakeem Bello

"What will protect all of us when all is said and done is law and order."
If there is a quiz to guess which Nigerian public servant said the above, chances are most will answer: Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF).

Yes, of course. The quintessential lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is not just a champion of Infrastructure development and deep thinker, he is a stickler for law and order.
He is 59 today.

Quite perceptively and against the run of high public expectation, BRF decided to remain president of his home rather than joining the initially crowded train for the Presidency of the country. But without a doubt, his confidence in, devotion and commitment to the development of Nigeria remains ever unwavering.

Indeed, BRF has become a brand name for efficiency, effectiveness, diligence, commitment and tenacity of purpose. The name will continue to resonate long after he leaves public office and whenever and wherever there is a need for devotion to duty, progressive idealism and commitment to Law and Order.

Probably because of his desire to serve away from the mainstream leadership - which agrees perfectly with his often-stated philosophy of commitment to service to one’s fatherland even “without a title or an office" - his engagements with the public will continue to revolve around the preoccupation with the attainment of a better society, governed by law and order, for all.

Just as Gabfest, a youth-focused conversation platform created in 2016 to commemorate BRF's birthday. This year's edition will explore the theme, “Why am I Voting?”

This topic which agrees significantly with the mood of the nation, currently undergoing the processes leading to the 2023 General Elections, will seek to examine the motivations of a cross-section of Nigerians behind their electoral choices.
During Gabfest 6, carefully selected panelists will interrogate their personal desires and expectations in relation to the Nigerian elections. Is their focus on transparency? Is it on better power or healthcare? Is potable water their challenge? Do they intend to vote across party, gender or ethnic lines? Have they voted in the past and for what position? These are just some examples of the questions that will hopefully yield a robust and lively discussion.
Having addressed such testy questions as, “Restructuring for a Better Life – Lessons from Brexit” and “What can the President Do for me?” in previous public lectures, you can trust Mr Fashola for encouraging a discourse on such a simple yet challenging question as “Why am I Voting?”

Perhaps as a prelude to this and a proof of his avowed commitment to the essence of performing basic civic obligations and maintaining order to keep society functioning optimally, Fashola in a virtual presentation he made recently at a symposium in Lagos with the theme, “Driving and the Nigerian in You” interrogated the nexus between individual conduct and public well-being.

In the presentation, he sought to graphically illustrate that it is neither solely the failure on the part of government nor lack of good roads that cause traffic jams or road mishaps on the nation’s highways and intra-city roads but the non-compliance to Law and Order by some members of the public including even the supposed law enforcers in some instances.

According to him, “We are converting what we built for traffic movement into other uses. It is totally against traffic and all other kinds of laws. So, I still say that traders cannot trade on our streets, buses cannot park on the sidewalks. Pedestrians must leave the roads. They must remain on the sidewalks that separate pedestrians from motorists. If these things happen, we will leave the stress, the tensions, accidents and the deaths that we experience as a result of those anomalies.”

The point must, perhaps, be made here that in advocating the adherence to Law and Order by the citizens, BRF has not in any way tried to shield the elite and the leadership from the guilt of infractions of law and order in their duties.

As a matter of fact, there are very many occasions when in his tour of duties as Governor or Minister, he had personally enforced the law, especially traffic laws, on government officials including high ranking police and army officers.

But he, however, maintains that it is incumbent on all citizens to insist on the compliance to Law and Order whenever their rights are being infringed upon by political office holders and those in positions of leadership.
And to prove his earlier assertion that 87 percent of road crashes in the country are caused by human factor, he showed an abridged version of the 2021-April 2022 monthly reports of road crashes across the country by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) saying the situation had been so since he had been Minister.

“What I have done is to separate those items which are human causative factors of road crashes and I have come up with 19 of such factors. I listed 13 of these factors which cause up to 87 percent of road crashes. And I say if these are eliminated, we would have eliminated by 87 percent the cause of road crashes,” he said.

Fashola, who cautioned against indiscriminate donation of motorcycles and tricycles to illiterate youths by politicians and elites in society in what they refer to as “Empowerment”, added, “We see a lot of motorcycles now inflicting pains on our lives. But who are the biggest donors of this Korope and Maruwa (Tricycles)? …Politicians, government officials and the elite; they call it empowerment...”

Saying all Nigerians have a role to play in bringing about law and order in the country, the Minister recalled an incident in Lagos, when he was State governor, when a citizen, Lanre Adio, insisted on his right of way to Lagos Mainland when a convoy of buses driving against traffic tried to force him out of the way, thereby causing a serious traffic jam on the Third Mainland Bridge.

“I had finished my work in Alausa one day and we were heading to the Island on Third Mainland Bridge. Normally at that time on a normal day, traffic would be light on the Island-bound traffic from Alausa. But this night the traffic was heavy. And as we inched towards it, I had to send some of our security details to go and see what was happening; and you can bet or imagine what happened,” the Minister narrated.

“Citizen Adio was driving with his daughter on the Mainland-bound side heading for the Oworonsoki end of the road. They were on their right side of the traffic and they were heading home when a long convoy of vehicles, including a public transporter who was driving against traffic was asking those who had the right of way to leave. Many left, but Citizen Adio was scandalised so he refused to leave.”

Fashola said in his presentation that despite invectives thrown at him by passengers in the offending bus, the man stood his ground till he arrived the scene and used his power of law enforcement “to force all the convoy back, made some arrests and then set Citizen Adio on his way.”

Posing the question, “Are we ready to act like Citizen Lanre Adio?” he asked his audience and proceeded to list more of the ways through which the high and the low contribute to dysfunctionality in society. “So, we must bring all of these to bear on ourselves. What will protect all of us when all is said and done is law and order, for the rich and the poor. We cannot trade on the streets, we cannot have big men driving unregistered vehicles or they cover their name plates and we cannot identify who did what with the vehicle. It makes crime detection very difficult. And at the end of the day it is just Law and Order.”

Rooted in the evergreen definition that “Law and Order exists for the purpose of establishing justice,” BRF has, in his now nearly two decades of public service, preached and led by example the essence of Law and Order as a foundation on which the sustainable development and progress of any nation could be laid.
He has continually built on this philosophy, perhaps with the consciousness, without doubt, that when Law and Order fail to establish justice “they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of progress”.

So, what has all this got to do with the coming General Elections, and what is the relation to the topic of the Sixth Gabfest. The truth of the matter is that this election will afford the people of Nigeria the opportunity to choose leaders that will maintain Law and Order and the Rule of Law.

With political parties waiting to begin official campaigns in earnest, BRF could only mean that any conversation involving compliance to Law and Order must involve everyone, including those aspiring to political leadership and those entrusted with the enforcement of Law and Order.

