FG Partners UNIDO For Economic Diversification The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde RAjib Fashola SAN  stated that Nigeria would continue to partner with the United Nations International Development Organisation, (UNIDO) and its affiliates for its socio-economic development Fashola disclosed this today in Abuja when he received in audience the Representative of ECOWAS and Regional Director, Nigeria Regional Hub, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Jean Bakole and members of his team during a courtesy visit. The Minister reaffirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was committed to developing and renewing the infrastructural deficit of the country for efficiency, growth and development. However He also said that Mr. President was always ready to embrace any policy geared towards improving the nation’s infrastructure. Fashola however reiterated the commitment of the present administration to securing lives and properties growing  the economy and tackling  corruption all geared towards improving infrastructure and industrial development. The Minister charged UNIDO to assist Nigeria towards her match for industrialization either in the area of manufacturing, or Agro production, stressing that Federal Government’s commitment towards that direction was already yielding result as most of her agro- products were  being exported to both Northern and Central African region.  He also disclosed  that there were  existing fiscal policies in Nigeria  to give relief  to producers. Earlier, the leader of the UNIDO delegation, Jean Bakole stated that UNIDO had  come to work with Nigeria and add value to its economy, pledging that UNIDO would  give support in innovation, science and technology, research and development, agro business ,small and medium enterprises, minerals and metals and eco friendly environment.   He also stated that UNIDO was  ready to partner with investors in the area of building, construction trade and capacity development in Nigeria. ...

Inadequate Funding, Responsible For Non Completion of Roads- FASHOLA The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN has stated that thenumber of roads seeking government’s attention for completion and rehabilitation keeps increasing on daily basis while the resources required to fix them remained grossly inadequate. Fashola disclosed this in Abuja during an interactive session of the Senate Committee on Works with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and  its agencies. The Minister maintained that it was the responsibility of his Ministry and its agencies to ensure that the roads in Nigeria were in good condition. He also noted that the inability to complete the various road projects across the country was as a result of inadequate budget and release of funds. While describing roads as national assets of any nation, Fashola called on all stakeholders in the Works Sector to come up with a hard decision on prioritization of  roads for completion and rehabilitationon the basis of social and economic importanceto Nigerians. The Minister recommended the prioritization ofmajor link roads across the states and the roads to the various sea and airports across the country. The minister who was enthusiastic with the calibre of the Senators that constituted the Committee on Works whom he described ascapable and tested men of proven integrity, added that with their support, the challenges on Nigerian roads would be overcome. Earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero stated that members of his Committee would collaborate with the Executiveto do the needful in addressing the challenges in the works sector. As an option to address the funding challenge in the works sector, Senator Aliero, suggested sourcing for fund through local and foreign investors by concessioning some of our major roads.” I believe if we concession some major roads and get the contractors to construct those roads to international standards, they can recoup their investments within reasonable time by tolling the roads. This will gradually reduce government involvement in road construction and allow the ministry focus on being the regulator in line with what is obtainable in many countries in the world.” “I am very optimistic that the government of President Mohammadu Buhari and the 9th Senate will deliver roads of international standard to the people of Nigeria and in no distant time, they will notice qualitative transformation in the works industry,” the chairman added. Other members of the committee in attendance at the interactive session amongst others include, Senators Abdullahi Adamu, Ike Ekweremadu, Orji UzorKalu, Kashim Shetima, Kabiru Gaya and Danjuma Goje. On the minister’s entourage was: the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Bukar and directors of the Ministry. ...

2020 Budget Is Pro-People And Pro-State- Fashola The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr.BabatundeFashola SAN, has described the 2020 Budget as pro- people and pro-state saying it would drive development of the states andenhancethe  well-being of the ordinary people. Speaking when the Chief Executive Officer of TVC Communications,Mr. Andrew Hanlon paid him a courtesy visit in his office, Mr.Fashola said that the budget is pro-state because 85 per cent of the VAT being raised is going back to the states (and local governments) to take care of salaries and infrastructure investment, while the remaining 15 per cent will go to the Federal Government for the development of infrastructure. Charging journalists and the general public to look more at the content of the Budget instead of the numbers, the Minister declared: “The budget presented yesterday, everybody is just looking at the numbers, and how many people are doing the analysis aside the number?” Adding that, “We focus more on developmental infrastructure; a completed road is a development drive, completed airport is also a development drive, these are the critical contents embedded in the budget not just the numbers.” He said that people should look at the clear statement of intent of the budget as pro-people budget of growing the economy, raising money and not hurting people through unfavourable tax regime. He described the 2020 budget as laudable and charged TVC Group and other media organisations to do critical analysis of the budget to enable them bring out the message to the general public. In his response, TVC Communications CEO, Mr Andrew Halon expressed the readiness of his organisation to partnerwith the Ministry in disseminatingquality news to the over seven Million viewers that watch their station on a daily basis. He added that the organisation has invested a lot of money in infrastructure and human capacity development to improve on their services and make their channel more attractive to viewers ...