Global Safety Organisation Honours Permanent Secretary The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Babangida Hussaini has been honoured as a Fellow of the Occupational Safety and Health Association, Nigeria at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mabushi, Abuja The Awardee, Babangida Hussaini who expressed appreciation over the recognition emphasized the importance of safety in every organization, describing it as a serious issue especially when it concerns the human capital. The Permanent Secretary further said that human beings were the biggest asset of every organization. “It takes years of hardwork to train staff, losing them is a great set back”, he said. He promised to give necessary support to the organization to enable them achieve more. The Permanent Secretary further gave the assurance that he will be working closely with the Director, Central Workshop and Equipment in the Ministry, Engineer Christian C. Onyibo who is also the Vice President, FCT Unit of the association to provide the support that will strengthen the impact of the organization in the Ministry of Works and Housing. The Nigeria Regional President of the association, HRH Dr. Aderemi Olusegun, represented by the Chairman, Council of Fellows of the organization, Dr. Dalhatu M.Ahmed noted that the Permanent Secretary is  critical to the association as the policy engine room of the Ministry. He expressed confidence that the coming of the Permanent Secretary into the association will usher in greater cooperation and achievement for both the ministry and the association as he is now going to drive the programme in the Ministry especially as the Honourable Minster of State, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engineer Abubakar D. Aliyu is also a fellow of the association. The Regional President said the organization has done a lot of safety work in Nigeria, adding that it was in consideration of this that the Federal Government gave them an office at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja. The Nigeria Regional Administrator of the Association, Engineer Ewalaka Emmanuel who made a presentation on the association disclosed that the Occupational Safety and Health Association, (OSHA Association UK-Nigeria) is an independent professional association with international membership and regional chapters worldwide committed to supporting individuals and corporate organisations around the world in achieving zero fatalities and accidents at work places. Engineer Emmanuel said the organization which has been in Nigeria for over a decade has been going to various countries to share knowledge on safety measures. He added that in line with President Muhammadu Buhari's effort to protect Nigerians from COVID-19, the association has been working seriously to see that COVID-19 guidelines are complied with. According to the citation read by the Director Central Workshop and Equipment in the Ministry of Works and Housing, Engineer Christian C. Onyibo, Babangida Hussaini who was born on the 6th of February, 1964 in Kazaure, Jigawa State, holds a BSC and MSC degrees in Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna respectively. He began his public Service career in 1987 with the Kano State Government in 1991. In 2011 he transferred his service to the Federal Civil Service and rose to the position of a Permanent Secretary in year 2020. He assumed office as the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Defence in September, 2020 before his redeployment to Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as the Permanent Secretary in December, 2020. ...

FG Hands Over Internal Road to Federal Polytechnic Damaturu. The Federal Government has commissioned and handed over a 700 meters asphalt overlay internal road constructed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing at the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Yobe State. The 700 metres road with drainage and culverts was handed over to the authorities of the institution at a brief handing and taking over ceremony which took place within the vicinity of the Polytechnic in Damaturu. In his address, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN represented by the Federal Controller of works, Yobe State, Engineer Olusegun Babalakin Akinmade, stated that the infrastructure need of the country was steadily being provided through such interventions in the nation's tertiary institutions. Fashola said "Though a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction of roads is going on in major highways and tertiary institutions, the infrastructure need of the country is steadily being provided." The Minister also revealed that there are currently 43 road interventions within tertiary institutions across Nigeria out of which 29 have been completed with 17 of the roads handed over to the respective institutions across the country in 2020. Fashola commended the administration of President Buhari for attending to the needs of the various sectors of the nation including  education. "While it is true that a lot of work 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." he said. Similarly, the Minister described the road project as an investment in education, adding that the quality of education would be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment . He also expressed confidence that the restoration of the defective road to good condition would engender a renewed enthusiasm in the students with regards to attending classes. The Yobe State Commissioner of Works, Umaru Wakili who represented the Deputy Governor of the State, Honourable Idi Barde Gubana noted that, the provision of  roads, culvert and drainage was vital to the development of any higher institution especially those that were fast expanding in terms of structure and academic programmes.  Gubana, also expressed the appreciation of the Yobe State Government to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for its  intervention in the provision of road infrastructure in the Polytechnic, describing it as a giant stride. Earlier, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Dr. Usman Kallami, represented by the Deputy Rector Administration, Muhammed Abubakar expressed gratitude to  Minister Fashola for the road rehabilitation in the school and another (about 1000 metres) carried out by the   Federal Road Maintenance Agency, (FERMA), an agency of the Ministry in the Polytechnic.  The Rector described the rehabilitation work as a new dawn and a dream come true, and also urged the Ministry to do more for the Polytechnic as it was in need of solar street lighting, more road network and drainages. A cross section of the students interviewed at the occasion expressed gratitude to the federal government for easing the hardship caused by the roads when they were in a state of disrepair. In attendance at the occasion were: Yobe State Commissioner of  Higher Education Professor Muhammed Munkaila and Hon.Mai Sanda Lawan, who represented His Royal Highness, the Emir of Damaturu, Alhaji Shehu Hashim II ibn Umar El Kanemi and other dignitaries.   ...