And if the topic, “Why am I Voting?” could also be expanded to read “Why am I voting for Candidate A or Candidate B,” then the question challenges all electorate to interrogate their true reason and motives for voting any aspirant to the position of leadership. Can such aspirants fulfill the yearning for security, peace, unity and good governance?

In that virtual presentation, BRF also spoke of the importance of continuity in governance especially good governance and knowledge and understanding of leadership. Citizens, he said, must not only appreciate good governance when they experience one but must also insist on it under any leader that emerges after the elections.

He elaborates on this by recalling the investments as Governor of Lagos State for two terms of eight years.
“When I look back to some of the investments that we made in Lagos and also across Nigeria; the Drivers’ Institute and training schools set up to train people to improve productivity, to set order and separate motorists from motorcyclists and all that, it is really a matter of regrets that we are still where we are. Many of the gains have been rolled back,” he said.

Stretched further, the topic, “Why am I Voting?”, could also mean that citizens must be ready to challenge their leaders when they are derailing from the path of good governance; when they deliberately tow the path of negligence in matters pertaining to the interest of the electorates and inclining to situations unacceptable to them.

Surely, as BRF turns 59 today, many Nigerians would wish him a happy birthday as a shining example of good leadership in whose steady hands the legacy projects of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in life-defining road transport infrastructure are making rapid progress towards the finish line. They are also looking up to him for dedicated service to the nation at whatever level he chooses to be going forward with or without a title.
Happy Birthday, BRF.

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

Jun

23

2022

FG Commissions Lafia -Obi -Awe-Tunga Road in Nasarawa State.

President Muhammad Buhari, today commissioned the Lafia -Obi - Awe-Tunga Road in Nasarawa State.

The 118km road links Lafia - Obi -Awe towns of Nasarawa State in the North Central region of Nigeria with the Tunga extension linking Taraba state.

The President while commissioning the road said, "As you can all see, we are handing over today a 118-kilometre Road, which links the towns of Lafia- Obi- Awe- Tunga roads in   Nasarawa State."

The President who was represented by the Nasarawa State Director, Raw Material and Development, Dr. Zakari Musa Eladoga, explained that   "Our commitment to improve road transport infrastructure, our determination to improve the ease of doing business, create jobs and prosperity to lift people out of poverty brings us here today because the results of our investment are manifesting, " adding that the road is indeed a statement of economic efficiency and ease of doing business because travelling hours on the roads have been reduced.

President Buhari further advised road users to drive in accordance with the law of high way codes. "Now that we have this new well -built road, we owe it as   duties to ourselves and to other road users to ensure that we take responsibility for the good usage of it. One of such duties is to ensure that we drive in accordance with the laws of the highway codes," he noted.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, represented by the Director of Works, North Central, Engr. Omonege Rugba, noted that embarking on roads project by the administration of President Buhari was to ensure economic growth and prosperity for the country.

"These projects represent major investment in road Transport infrastructure which is a commitment of the Buhari administration as driver for economic growth and prosperity," he remarked.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali, FCA,FCTI, who was represented by the Controller of Works,  Nasarawa State, Engr. Daikwo Idah disclosed that this  project has created both  direct and indirect jobs as well as provided social and economic benefits  for the citizens.

In his goodwill message, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr.  Abdullahi Sule, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, while expressing appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the rehabilitation of the road, disclosed that travelling period from Obi to Lafia which used to be about one and a half hour has been reduced to 30minutes journey.

Jun

23

2022

FEC Approves Funds for The Revised Estimated Total Cost for The Rehabilitation of Yola-Hong-Mubi Road in Adamawa State and The Reimbursement of Funds Expended for The Construction of Federal Roads by The Yobe State Government

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on Wednesday 22nd June 2022, approved the rehabilitation of the Yola-Hong-Mubi Road in Adamawa State, as well as the reimbursement of funds expended for the construction of Federal roads by the Yobe State Government.

The council approved the revised estimated total cost for N29,826,449,000.00 thereby revising the initial contract from the original N21,841,578,000.00 to N51,668,027,000.00, and an additional period of Twenty-four (24) months for completion of the Yola – Hong – Mubi road in Adamawa State.

In a similar development, Yobe State Government undertook the construction of five (5) Federal Roads: Rehabilitation/Construction of Kaliyari-Bayamari-Geidam, 109km road, Rehabilitation/Construction of Gashua-Yusufari 31km Road, Rehabilitation/Construction of Damaturu – Buni – Magza 77km Road, Rehabilitation/Construction of Nguru – Machina 57km road and Rehabilitation/Construction of Katarko Bridges (4 spans Bridge) to the tune of N20,942,211,672.25 being expenditure incurred for the rehabilitation of the five (5) projects. The Federal Executive Council, however, approved the total Sum of N18,663,843,119.39 following a thorough review and issuance of a certificate of no objection by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

The Yola-Hong-Mubi Road connects Yola, the capital and administrative center of Adamawa State to Mubi town, enabling the movement of people and goods. Similarly, the roads constructed in Yobe state will go a long way to better the lives of the affected communities.

The public will recall that on Wednesday 15th June 2022, the Federal Executive council had approved the award of contract for the rehabilitation of Kashimbila – Takum – Chanchanji road in Taraba state. These approvals are all aimed at facilitating the reconstruction of infrastructure in the North East areas of the country that were impacted by the Boko haram insurgency, and giving Nigerians a better lease of life.

Jun

21

2022

WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING, BASHIR NURA ALKALI, FCA, FCTI  AT THE COMMISSIONING OF ISOKO RING ROAD IN DELTA STATE ON TUESDAY, 21st JUNE, 2022.

PROTOCOLS

       It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this significant event in the affairs of our National life. I welcome all the eminent and distinguished invited guests to the occasion of the commissioning of the second phase of the completed roads across the country. 

2.   On behalf of the Honourable Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, Directors and Head of Units, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing, I welcome all distinguished invited Guests, the Royal Fathers and the entire people of Delta State to this event.

3.    As part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s developmental agenda of addressing road infrastructural development across the length and breadth of Nigeria, the Federal Government as a policy direction focused on the completion of several on-going projects to stimulate economic development, job creation and promoting local content. The focus is to link the major arterial roads to Refineries, Ports, tertiary institutions and high volume commercial centres with a view to reducing travel times, vehicle maintenance costs, safety and security of commuters etc.

4.    The Ministry has successfully completed several roads and maintained several bridges to ensure that road users have a rewarding road travel experience. Several other roads and bridges are at various stages of completion such as the 2nd Niger Bridge and its approach road, Dualization of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, Loko-Oweto Bridge linking Nasarawa to Benue States, Dualization of Enugu-Portharcourt Expressway, Bodo-Bonny Brigde, Lagos-Ibadan Dualization project, to mention just a few. 

