Road Concession: FG Issues Notice for Commencement of HDMI’s Procurement Process The Federal Government has today issued the notice for the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) to commence the procurement for the twelve Federal highway roads it intends to concession under its novel Highway Management Development Initiative (HMDI) conceived last year.  Accordingly, the Ministry has launched an e-portal commencing the procurement process for the twelve pilot Federal highway roads for concession. Minister of Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), stated that the e-portal was launched in order to ensure competitiveness and guarantee transparency and would serve as the interface with the public in the management of the HDMI from Procurement to Implementation. He said: “Let me repeat that all our transactions will be done through this portal and we will not entertain any personal inquiries to me or to any of our staff who have correspondingly been mandated not to entertain such requests.” He said that the portal: https://hdmi.worksandhousing.gov.ng/)  would be opened for operation from next Monday and called on  those who have written  for enquires to make use of it.  “The day is now upon us, the venue is fixed and I have the pleasure to announce that the HDMI portal https://hdmi.worksandhousing.gov.ng/)  will open on Monday the 29th March, 2021, he said.  Continuing, he explained that the portal would be open for all HDMI related functions and most importantly, the Request for Qualification (RFQ) application for the Value Added Concession (VAC) which would be officially advertised on the same day.  He said the process was expected to be a vibrant process and a successful one that would unleash the commercial opportunities on Nigerian highways from paved roads, to clean and well-maintained highways, proper signage and route assurance signs, rest houses and commuter support for emergencies like vehicle towing and repairs. “Please visit the portal and I wish you all a very interactive and rewarding experience.” On infrastructure development of the nation, Mr. Fashola said one of the early initiatives of the Buhari administration was to improve the ease of doing business, and it is no secret that infrastructure was going to be an important driver of this initiative. Currently the government is executing over 700 different contracts which aggregates to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of over 13,000 km of roads and bridges across all the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory. He said: “As a result of the size of the undertaking, there is an increasing and unsatisfied demand for funding to finance these projects to completion and to maintain them.” Delivering his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr.Babangida Hussaini stated that the Ministerial notice on the commencement of the Highways Development and Management Initiative ( HDMI) signaled the commencement of the procurement process for the concession of the twelve pilot broad corridors under HDMI. Explaining the objectives, the Permanent Secretary stated that the initiative would leverage private sector investment to improve facilities and operations on the selected routes, maximize the revenue generating potential of the routes and ensure international best practices in the development and management of the nation’s highways. He said: “This pilot project is expected to attract a lot of investment to the country, create jobs for our teeming youths and make travelling on our highways more desirable.” In his opening statement, the Ag. Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Micheal Ohiani said that ICRC as a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) regulatory commission would ensure a level playing ground for all interested players. He therefore called on all interested investor both local and foreign to participate in the bidding processes as it would be fair to all bidders.   ...

Third Mainland Bridge Opens Fully To Traffic  – Fashola The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has today announced in Abuja the final opening to traffic of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos from Saturday, February 27, 2021 at midday. This brings to final completion the rehabilitation and maintenance works which necessitated the partial closure of the Bridge since July 24, 2020. Mr. Fashola who gave the directives after reviewing the report from the Director Bridges and Design on the update of the rehabilitation works, thanked Lagosians for their patience and understanding while the rehabilitation work was going on. In view of this the Honourable Minister said, “there was no longer any need for us to close the bridge to traffic”. The Minister also thanked the Lagos State Government and their officials for their effective collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing engineers in ensuring the supervision and provision of traffic control support services to the contractors. The Honourable Minister on behalf of the Federal Government expressed his deep appreciation to all those who played one positive role or another including contractor Messrs Borini Prono; FERMA, LASTMA, FRSC , media and civil society organizations too numerous to mention individually. In particular, the Minister acknowledges and thanks all the commuters whose patience, understanding and cooperation were the biggest tools for the successful execution of the works and wishes all motorists who use the Bridge a safe motoring experience. ...

Governor Ikpeazu Commends FG On Road Infrastructure Development Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has commended the Federal Government for the development of road infrastructure in Abia State and other states across the country. Governor Ikpeazu made the commendation at the handing and taking over ceremony of a 2.1 kilometre internal roads constructed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing at the Nigerian Institute for Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia State. The Governor who was represented at the event by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwudi said, "We are indeed happy and excited  that the project has been successfully completed and is being commissioned and handed over today to the glory of God and for the benefit of the Institute on one  hand and the general public on the other hand."  Ikpeazu further said, "We cannot but sincerely commend and appreciate the Federal Government of Nigeria for her commitment and dedication to addressing the huge infrastructure gap in the road network sector across the country. We are particularly grateful that today, we are witnessing the uncommon will and wisdom of the Federal Government under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR to facilitate the resolution of internal road inadequacy  with a view to enhancing road network aesthetics of the Institute." The Governor pleaded with the Federal Government to also fix some federal roads in Abia State such as: the Opobo-Azumini road, Aba-Port Harcourt Express Way around Ariara and the Umuahia- Ikot Ekpene Highway which are critical to the economic development of Abia State and the general public. He also expressed  assurance of his state government to partner and complement the efforts of Federal Government and its agencies in the overall interest of Abia citizens in particular and Nigerians in general. While commissioning and handing over the 2.1kilometre internal roads to the management of the Nigerian Institute for Nigerian Languages, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Abia State Controller of Works, Engr.Bede Obioha said, "While it is true that alot  needs to be done in many sectors of our national life including education, the Buhari Government has stepped up to lead the process of getting that work done." Fashola added, " As at today, 29  numbers of the road intervention projects have been completed with 17 numbers already handed over in 2020.Today we handover this one  at the National Institute for Nigerian Languages Aba in Abia State as a critical intervention to support education." The Minister disclosed that during the construction work a total number of forty people were employed  thereby contributing to the  job creation initiatives of government. It is hoped that the school would ensure proper use of the road assets. In his remarks,  at the ceremony, the Executive Director of the National Institute for Nigerian Languages Aba, Abia State, Prof. Obiajulu Elumejulu said, "The unprecedented intervention has indeed raised the profile of our institute and confirmed to the naysayers that we also are a Federal Government owned tertiary institution. This brand new road network is now complementing our brand new  NCE programmes and both the old and new students  as well as staff now feel that they belong, that they too have Abraham as their father. Prof.Emejulu noted that the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on the institute's internal roads network was like manna from heaven. The Executive Director of the Institute also requested for the extension of the internal roads by 400 metres with drainage to stem erosion and connect other critical portions of  the vast land in developing the campus. To show their level of appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, the host communities of the Institute honoured him with a Chieftaincy Title of  Ekwueme 1 of Akumaimo Ancient kingdom, which means,"You live by your words." The Chieftaincy installation ceremony was performed by His Royal Highness, Eze Wilson Onwunali on the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing through his representative, Engr. Bede Obioha, the Abia State Controller of Works. ...