BRF At 55 : Greying Gracefully, Going On With Gusto By HAKEEM BELLO In November 2010, in a tribute to Stephen J. Solarz, a former nine-term New York congressman, Douglas Martin wrote that he was a “torrent of activity” supporting it with a statement issued by the late lawmaker’s office that “during his first six months in Congress, he made 12 speeches on the House floor, co-sponsored 370 bills, held 11 news conferences, made 24 trips to his district and attended 99 events there, visited 23 subway stations, sent constituents 513,720 pieces of mail and took an 18-day tour of the Middle East.” In October 2015, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, was honoured amongst seven distinguished personalities with an award named for Stephen J Solarz by the International Crisis Group. From his eight-year tenure as the governor of Lagos State to his two-year-plus as Nigeria’s minister of Power, Works and Housing, our own BRF has, as the global conflict-prevention organisation acknowledged in conferring the honour on him, been a “relentless fighter for the improvement of people's lives….”  Barely a month after the global recognition of BRF’s “commitment to resolving social, economic and security challenges in one of the world’s most challenging urban environments”, President Muhammadu Buhari tapped him to join him in tackling the nation’s multifarious infrastructural challenges. Ever since, the three-in-one ministry has witnessed a “torrent of activity” towards the making life more meaningful for Nigerians of all strata. Has he lived up to the recognition of the ICG and the confidence reposed in him by President Buhari to deliver? His 55th birthday on 28 June affords us the opportunity to not only answer that question but also look at The Essential BRF.  For BRF, results rather than excuses should count towards measuring a leader’s gravitas. So, not for him any argument which suggests that , comparing an executive position with an appointive capacity within a complex federation such as Nigeria is like comparing apples with oranges. Not even if you illustrate with the now-common fiasco over the national budget as an example of a barrier to effective delivery of much-expected services to the people. Any unbiased but informed observer would, unhesitantly, proffer that, within those constraints, and with the unwavering support from his principal, the minister has demonstrated unflinching commitment to reducing Nigeria’s infrastructural deficit to the barest minimum, one project at a time, across Nigeria’s 36 states. One thing you can’t take away from BRF is his penchant for, to use a favourite word of his, dimensioning any problem, no matter how seemingly gargantuan. He is the master of drilling down. His staff at the ministry will attest to how, from the day of his inauguration, he has been engaging everyone in marathon consultations, sometimes into the night, to be able to put every problem in proper perspective and then ensuring that the job gets done - without any short-cut. A DEVELOPMENT MATRIX For him, nothing should be done superficially. Let’s take work on roads. He starts with the premise that good roads will help reflate and grow the nation’s economy, reduce travel time, cost of transportation of goods and services, and create jobs which will provide the economic means for the worker to live meaningfully. To achieve this, in the short term, would mean starting with roads which can be quickly completed to facilitate connectivity. This should further be guided by choosing first the roads which connect states together and bear the heaviest traffic such as the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and working the way across Nigeria gradually. By sticking religiously to, and developing this plan, enunciated with his team in the Ministry with necessary policy and budgetary support from the Cabinet led by the President and National Assembly, albeit, with all the “constituency complications,” Fashola has been delivering on his mandate. On Power, Fashola believes that predictable supply achieved through incremental, stable, and, ultimately, uninterrupted supply of electricity, availability will be a critical and defining component of our economic renaissance, job creation, GDP growth and reduction of income inequalities. This has formed the basis of the Federal Government’s Roadmap to Power with the accompanying policies and plans like the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) aimed at strengthening the responsibility of the Ministry as a regulator through the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), so that the GenCos and DisCos can be held to their contracts with citizens; getting the support needed to complete stalled power projects in the generation, transmission and distribution value chains; and improving the liquidity in the sector. Coming with a practical experience from Lagos, Fashola believes the construction of houses will complement the economic growth drive by direct and indirect jobs in the housing value chain from construction companies, to artisans, labourers, vendors and many more. The Federal Government’s housing project is currently going on in 34 States of the Federation which have provided the required suitable land for the programme, currently at its pilot stage and poised to address the issues of affordability, acceptability and climatic/cultural diversities which have been the bane of the previous housing programmes.  What used to be the standard question about how one man can cope with the leadership of three ministries comes less frequently in its monotony now because Fashola has continually demonstrated that tackling challenges is his second nature. Never mind that he has had to sleep less than the averagely-required hours and do unusual things - for instance in 2017 during an inspection of projects in the North East, he led the team to drive on the road by the dreaded Sambisa Forest in the thick of the night - whilst greying graciously but achieving results. By the way, Hamza Idris of the Daily Trust, who was on the trip, had asked him what gave him the courage to travel at that time, he answered as only a BRF would: “Well, I don’t think it is courage. I have a job to do and it has to be done well. If you are building and managing roads, you can’t manage them from slides, you can’t manage them remotely. You must at least see how good or bad those roads are. It gives a sense, either of urgency, enthusiasm, or a combination of both, to be able to really deal with it. The Ministry of Defence is aware that we are here, but the security arrangement is just precautionary. We have seen ordinary Nigerians travelling in their buses. I have seen the Taraba Mass Transit Services, Adamawa Express, Bauchi Express and others. So, life is going on and we just have a job to do.” There is no better way to end this birthday tribute to this quintessential man who is extremely loyal to his principal, political party and his principles, than quoting his answer to another question on that North East inspection trip:    “I am never satisfied with anything I am involved in; I just keep going. It’s difficult to satisfy me, and if you ask me to assess myself, I would continue to push myself.” ...