5.     We have now entered the season of completion and handover of several roads and bridges projects across the country. Recently, 5-roads were commissioned by Mr. President who was represented by the Cabinet Ministers from the states where the projects were sited such as:
Commissioning of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kotangora-Makere Road, Phases I&II in Kebbi State;
Vandeikya-Obudu Cattle Ranch Road Phases I&II in Benue State;
Nenwe-Oduma Road Sections I&II in Enugu and Ebonyi States;
Kano-Maiduguri Section III (Azare-Potiskum) in Bauchi/Yobe States; and
Kano-Maiduguri Road Section II Shuwarin-Azare, with spur from Dutse to Kwanar Huguma in Jigawa/Bauchi States.

6.   In this phase of the commissioning, Mr. President approved the commissioning of the following roads:

Rehabilitation of Efon Alaaye-Erinmo-Iwaraja Road In Ekiti/Osun States;
Isoko Ring Road in Delta State; 

Rehabilitation of Hadeija-Nguru Road, Phase II CH 40+000-CH 73+150 Kirikasama-Nguru in Jigawa State;
Completion of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road Phase II (Gombe-Kaltungo) in Gombe State; 
Construction of Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road Section II, Phase I, (Gashua-Bayamari), Yobe State;
Rehabilitation of Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road Section I (Nguru-Gashua) Phase II in Yobe State;
Rehabilitation of Lafia-Obi-Awe-Tunga Road in Nasarawa State.

7.    As we complete the commissioning of this road here in Delta State, the train will move to Jigawa State, Nasarawa State and on to the others.

8.    Our joy is that Nigerians are benefitting from the fruits of democracy and the promises made by the present Administration. These projects have created direct and indirect jobs as well as provided socio-economic benefits that the magnitude of such projects carries with it.

9.    At this juncture, I welcome you all once again to the commissioning ceremony of this laudable road project in Delta State.  

Thank you and God bless you.

Oct

19

2022

Infrastructure, Most Legitimate Way Of Wealth Distribution - Fashola

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, CON.SAN, has said that infrastructure development is the most legitimate way of distributing wealth in an economy, explaining that its impact on job creation and economic growth is very significant on the Nation’s economy.

Fashola stated this, Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at the National Press Center, Radio House Abuja, during the media briefing of his Ministry’s scorecard during President Muhammadu Buhari's Administration, 2015-2023. This is the inaugural edition of this series. 

The event being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, was presided over by the Honourable Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed.

According to Fashola, the Change Agenda which was unfolded in the Ministry of Works and Housing in 2015 as part of the larger objective of the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was to grow the economy through the revamping and expansion of the nation’s infrastructure on a scale that has not been seen in a long while.

“Indeed, the Ministry of Works and Housing is present in all the States of the Federation either through a Road, Bridge, National Housing Programme, Federal Secretariat or Special Intervention Project.” he said.

Explaining further, Fashola stated that in the last seven and half years, the administration of President Buhari has been very resolute in the pursuit of Progressivism, which is globally recognized as the improvement of the human condition, pointing out that the administration has never abandoned any project of the previous administrations but rather, President Buhari gave a matching order to complete existing projects instead of starting new ones.

Fashola asked “If in 2015 the conversation was on the existence of a large number of abandoned infrastructures and the seeming lack of political will to complete those infrastructures in spite of the availability of resources and today the Buhari administration has made these possible in spite of lean resources; if in 2015 such critical infrastructure as the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway were either totally non-existent or in a very deteriorated state and if today the Buhari administration has demonstrated that needed political will to break the jinx on our nation’s historically most difficult projects, does it not stand to reason to conclude that the Party which formed the Government deserves to continue to deliver to the people of Nigeria these lifes- defining infrastructure” 

Fashola disclosed that the second Niger bridge was now completed and will soon be opened to the public for use, pointing out that what was delaying the commissioning was the construction of the link road to the bridge from both the Asaba and Onisha axes. 

“I can confirm that the second Niger Bridge itself is finished. People can walk through it now. What remains now is the link roads.” he said

On Housing, the Minister said that the National Housing Programme that was initiated by the Ministry of Works and Housing at the onset of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration had affordability and accessibility as key considerations.

 He said “the National Housing Programme is now delivering on its objective of stimulating the economies of the 35 states and the FCT. Jobs have been created in the communities where the construction of the houses are being built. Such needs  for artisans, builders, engineers, and other skilled persons in the built industry, the construction sites have been and remain centres of supply for building materials and other commodities”  

He explained that with the Programme now in a season of completion, many of the houses have been completed and are now being handed over to the beneficiaries who follow the allocation procedure set out in the National Housing Programme web portal (https://nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng )

“The National Housing Programme has therefore produced new home owners but in the process also produced citizens who found economic fulfilment as contractors, suppliers of various construction items and artisans’ he concluded

Sep

17

2022

Federal Roads, Bridges Construction in Oyo State: Local Contractors to Be Given Opportunities

.....2022 Sukuk, NNPC Tax Credit Scheme and 2023 Budget to tackle Road Funding Challenges-Fashola
 
The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has said that local contractors in Nigeria needed to be given opportunities in federal highways and bridges construction. He made the remark during his assessment tour of some federal roads and bridges under construction in Oyo and Osun States

Fashola said, “If you don’t give local contractors the opportunities, they can’t acquire the experience and the equipment.   I have pointed out some areas where I think the contractors can improve upon. They are not structural but aesthetics. So far so good the standard has not been compromised but to have some equipment for smooth finishing on some concrete works, they just have to improve. However, Mr. President is committed to engage local contractors. That is the purpose for Executive Order No.7, i.e.  Local Content and Contractor participation on Road Infrastructure Development."

During the inspection tour of rehabilitation of outstanding sections of Iseyin- Okeho Road including two bridges in Oyo State, he promised the local contractor handling the road, Messrs. HMF Construction Ltd that when 2023 budget and 2022 Sukuk are being considered government would be able to accommodate the 4 billion naira needed by the contractor to complete the remaining part of the construction works on the road.

The Minister charged Messrs. Kopek Construction Company, the contractor on the reconstruction of Ibadan –Ife-Ilesha Dual Carriageway in Oyo /Osun States not to stop work and to make some sections of the road motorable during the ember months.

While inspecting the dualization of Oyo – Ogbomosho Road, he remarked, “Relief will soon come the way of the road users, though the rainy season has slowed down the construction works on the project, the earthworks will improve as soon as the rains subsides."

He said dualization of the road is being funded through Sukuk and the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme for Roads, therefore, there wouldn’t be funding challenge in delivering the road at the time due.