Certificate Of Compliance: FG Set To Commence Procurement Of Concessions Under The HDMI – Fashola The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has said that with the receipt of the Certificate of Compliance, the Federal Government is to officially commence the procurement process for the highway concessions under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI). According to the Minister, the HDMI would facilitate further development of Nigeria’s federal highway network by bringing in investment to improve efficiency, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operation, management, and maintenance of all assets within the Right of Way on the highways. Mr. Fashola said that the initiative has further affirmed the President Muhammadu Buhari administration's commitment to infrastructure development funding which has been driven by the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme Order of 2018 , the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) being managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the SUKUK Fund. He noted that through such initiatives the Federal Government has been leveraging on private sector funding and participation in the development of critical infrastructure across the country and the HDMI is another innovation developed to attract the private sector. The Minister who spoke at the official handover of the Certificate of Compliance by ICRC, explained that the HDMI was a fully home-grown idea that would deliver a safer and enjoyable travel experience for Nigerian road users as travel time would be shortened, cost reduced, and commercial activities stimulated. Explaining further, he said the HDMI is an indigenous Land Value Capture scheme conceived by the Ministry to develop Nigeria's network of federal highway corridors and boost economic development along the Right of Way. He added that it would be executed in two parts comprising Value Added Concession (VAC) and Unbundled Assets Approval (UAA). On the economic benefits, Mr. Fashola said: “Apart from infrastructure and assets development, thousands of jobs will be created for Nigerians as the initiative will open up the highway economy with opportunities in various economic activities including fabrication of gantries and directional signages with advertising opportunities, towing van operations and auto repair stations, operation of rest areas and emergency services, among others.” Continuing, he said: “ When fully operational road users will now enjoy first-class facilities on federal highways with directional signages, well-equipped rest areas, round-the-clock security patrol, and ambulance services for emergencies”. Mr. Fashola appreciated and commended the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission’s (ICRC) diligent appraisal of the initiative and for issuing Certificate of Compliance to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to proceed with the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI). In his welcome address the Permanent Secrtary , Federal Minsitry of Works and Housing Babangida Hussaini said that the development , expansion and maintenance of federal highways have increasingly become a herculean task to government due to dwindling  revenues and other compelling public service obliigaitons. He said: ‘’It is to mitigate this challenge that the Ministry has adopted the option of exploring the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement , which seeks to employ the private sector’s technical competencies , managerial capabilities and financial resources to salvage the federal roads networks.” According to him, the PPP arrangement in the management  of our highways will bring order, efficiency , accountability and profitable entrepreneurship to the operation , management , maintenance of all assets within the nation’s right of way.  Earlier, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Engineer Chidi Izuwah represented by Barr. Joel Micheal Ohiani , who presented the certificate to the Minister in Abuja on Friday 29th January, 2021 said that the initiative would enable private sector participation in the management and maintenance of road assets through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) is charged with the responsibility of developing guidelines for monitoring contract compliance during construction, operation, and contract termination and supporting MDAs like the Ministry of Works and Housing in achieving such compliance. Over time, ICRC had collaborated with the Ministry of Works and Housing, to implement a cohesive national legal, policy, and regulatory environment that was conducive to private sector investment in Nigeria’s roads and housing projects. He commended the novel initiative and said that it would create jobs, boost the government's revenue, and speed up Nigeria's economic recovery, citing the popular Chinese proverb that says, “If you want to grow rich, build a good road first.”   ...