Dualization Of Keffi-Makurdi Road: FG Working With Nasarawa, Benue States To Resolve Compensation Issues- Fashola    As Minister urges beneficiaries to embrace dialogue   “It's clear that the President's strategy on Infrastructure as a driver of growth is working ", he says   The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has called on the people affected by the ongoing road construction project in Nasarawa and Benue States to embrace dialogue and peaceful engagements towards resolving issues related to compensation rather than seeking recourse to agitations. The Minister, who made the call during his inspection tour of the ongoing Dualization of the 221 kilometres Keffi - Akwanga-Lafia - Makurdi Road, Tuesday, September 21st, 2021, declared, “Agitations don't solve problems, it is engagements and collaborations". Fashola, who was responding to a question from a journalist on the efforts of the Federal Government to compensate those affected by the project along the road said that the Federal government was closely working with the Benue and Nasarawa States to resolve the issues. He pointed out that the Federal Government was making a deliberate and careful effort to ensure that the real beneficiaries get the compensation and not middlemen. Explaining further, Fashola said that the 221 kilometres Dualization being undertaken includes a 10-lane expansion over five kilometers where Abuja joins Nasarawa state around Mararaba area. He disclosed that work is yet to begin on the areas that still have issues of resettlement, relocation and compensation until such issues are resolved. The Minister explained that funding for the project was secured through a China EXIM loan, adding that the decision to borrow the fund for the project was taken before the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. "The decision to borrow this money was taken before our administration. So we just completed the process that has been started, a process that we own because this is money borrowed for investment to improve people's lives", he said. The Minister who was later joined by the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, also inspected the National Housing Programme (NHP) and Federal Secretariat Complex in the state capital, Lafia. On the economic benefits of the projects, Fashola said, the projects will drive the economy and create jobs for the people, as so many people have been employed directly or indirectly through the infrastructure developments. "If you see the economy beginning to head towards growth it's clear that the President's strategy on Infrastructure as a driver of growth is working ", he said. Earlier during a courtesy visit to Governor Abdullahi Sule, the Minister appealed to the Governor to establish a park for the trailers in order to protect the roads from being damaged, pointing out that the parking of trailers and the pouring of lubricants; diesel and oil on the roads by the drivers negatively affect the life span of the roads . In his response, the Governor expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister for their commitment to the development of infrastructure in Nasarawa State. Governor Sule also told the Minister that the State was already establishing trailer parks across the state to protect the roads from being damaged through indiscriminate parking on the shoulders and to avoid the incidence of such areas becoming criminal hideouts. He urged the Federal Government to consider working on more roads in the state. On the Minister's entourage during the inspection tour were some Directors the State's Controllers of both Works and Housing of the Ministry and Special Advisers.     ...

Babangida Hussaini Calls For Commitment Of The Body Of Permanent Secretaries At The Ongoing Council On Works The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Babangida Hussaini   has called on the body of Permanent Secretaries in the Works sector to be committed to and engage in thorough deliberations to come out with recommendations that meet standard requirements for the Council Meeting that will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN on Thursday, September 23, 2021. Hussaini made the call during the meeting of the Permanent Secretaries at the 27th Meeting of the National Council on Works taking places in Bauchi, Bauchi State. He said that, “The essence of this meeting therefore is for the body of Permanent Secretaries of Works to further consider and refine the recommendations of the Technical Meeting of the Directors which had already realigned some memoranda.” He added that Technical Meeting of the Directors had also merged some memoranda with similar purposes and contents, pointing out that some memoranda were stepped down for further consideration by relevant professional bodies in the works sector. Earlier, in his welcome address, the Honourable Commissioner, Bauchi State Ministry of Works and Transport, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim said that the administration of his Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed had done significant work in the areas of provision of portable water, construction and rehabilitation of roads, blocks of classrooms in both primary and secondary schools, health facilities and provision of farming implements. He stated that it was for the interest and respect for the Council that made the Governor of the Sate to graciously approve the hosting of the 27th Meeting of the Council of Works in Bauchi, Bauchi State. Ibrahim commended participants that have been deliberating on the various memoranda by the Federal and State Ministries of Works, stakeholders and other organizations that have been playing significant roles in the development of infrastructure in Nigeria. “I therefore enjoin the Permanent Secretaries to examine the various recommendations meticulously with a view to make appropriate recommendations to Council for deliberation,” he charged.   ...

FG Begins Immediate Repairs On Sections Affected By Flooding In Five States * Others to receive attention soon. The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN Tuesday directed the immediate Emergency Repairs on Sections where failure had occurred due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall in five states across the country. Fashola who gave the directive at a briefing meeting in Abuja named the roads for immediate intervention to include Ibadan – Ife Road, Gombe – Bauchi Road, Gombe – Darazo; Bauchi – Ningi, Bida – Lambata, and Tsamiya bridge in Jigawa State, also assured of continuous attention to other roads with similar problems. The Minister said that the Federal government is committed to infrastructure development and will respond promptly to complaints from citizens. He however, appealed to commuters to be patient with the government as the excessive rains being witnessed has negative effect on road construction and rehabilitation. He expressed his Ministry’s commitment to do all within its means to ease the hardship of commuters.   ...