Fashola said the importance of road infrastructure cannot be underestimated as it affects our businesses, the number of times spent on the road while going to work or school and everywhere roads are built the land value appreciated. He enjoined commuters not to abuse the roads and maintain road speed limits when the roads are completed.

Oba Rafiu Adeitan II, the Onjo of Okeho who approached the Minister during the   inspection visit within his jurisdiction, thanked him for the good job the contractor is doing on Iseyin- Okeho Road. The king pleaded with the Honourable Minister to include the road that leads to Ayegun border from his domain in the project because of the economic importance of the border to his area.

The Minister was accompanied on the inspection visit to the various projects in Oyo State by the Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Works and Housing Engr. Folorunsho Esan, the Zonal Director South West in the Ministry, Engr. Ademola Kuti and Federal Controller of Works, Oyo State, Engr. Kayode Ibrahim and others.

Sep

08

2022

Minister Charges NYSC/IT Members, Others to Be Diligent and Committed to Duty.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has charged serving and newly posted National Youth Service Corp Members and Industrial Training Students to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to be diligent and committed to their duties while in the Ministry.

The Minister gave the charge during the first ever organized Induction/ Orientation Training Workshop for Corp Members and Industrial Training Students at the Ministry’s Headquarters, Abuja.

Mr. Fashola who was represented by his Special Adviser on Strategic Coordination and Administration, Mrs. Motunrayo Alimi also encouraged them to crave for more knowledge and appreciate the experiences garnered during their stay in the Ministry, advising them to make their voices count in their different departments and units in the appropriate manner that would not go against the rules of the Ministry.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali, while declaring the training open said that the induction course was to familiarize the participants with the operations and core values of the Civil Service as well as the processes, procedures, structure, functions and mandate of the Ministry to enable them understand the ministry’s work environment.

Mr. Alkali also commended the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN and the Minister of State, Hon. Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub on the initiative to organize this first ever induction course in the Ministry, adding that the training   would introduce them to the general operations of the Ministry and also provide them with ideas that could be of assistance in their future endeavors.

He urged them to maintain positive attitudes assuring them that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing was poised to reward hard work and good behavior.

On his part, the Director Human Resources Management, Aliyu Abdullahi commended the Management of the Ministry for organizing the training workshop, saying that the Ministry places high premium on training of Staff.

He said that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has over five hundred (500) Corp members serving in the Ministry and that this shows that the Ministry is a good starting ground for the nation’s young graduates. “To whom much is given, much is expected. We are going to give you the best, so we expect much from you,”’ he said.

On behalf of the Corp members, Miss Boluwatife Ajayi of Press and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry commended the Management for organizing the induction training and assured that they would make good use of the experiences acquired during the training.

Aug

27

2022

Nigerians Commend President Buhari's Impactful Infrastructure Development

President Muhammad Buhari has once more reaffirmed his Administration’s Commitment to infrastructural development. The reaffirmation was made during the commissioning and handover of the completed 66 .10Km Gombe Kaltungo Road at Kumo Town, Gombe State.

President Buhari who was represented at the occasion by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Issa Ali Ibrahim Pantami observed that his  administration has given priority to infrastructure development starting from road, to rail line and broadband development. 

Mr.President disclosed that the FG has embarked on the National Information and Communications Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase 2. Also about 400 Million US dollars has been planned for the project which will commence from Abuja to Borno State.

He said that his  administration has given approval for the construction of the  rail line from Borno to Rivers State, adding that the rail line was an  area that lacked attention before the advent of this administration. 

The Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya praised the Federal Government for the completion of the Kaltungo-Gombe Road Project.

The Governor observed that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing had successfully completed several roads to ensure that road users have a rewarding travelling experience. 

 He added that the Gombe - Kaltungo Road Project  had created jobs  directly and indirectly as well as provided social economic benefits to the people.

Works and Housing Minister , Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN who was represented by the Director Highways North East in the Ministry, Engineer Celestine Shausu disclosed that the road is the sixth to be commissioned in the second phase of highway projects  completion and commisioning.

He said," This is the second phase of project completion and handover our country will be witnessing as we progress further in this season of completion and impact which started in the last quarter of 2021," said Fashola.

The Minister recalled  the completion of Efon Alaaye - Erinmo Iwaraja road in Ekiti,  Isoko Ring Road Section II covering Aviara- Uzere in Delta State,  Phase II of  Hadejia - Nguru Road covering Kirikasama - Nguru in Jigawa State, Nguru - Gashua- Bayamari Road in Yobe State and Lafia - Obi Awe - Tunga Road in Nassarawa State that were completed in the last quarter of 2021 which he described as major  investments in road transport infrastructure that serve as  drivers for economic growth and prosperity.

The Minister said these completed roads are viable assets in proof of what the country's resources are invested in.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali who was represented by Engineer Amos Thomas stated that the Buhari led administration is focused on the completion of several ongoing road infrastructure projects to stimulate economic development, job creation and promotion of local content.

He added that government is also committed to linking the major arterial roads to refineries, ports, tertiary institutions and high volume commercial centres with a view to reducing travel times, vehicle maintenance costs, safety and security of commuters.

In his goodwill message, the Emir of Arko, His Royal Highness Alhaji Umar Atiku expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the construction of the road project. He urged the people of the state to continue to support the Federal and State government and maintain  peace and tranquility in the state by being law abiding.

Aug

24

2022

FG's Determination For Successful Completion and Commissioning Of Highway Projects in the Country on Top Gear – Nura Alkali

The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali has reiterated  that Federal Government’s determination for successful completion and commissioning of highway infrastructure projects across the country  is on top gear.

Alkali stated that in Kano, Kano State at the meeting of Permanent Secretaries at the on-going 28th Meeting of the National Council on Works with the theme, "Infrastructure, The Season of Completion.”

Alkali said that the timing of the Council meeting is very auspicious and apt as it affords the delegates opportunity to think through and make necessary arrangements, meaningful contributions as well as take critical steps to ensure that road infrastructure projects are completed on time and commissioned.

“In order to ensure that the target of completing and commissioning of these projects is achieved, it has become necessary for all stakeholders to consider and provide creative and contemporary ideas and policy suggestions that will support the attainment of the above target,” he said.

Alkali reminded the Permanent Secretaries that they are expected to have the objectives of the National Development Plan 2021 - 2025 in mind as they look at ways of ensuring that road projects are completed and commissioned in order to galvanize national growth and sustainability.

He added that the recommendations of the meeting should focus on restoring economic growth, the ease of doing business, investing in our people and creating a competitive economy through the provision of good  road networks across the country.

He also charged the body of Permanent Secretaries to ensure that money spent on roads and bridges improves the economy and imparts on the citizens positively.

