New Works and Housing Permanent Secretary Resumes The newly redeployed Permanent Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Alhaji Babangida Hussaini has resumed office. Alhaji Babangida Hussaini was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence before his redeployment to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to take over from Mr. Ernest Umakhihe who was moved to Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. At a brief handing and taking over ceremony at the headquarters of the Ministry in Mabushi, Abuja, the new Permanent Secretary assured management and staff that his leadership will encourage team work anchored on mutual respect. He said "We all come from different backgrounds with different experiences and perceptions but the objective is one; service delivery anchored around serving the people to achieve the agenda of the government." Hussaini, who was the Director Special Projects Unit in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing before his appointment as Permanent Secretary, recalled that he had worked assiduously with the staff of the Ministry under the able leadership of the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing,Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. He said that he would build on the successes, integrity and transparency entrenched in the ministry by his predecessor, Mr.Ernest Umakhihe, as no one was an island of knowledge in service to our father land. Hussaini  described his predecessor, Mr. Earnest Umakhihe as a friend, a brother and an adviser and assured all that he would add value to the achievements already recorded by him. He further assured Umakhihe of continued cooperation and support. "We will be working together  for the good of our nation because no man is an island,  we must interrelate and interdepend on each other." Earlier in his remarks the outgoing Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Earnest Umakhihe described his tenure in the Ministry as short and worthwhile. He said, "its being a short but worthwhile journey.  I have learnt a lot from the crop of professionals we have here." Umakhihe urged the staff to accord the incoming Permanent Secretary the cooperation that was given to him. While wishing the incoming Permanent Secretary success,  he assured him of his support, adding that they are pursuing the same purpose of achieving Mr. President's mandate for the country . In a vote of thanks on behalf of the management, the Director Human Resources Management of the Ministry, Mr. Abdullahi Umar Utono assured the new Permanent Secretary of the cooperation and support of staff while wishing the former Permanent Secretary success in his new office. Alhaji Babangida Hussaini, a seasoned administrator and technocrat attended the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Ahmadu Belio University, ABU Zaria and Federal College of Arts Suleija. He served the nation in different capacities  including working with international donor agencies. He hailed from Kazaure in Jigawa State. ...

COVID 19: Works Ministry Disinfects Complex, Urges Staff to Strictly Observe Protocol The entire building complex of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Mabushi Abuja had over the weekend been disinfected against the second raging wave of the Covid 19 in the Country. The Offices and surrounding of the building complex in both work and housing blocks have been disinfected and fumigated to stem the rising wave of the Corona virus which hit the Country of recent, with Lagos and Abuja FCT being the worst hit cities in the world. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Ernest Umakhihe said that the Minister Babatunde Fashola approved that the Ministry should not leave anything to chance in the current fight against the virus as such directed with immediate effect that all necessary Covid 19 preventive measures be put in place in the Ministry. To this effect, the Ministry has provided hand washing facilities and sanitisers in all offices and temperature check at relevant public places in the complex, in addition to displaying at strategic places the Covid 19 protocol requirements for public guidance. It would be recalled that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Musa Bello has reissued directives to all residents of FCT, offices and commercial environments to guard against violating the safety measures put in place by the NCDC since June 2020. Of recent also, some States including Lagos and Niger States have already directed their Civil Servants to work from home as a result of resurgence of COVID 19 Mr Umakhihe therefore directed Staff of the Ministry to ensure wearing of face masks in and outside their offices and also adhere to all the existing safety measures put in place by the NCDC ...

How We Are Mitigating the Impact of Covid 19 - Fashola The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN has revealed the contribution of his Ministry to the efforts of the Federal Government to overcome the economic downturn occasioned by the impact of Covid 19. Fashola made this disclosure in his address at the 26th National Council on Works in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State which took place from December 7- 11,2020. Fashola said the impact of the disease on livelihood and the global economy led countries across the globe to design and implement measures and policies to keep their economies going and reflate them. The Minister said the Federal Government under   President Muhammadu Buhari developed the Economic Sustainability Plan in order to provide work, increase opportunities and sustain productivity with the Ministry of Works and Housing as one of the focal MDAS for the implementation of the policy. Fashola said by May, 2020 11 of the biggest contractors of government returned to work in 26 states in addition to maintenance work by the Federal Road Maintenence Agency in 92 locations across 24 states of the Federation. All these according to Fashola contributed greatly to economic recovery with an increase of 41.81% in7 quarrying and other mineral deposits, 11.96% in cement manufacturing and 2.64% in construction. He added that there is an increase in wealth distribution as a result of increased economic activities and job creation in communities where construction works are going on. In his speech, the Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike who expressed happiness over the opportunity given to his state to host the event said, "Because most developed countries understand the critical link between transport infrastructure and economic advancement, they have successfully built their economic prosperity on the back of investing in adequate and modern transport infrastructure." Governor Wike said Nigeria cannot be an exception if it must realise basic developmental goals and make life more meaningful for the people. The Chairman Senate Committee on Works, Senator Adamu Aliero in his remarks commended the Federal Government under the leadership of President Buhari for initiating various financial mechanisms such as the SUKUK Fund, the Presidential Initiative on Infrastructure Development Fund for road construction and rehabilitation to complement budgetary provisions which was grossly inadequate. He expressed the determination of the National Assembly to continue to support the developmental initiatives of the government. ...