FG Flags-Off Reconstruction Of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road The Federal Government has flagged-off the reconstruction of the 375.4 - kilometre Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, a vital link between the South and the North of the country. The existing road which has outlived its service life span of 20 years was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on December 20, 2017 to Messrs Julius Berger (Nigeria) Plc at a contract sum of N155, 470, 626, 078.07 (One Hundred and Fifty-Five Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy Million, Six Hundred and Twenty- Six Thousand, Seventy-Eight Naira and Seven Kobo) with a completion period of three years. The Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, performed the flag-off ceremony on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, at Chiromawa Town, Kano State, recently. Fashola pointed out that President Buhari requires the support of well meaning Nigerians to deliver on the mandate of rebuilding the nation. According to him, ‘’one of the objectives of the Economy Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the present Administration, lunched by Mr. President in 2016, is in fulfilment of the  promise to make Nigeria a globally competitive country’’. He added that a major critical action point of the ERGP was to renew, improve and increase the stock of infrastructure, particularly in the road sector. He stressed that the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project will reduce the cost and time of travelling, as well as stimulate economic and social development in the country. The Minister noted that in the face of limited resources, the President approved the SUKUK bond to improve economic activities on 25 arterial roads spread across the six geo-political zones, adding that construction works are ongoing with teeming population of youth gainfully employed on these road projects being funded by the SUKUK bond. Earlier in his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Works and Housing, Alh. Mohammed Bukar, while thanking dignitaries that graced the flag-off ceremony, stated that the Ministry is vigorously pursuing the mandate of this Administration in the delivery of critical infrastructure across the nation. Alh. Bukar noted that the inauguration of the road project is a milestone achievement in the effort of the present Administration in bridging the infrastructural gap in the country. He said “the completion of the reconstruction works will no doubt reduce vehicle operating cost, improve travel time, reduce road accidents and stimulate the socio-economic growth and the general security of towns and cities along the corridor.” The Managing Director, Julius Berger (Nigeria) Plc, Engr. Wolfgang Goetsch, in his vote of thanks at the occasion, stated that the road is a high priority infrastructure of national significance which form an important part of the nation’s highways. He assured that with a strong and experienced workforce coupled with adequate equipment to fast track the execution of the project, the Company will deliver on schedule. In attendance, were the two Ministers of State I and II, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri and Surv. Sulieman Hassan Zarma, mnis respectively, the Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, represented by the Deputy Governor Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was represented by the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Hajiya Balaraba Aliyu Inuwa, the Chairman Senate Committee on Works, Senator (Arc). Kabiru Gaya, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Toby Okechukwu represented by Hon. (Engr) Maren were among the high profile dignitaries that graced the occasion. His Royal Highnesses in attendance took turns to deliver goodwill massages, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammadu Sanusi II commended the Federal Government for the project and urged the Ministry and Contractor to speed up the delivery of the project. Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Alh. (Dr). Shehu Idris also pledged his support and that of his people to safeguard the significant infrastructure. They both appreciated President Buhari and the Ministry in the award of the project and urged the Federal Government on road maintenance. Members of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Tanker drivers who were well represented at the ground breaking occasion made an appealed to the Minister for a separate parking space. ...

FG DIRECTS IMMEDIATE REMEDIAL WORKS ON  COLLAPSED BRIDGE IN TARABA STATE The Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, wishes to notify commuters and the general public of a bridge collapse at Maraban Gassol in Taraba State which occurred towards the evening hours of today Wednesday 20th June, 2018 after a heavy downpour. The bridge links Jalingo and Wukari and further into Benue State. Fashola has directed the Federal contractor on that axis to mobilize immediately to site and commence emergency remedial works by tomorrow, Thursday 21st June, 2018 in order to normalize the flow of traffic. Motorists are advised to use the alternate route through Jalingo - Garba Cheda - Bali - Takum - Katsina Ala. Meanwhile, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi has deployed Road Marshals from Mutum Biyu Unit Command to divert, control and ease traffic on that route. Motorists and the general public will be informed of further developments on the route as work will commence immediately. ...