The Permanent Secretary appreciated the government and people of Kano State for hosting this year’s Council on Works.

“I must quickly thank our host, the Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR (Khadimul Islam) and the good people of Kano State for the gesture of receiving us to deliberate on this crucial theme that was carefully chosen to ensure that the massive spending of public funds by governments at all levels in highways and other roads infrastructure to ensure smooth mobility and access is duly accounted for through completed and commissioned roads across the country,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Development Kano State, Engr. Idris Wada Saleh said that it is desirable for government at all levels to strive hard to complete ongoing infrastructural projects within the remaining periods of their tenures.

In order to ensure successful completion and sustainability of highway projects Engr.Saleh urged   successive administrations to take it as a duty to complete outstanding infrastructural projects that might be left uncompleted before the end of the tenures of the present leadership to ensure judicious utilization of public funds and continuity.

He welcomed and congratulated the delegates for having the unique opportunity to attend the highly educative meeting to contribute to national development and wished the delegates fruitful deliberations and a peaceful stay in Kano, the state capital.

The meeting of Permanent Secretaries reviewed 46 memoranda submitted by stakeholders under six (6) Thematic Syndicate Groups:

1.    Policy Formulation and Implementation

2.    Completion of infrastructure and economic growth: The role of maintenance

3.    Institutional strengthening

4.    Completion of infrastructure as a policy priority policy and funding priority of ease of doing business

5.    Sustainable funding as a catalyst for completion of infrastructure in Nigeria

6.    Socio-economic impacts of the completed infrastructure

  A presentation on New Innovations on the use of Alternative Technologies in Roads / Infrastructure Development was presented at the meeting.

Aug

22

2022

Introductory Remarks By The Director, Planning Research And Statistics Federal Ministry Of Works And Housing , Mr. Jide Ode-Martins At The Technical Session Of The 28th Meeting Of The National Council On Works Holding In Kano, Kano State From 22nd – 26th  August, 2022

Protocol

    I welcome you all to the 28th Meeting of the National Council on Works with the theme: ”Infrastructure, the Season of Completion” holding here in Kano from today Monday, 22nd – 26th August, 2022.

2.    As you are aware, the Meeting of the National Council on Works is the highest policy-making organ where stakeholders in the Works Sector deliberate and discuss critical issues concerning the Sector with a view to proffering sustainable solutions.

3.    It is pertinent to highlight that the Council Meeting is heralded by a 2-Day Technical Meeting of the Directors and the Meeting of the Permanent Secretaries. The responsibility of the Technical Meeting of the Directors as you are aware, is to create a solid and resourceful foundation by the diligently reviewing the memoranda submitted by stakeholders and fine-tuning the recommendation made by the Meeting of the Permanent Secretaries for presentation to the Council.

4.    In view of the foregoing, I would like to urge all Directors present to rise to the occasion as usual and come up with recommendations worthy of consideration by the Council. This is a task that most of us here are very competent at and committed to doing year in year out. I am therefore, very confident of our ability to timely deliver on this assignment.
 
5.    At this juncture, I would like to assure you that all necessary logistics have been made to ensure the success of this year’s Council Meeting. The Secretariat is available to attend to enquiries and render any assistance needed.

6.    On a concluding note, I wish to express our profound gratitude to the Honourable Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, the Honourable Minister of State Umar Ibrahim El- Yakub and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Bashir Nura Alkali FCA, FCTI for providing the required support and enabling environment for the success of this Meeting. I also appreciate the support of all Directors and entire staff of the Ministry whose efforts made today a reality. The role of Kano State Government and the Local Organizing Committee to the preparation for this meeting is highly commendable.

7.    Once again, welcome to the 2-Day brainstorming Session preceding this year’s National Council Meeting on Works. I wish all of us fruitful deliberations.

8.    Thank you and God bless you all.

Aug

09

2022

Fashola Inaugurates COREN Board Members, Charges Them on Professionalism.

.... Reiterates Federal Government's Commitment to Infrastructural Development.

Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has inaugurated the 9 Member Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), today Tuesday 9th August, 2022, charging them to ensure that the ethics guiding the Engineering profession are upheld.

Fashola reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to the development of infrastructure.  He said, “As you are all aware our government has committed to infrastructure and as you all know infrastructure brings development to the country, it boosts our economy, it creates employment and it enables the nation to compete for continental and global space."

The Minister noted that members of the Engineering profession have been and will continue to play a significant role in this regard and stressed the need for COREN to ensure that professionalism is at its peak. He charged them to uphold the moral and ethical standards of the profession, adding that true professionals always do the right thing no matter the situation and will not compromise standards in the face of pressure.

One of the Council members and immediate past President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engineer Babagana Mohammed said the new Council members are coming with a lot of experience and dedication to protect the ethics and standards of the Engineering profession.

He said, we are going to emphasize on the dos and don'ts because so many things are happening. Some people do not understand the regulations, so we need to make people understand and obey the regulations."

He added that it will form the focus of the ongoing conference of COREN.

Speaking in the same vein, another member, Professor Zekeni Robert Yelebe who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the Council members praised the infrastructural drive of the Buhari administration and pledged that they will ensure that standards are upheld in the profession.

He said, "We can see that this government is serious in terms of infrastructural development and as a Council, we will make sure that engineering activities especially infrastructural development is done with all engineering ethics."

He added that the Council will also look at the curriculum of institutions offering Engineering courses to see if there is need for changes or improvements to be made.

He disclosed that accreditation issues will also be appraised to ensure that the products of the Engineering Institutions can compete with their counterparts in any part of the world.

The newly inaugurated Council Members are: Dr. Muhammed Danlami Jibrin, representing North West, Dr. Idiat Ibironke Arogundade, representing the North Central, Professor Baba Shehu Waziri, representing the North East, Professor Zekeni Roberts Yelebe, representing the South South and Professor Gabriel Obafemi Shonaike, representing the South West.

Others are: Engineer Babajide Ojedele representing the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Ademola Isaac Olurunfemi also representing the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engineer Tasiu Wudil and Engineer Babagana Mohammed both representing the Nigeria Society of Engineers.

Aug

03

2022

Perm Sec Charges Engineers on Economic Growth and Job Creation.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali, FCA, FCTI, has charged Nigerian Engineers to come up with resolutions that can lead to economic growth and job creation in the country.

He gave this charge while declaring open the 43rd Conference of Directors of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Departments of Ministries of Works and Housing in the Federation.

Alkali, was ably represented by the Director, Human Resources Department in the   Ministry, Aliyu Abdullahi

The Theme of the Conference is "Engineers as Catalyst for National Economic Growth and Job Creation."

He said "Conversing about Engineers as Catalyst for National Economic Growth and Job Creation, the papers to be presented at this conference are to address issues bothering on economic growth and job creation"
 
He also noted that Engineers need to start turning their ideas and inventions into marketable products and services through planning, designing, constructing, installing, commissioning and maintaining of infrastructures.

Describing the roles of engineers as prime and fundamental, Alkali pointed out that to alleviate poverty in Nigeria, the country would need a growth model that could generate adequate jobs for her citizens and it could only be achieved through industrialization.

"Nigeria needs a growth model that can generate sufficient jobs for her huge population and also be inclusive enough to significantly curb poverty" he said.

Accordingly, the Permanent Secretary stated that industrialization being a product of technologies and application of technological breakthrough could only be a reality through advancement in engineering.

He told the delegates that the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has given the approval for the Ministry to commence the training of Artisans in the various Ministry’s training schools, pointing out that the launching of the N-Power by the administration of President Muhammad Buhari and Special Public Works Programme has provided Nigerian youths job placement and empowerment.

In his welcome address, the chairman of the Conference and Head of Engineering Department in the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Valentine Nwaimo, urged delegates to come up with a workable communique that could be presented for consideration and approval at the upcoming Council on Works.

"As the Conference progresses, I want to wish all of us a very fruitful deliberation so as to come up with a good communiquè that is worthy of presentation at the Council of Works which is the highest policy making body for consideration and approval," he said.

According to Engr Nwaimo, the Conference of Directors of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Department of the Ministries of Works and Housing of the Federation is an annual event where papers on a selected theme are presented and deliberated upon for the acceleration of Nigeria’s development.

He told the participants to utilize this opportunity to brainstorm on topical issues affecting the growth of the country in diverse area and come up with innovative ideas that could lead to economic growth, creation of jobs as well as stem the tide of corruption.

Jul

20

2022

Works Ministry Organizes Health Talk for Directors.

In a bid to create awareness on health-related matters that will greatly enhance productivity, more so to aid the life expectancy of serving Officers, the Ministry of Works and Housing has organized a one-day Workshop on Health matters for Directors of the Ministry, Wednesday, July 20, 2022.

The one-day workshop is on: stress management, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, work-life balance of and Cardiac Arrest.

The workshop was Organized in recognition of the important roles Directors plays in their fields and capacity in managing staff and material resources of their departments.

In his opening address before declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary Of the Ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, FCA, FCTI said that the objective of the workshop is to create awareness on early detection of some health-related challenges that are life-threatening diseases before they become intractable.

Mr Bashir Nura Alkali added that the Ministry has maintained a robust plan as part of its efforts to improve the welfare and general well-being of its staff as part of its reward system.

 " It is my pleasure therefore to underline that the health plan which initially began as a bi-monthly routine medical check-up has been scaled up to include an annual health talk for all staff of the Ministry",  he said.

Alkali encouraged the Directors to reap the full benefits of the health talk and promised that the health talk workshop would be extended to other categories of staff of the Ministry.

The workshop was Organized by Elyon Synergy Ltd, Lagos, in conjunction with the Ministry of Works and Housing. The two Medical Doctors who delivered the talks are Dr. Jacob Nwanchukwu a stress management consultant and Prof. David.A. Oke, the current Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

Some of the important health topics discussed included: Prevention and Control of Hypertension, Economic Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Discussed extensively also were, kidney functions, failure and treatment, modern methods of diabetic management, sudden death and technology of medical devices.

Others are high cholesterol and physical exercise for fitness, finance, wellness and stress-free investments were emphasized.

The workshop was well attended by the Directors of the Ministry because of the invaluable benefit of health in relation with their work fields and capacities.

Giving his Vote of Thanks, the Director, Human Resources, Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi, appreciated the Honourable Ministers for granting approval for this health talk for the Directors of the Ministry.

He said that for the workshop to get its approval, the Ministers and the Permanent Secretary truly demonstrated that they value the Management of the Ministry and therefore take seriously the health issues of its staff.

" It is highly commendable and we should take the health tips serious as recommended by our health experts," he said.

Jul

02

2022

Speech by President Muhammadu Buhari represented by the Honourable Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar D. Aliyu at The Completion and Handover of Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road in Yobe State on Saturday, 2nd  July, 2022

On behalf of the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari, I bring best wishes to the Government and people of Yobe State.

Our commitment to improving road transport infrastructure, our determination to improve the ease of doing business, create jobs and prosperity to lift people out of poverty brings us here today because the results of our investment are manifesting.

I can confidently say that as we enter the final lap of the tenure of the Buhari administration we are also entering a season of completion and delivery of projects.

As you can all see, we are handing over today the 55 Kilometre Road, which links Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari in Yobe State to Jigawa and Borno States. A very important Road that connects agrarian and trading communities to ease the movement of their farm products.

By linking these communities together, this road becomes a critical component of our national road network.

This road has been built to the highest quality of design and workmanship and if is well used and not abused, it should last for the designed service life.

Road abuse takes many forms such as overloading of vehicles and trucks which accelerates pavement damage, spilling of petroleum products, which dissolves all the components and allows water to penetrate, and converting the road shoulders to permanent parking places, that brings the onset of road failure from the shoulder.

We must all do our best to avoid these practices, report them when they occur and act in a lawful manner to stop them.

The road is also a story of the capacity of our people. The patriotic Nigerians who were employed directly to build this road, the scores of suppliers employed indirectly who are responsible for providing the machines utilized in the construction.

These are not only nation builders to whom we offer our salutations, they are the heart of the Nigerian economy, the micro, small and medium enterprises that drive our economic growth.

This road is also a statement of economic efficiency and ease of doing business.

This is because the travel time before construction has now reduced since the completion of the road.

Of course, this road is part of our many roads to prosperity because reduced journey times means reduced expense on travel, because time is money.

This road also symbolizes change as you will observe in the road furniture, such as the lane markings and Route Assurance signs.

These components had all but disappeared on our highways but our commitment to change has restored them, with the markings helping drivers to achieve better lane management and control of their vehicles; while the Route Assurance signs provide information about how much further or longer, the drivers and commuters have to travel and the distance to the next village, town or state.

Of course, another element of change is the travel experience on a new and well-built road from the old and previously unmotorable road.

Now that we have this new and well-built road, we have duties to ourselves and to other road users.

One of those duties is to ensure that we drive in accordance with the law as stipulated in the Highway Code.

Accordingly, for the avoidance of any doubt, I wish to reiterate that the maximum driving speed on this and other Federal Highways nationwide is 100 (ONE HUNDRED) KM PER HOUR and no more.

On behalf of the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari, I formally declare this Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road in Yobe State completed and open for public use. 

For your safety and that of other road users, I implore you not to exceed 100 KM PER HOUR. 

We want you alive to witness and be part of the prosperity and promise of Nigeria. 

I wish you safe and happy motoring.

Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, FNSE
Honourable Minister of Power

Jul

02

2022

Welcome Address by The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry Of Works And Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali, FCA, FCTI Represented by the Controller Yobe State, Engr O. B. Akinmade at The Commissioning of The Construction of Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road Section II, Phase I (Gashua-Bayamari) and Rehabilitation of Nguru-Gashua Bayamari Road Section I (Nguru-Gashua) Phase II in Yobe State on Saturday, 2nd July, 2022.

PROTOCOLS
        It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this significant event in the affairs of our National life. I welcome all the eminent and distinguished invited guests to the occasion of the commissioning of the second phase of the completed roads across the country. 
2.        On behalf of the Honourable Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, Directors and Head of Units, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing, I welcome all distinguished invited Guests, the Royal Fathers and the entire people of Yobe State to this event.
3.        As part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s developmental agenda of addressing road infrastructural development across the length and breadth of Nigeria, the Federal Government as a policy direction focused on the completion of several on-going projects to stimulate economic development, job creation and promoting local content. The focus is to link the major arterial roads to Refineries, Ports, tertiary institutions and high volume commercial centres with a view to reducing travel times, vehicle maintenance costs, safety and security of commuters etc.

4.        The Ministry has successfully completed several roads and maintained several bridges to ensure that road users have a rewarding road travel experience. Several other roads and bridges are at various stages of completion such as the 2nd Niger Bridge and its approach road, Dualization of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, Loko-Oweto Bridge linking Nasarawa to Benue States, Dualization of Enugu-Portharcourt Expressway, Bodo-Bonny Brigde, Lagos-Ibadan Dualization project, to mention just a few. 
5.         We have now entered the season of completion and handover of several roads and bridges projects across the country. Recently, 5-roads were commissioned by Mr. President who was represented by the Cabinet Ministers from the states where the projects were sited such as:
i.    Commissioning of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kotangora-Makere Road, Phases I&II in Kebbi State;
ii.    Vandeikya-Obudu Cattle Ranch Road Phases I&II in Benue State;
iii.    Nenwe-Oduma Road Sections I&II in Enugu and Ebonyi States;
iv.    Kano-Maiduguri Section III (Azare-Potiskum) in Bauchi/Yobe States; and
v.    Kano-Maiduguri Road Section II Shuwarin-Azare, with spur from Dutse to Kwanar Huguma in Jigawa/Bauchi States.
6.         In this phase of the commissioning, Mr. President approved the commissioning of the following roads:
i.     Rehabilitation of Efon Alaaye-Erinmo-Iwaraja Road In Ekiti/Osun States;

ii.    Isoko Ring Road in Delta State;
iii.    Rehabilitation of Hadeija-Nguru Road, Phase II CH 40+000-CH 73+150 Kirikasama-Nguru in Jigawa State;
iv.    Completion of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road Phase II (Gombe-Kaltungo) in Gombe State; 
v.    Construction of Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road Section II, Phase I, (Gashua-Bayamari), Yobe State;
vi.    Rehabilitation of Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road Section I (Nguru-Gashua) Phase II in Yobe State;
vii.    Rehabilitation of Lafia-Obi-Awe-Tunga Road in Nasarawa State.
7.        As we complete the commissioning of this road here in Yobe State, the train will move to Nasarawa State and on to the others.
  8.         Our joy is that Nigerians are benefitting from the fruits of democracy and the promises made by the present Administration. These projects have created direct and indirect jobs as well as provided socio-economic benefits that the magnitude of such projects carries with it.
9.    At this juncture, I welcome you all once again to the commissioning ceremony of this laudable road project in Yobe State.  

Thank you and God bless you.

Jul

01

2022

Timely Completion of The Rehabilitation of Kaduna - Pambeguwa - Jos Road Assured - Engr. F. Esan

The Director, Highway Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Folorunsho Esan has assured the completion of Kaduna - Pambeguwa - Jos Road in Kaduna and Plateau state within the next 12 months.

The Director made this known during an inspection tour on the road recently to ascertain the progress and level of work done so far by the contractor.

Esan is optimistic that the rehabilitation work on the road will be completed in due cause saying he is highly satisfied with the quality and pace of work on the road.

" Yes, the quality of work is satisfactory, we have 35km of binder and if you don't look properly, you'd think the job is finished. We are still expecting another layer on top.18% is done currently because 35km out of 190km is 18%, which shows there is a lot of progress from the date the contract was awarded" he said.

The Director confirmed that the funding of the project is not a problem as the source of funding the project has already been mapped out.

"Everything is together, when you think of the time of completion, you'd think of the funding that is available, the funding has to match the time frame and we are trying with what we have to ensure that the project is completed within the next 12 months" he said.

Esan encouraged the contractor to continue with the pace of work and that whatever challenge they may encounter, will be attended to in good time.

" They should not stop work; they should continue working. Whatever is the problem would be solved and they should just keep up the pace of work" he said.

At the inspection of the road too, the Director, Highway, North West, Engr. Adebayo Taiwo said that the road has added value and economically impacted on a lot of communities along the road corridor.

"You can see that this road cut across many states, starting from Kaduna and going towards Jos border and there is also a spur to Bauchi. So, there is a lot of economic impact. Agricultural areas are being more accessible, rural communities too are now being well connected" he said.

He pointed out that the road has helped the local communities to have easy access to bigger cities like Kaduna to sell their farm produce.

" you can see that this particular location we passed now, where there is a settlement, with drainage and proper layout makes easy access to Kaduna and if they want to go to Jos too they can easily connect to move their agricultural products" he said.

While explaining the progress of work done so far, the contractor handling the project Messes Setraco Nig. Limited represented by the project Manager, Engr. Jabir Mustapha appreciated the Ministry for the award of the contract and confirmed that funding of the project has not been a challenge.  He noted that all the communities along the road are cooperating with them.

He promised that the road project will be delivered on time but noted that the rainy season might reduce the pace of work but the specifications and the standard must be maintained.

He thanked the Ministry for regular release of funds.  He also appreciated the nearby communities for their security support.

The Engineer's representative on site, Engr. Eyitayo Aluko gave the project description saying that, the existing road is approximately 199.50km in length.  The project begins from Maraban Jos to Tudor Fulani in Plateau State border 189.9km, while spur begins from Saminaka junction to Bauchi State border 9.6km.  The road he said serves as a link road from Kaduna State and other North Western States to Plateau and other North Eastern States of the country.

Jun

23

2022

WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING, BASHIR NURA ALKALI, FCA, FCTI  AT THE COMMISSIONING OF LAFIA-OBI-AWE-TUNGA ROAD IN NASARAWA STATE ON THURSDAY, 23rd JUNE, 2022.

PROTOCOLS

       It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this significant event in the affairs of our National life. I welcome all the eminent and distinguished invited guests to the occasion of the commissioning of the second phase of the completed roads across the country. 

2.   On behalf of the Honourable Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, Directors and Head of Units, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing, I welcome all distinguished invited Guests, the Royal Fathers and the entire people of Nasarawa State to this event.

3.    As part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s developmental agenda of addressing road infrastructural development across the length and breadth of Nigeria, the Federal Government as a policy direction focused on the completion of several on-going projects to stimulate economic development, job creation and promoting local content. The focus is to link the major arterial roads to Refineries, Ports, tertiary institutions and high volume commercial centres with a view to reducing travel times, vehicle maintenance costs, safety and security of commuters etc.

4.    The Ministry has successfully completed several roads and maintained several bridges to ensure that road users have a rewarding road travel experience. Several other roads and bridges are at various stages of completion such as the 2nd Niger Bridge and its approach road, Dualization of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, Loko-Oweto Bridge linking Nasarawa to Benue States, Dualization of Enugu-Portharcourt Expressway, Bodo-Bonny Brigde, Lagos-Ibadan Dualization project,  to mention just a few. 

5.     We have now entered the season of completion and handover of several roads and bridges projects across the country. Recently, 5-roads were commissioned by Mr. President who was represented by the Cabinet Ministers from the states where the projects were sited such as:

Commissioning of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kotangora-Makere Road, Phases I&II in Kebbi State;

Vandeikya-Obudu Cattle Ranch Road Phases I&II in Benue State;

Nenwe-Oduma Road Sections I&II in Enugu and Ebonyi States;

Kano-Maiduguri Section III (Azare-Potiskum) in Bauchi/Yobe States; and

Kano-Maiduguri Road Section II Shuwarin-Azare, with spur from Dutse to Kwanar Huguma in Jigawa/Bauchi States.

6.   In this phase of the commissioning, Mr. President approved the commissioning of the following roads:

Rehabilitation of Efon Alaaye-Erinmo-Iwaraja Road In Ekiti/Osun States;

Isoko Ring Road in Delta State; 

Rehabilitation of Hadeija-Nguru Road, Phase II CH 40+000-CH 73+150 Kirikasama-Nguru in Jigawa State;

Completion of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road Phase II (Gombe-Kaltungo) in Gombe State; 

Construction of Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road Section II, Phase I, (Gashua-Bayamari), Yobe State;

Rehabilitation of Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road Section I (Nguru-Gashua) Phase II in Yobe State;

Rehabilitation of Lafia-Obi-Awe-Tunga Road in Nasarawa State.

7.    As we complete the commissioning of this road here in Nasarawa State, the train will move to Yobe State.

8.    Our joy is that Nigerians are benefitting from the fruits of democracy and the promises made by the present Administration. These projects have created direct and indirect jobs as well as provided socio-economic benefits that the magnitude of such projects carries with it.

9.    At this juncture, I welcome you all once again to the commissioning ceremony of this laudable road project in Nasarawa State.  

Thank you and God bless you.
 

Jun

23

2022

6th Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF) GABFEST To Hold  June 28

As part of efforts targeted at creating a platform for the active involvement of the youth in Nigeria’s future, the 6th Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF) Gabfest will hold next week, Tuesday 28th June, at 11a.m as a ZOOM Webinar (bit.ly/gabfest6).

The BRF Gabfest which holds in honor of the 59th birthday celebration of Legal practitioner and Public Servant, the Honorable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, is expected to have in attendance stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as members of the general public.
 
This year’s event which is themed: ‘What am I voting for?’ is anticipated to have numerous attendees and is open to members of the public via a registration link (bit.ly/gabfest6).
 
The BRF Gabfest will feature 6 speakers on a panel, who will offer constructive insights cut across both the public and private sector, and offer the audience a chance to also engage on issues pertaining to the theme.
 
Now in its 6th year, the goal of the BRF Gabfest is to create an interactive platform where the role of the youth in Nigeria’s future will be discussed and heard. It is targeted at those who are sincerely concerned about the future of Nigeria, and the role young people have to play in that future.

Jun

21

2022

REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF WORKS AND HOUSING, MR BABATUNDE FASHOLA, SAN AT THE PROJECT COMPLETION AND HAND OVER ON TUESDAY, 21ST JUNE, 2022 AT UZERE VILLAGE, DELTA STATE 

On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari, I bring good tidings to the peoples and Government of Delta State, who will be impacted by the Isoko Ring Road that our President will hand over today.

My principal message to you all is that this is the first of the second phase of project Completion and Handovers our country will be witnessing as we progress further in this season of completion and impact which started in the last quarter of 2021. 

In this second phase of completion Mr. President has also approved that Ministers from the various States where projects have been completed should represent him to perform the handover formalities.

The other handing over formalities that will follow these formalities which we flagged-off in Ekiti and Jigawa States, will also be in:

Yobe for Section II and Phase I of the Nguru – Gashua – Bayamari Road covering Gashua to Bayamari; Section I, Phase II covering Nguru to Gashua; 

Nasarawa for Lafia – Obi – Awe – Tunga Road; and

Gombe for Phase II of the Gombe – Numan –Yola Road covering Gombe – Kaltungo.

These projects represent major investment in road Transport infrastructure, which is a commitment of the Buhari administration as a driver for economic growth and prosperity.

They are visible and incontrovertible Assets in proof of what Nigeria’s resources are invested in, from a combination of our earned resources, and borrowings.

This occasion affords the opportunity to restate that in addition to other innovative sources of funding, our Budgetary provisions are also being diligently applied to complete projects such as these.

I want to express deep gratitude to the Ministry of Finance, and the members of the National Assembly, especially the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Works in the 8th and 9th Assembly for their support.

To our staff and contractors who have worked very hard to bring these projects to conclusion I also say thank you, as I cannot fail to acknowledge the cooperation of the host communities where these projects pass through or are hosted.

I hold them out as examples of what peace can achieve, and the investments that collaboration and some sacrifice can deliver if we embrace partnership with Government.
Ladies and Gentlemen, none of these would have been possible without the support of Ministers in the Federal Executive Council during debates over the projects.

To all Ministers in the first term and this current term, I express gratitude on behalf of the Ministry of Works and Housing for your support. 

To the President and Vice President who preside for long hours over the Council meetings, your leadership is now bearing fruits and the evidence of change is now manifesting.

Ekiti/Osun, Gombe, Yobe, and Nasarawa among several other States bearing witness and there is more to come. 

Thank You.

BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA, SAN
MINISTER OF WORKS AND HOUSING