Fashola Commissions 100 Housing Units, Commends Federal Controllers As Worthy Ambassadors The Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has commissioned 100 Housing units in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The Ministerial Housing Scheme was financed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) in collaboration with Viva International Limited. The Housing Estate is equipped with 50, 000 litres of water supply and reservoirs,  2 nos 500 KVA transformers, lush green recreational areas, fully asphalted road network with street light, walkways and drainages is expected to accommodate about 100 families. The Minister acknowledged that, ‘’though construction of the housing estate started during the tenure of the last administration, but President Buhari has proven that change does not have to be dysfunctional as a result of ideological and political differences by completing this laudable housing project’’. Fashola said that a lot of skill acquisition training programme for artisans are currently on-going in the country which in effect provides about 1,000 job opportunities to artisans who were employed during the construction of this housing project. He added that this present administration will continue to pursue infrastructural development as a way out of the nation’s economic woes. The Minister applauded the present management and the leadership of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) for returning the bank to profitability and disclosed that the mortgage institution returned a surplus of 2.7 billion for the first time in 20 years in 2016. Earlier in his speech, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajumobi represented by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Isaac Omodewu commended the efforts of the Federal Government through FMBN in bridging the housing deficit gap in the country. Sen. Ajumobi stated that because housing plays a major role in human development and other sectors of the economy, his government took the initiatives of providing housing loan to Civil Servants in the state and also operates land discount policy to encourage private developers to build in order to add to the housing stock in Oyo State. In his address, the Acting Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Richard Esin, stated that this estate and other housing estates across the country are financed from the resources of the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme. He informed NHF contributors that the Minister has graciously approved that NHF loans of N5 million and below will now attract 100 per cent funding for the purposes of affordability. The Minister also paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajumobi were he briefed the governor on the federal government intervention on housing and road projects in the state. He commended the Federal Controllers of Works and Housing, adding that they are good ambassadors and representatives of the Federal Government who should be accorded necessary support to promote socio-economy development. ...

Buhari Administration Using Infrastructure Development To Rebuild The Economy-Fashola The Federal Government under President Muhammdu Buhari is using infrastructure development as a vehicle to take the nation out of recession and rebuild the Nigerian economy; and putting the country’s resources where it is necessary for the people. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN affirmed this during a courtesy visit on the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun as he continues his inspection tour of projects in the South-West geo-political zone. Fashola requested for collaborative effort between the state government and the Controllers of Works and Housing, appealing that they are granted access at the highest level in order for them to serve and assist the state in whatever capacity to achieve “your developmental goals politically, socially and economically” The Minister mentioned that the contractors on many of the federal roads in the state are back to construction sites and thus assisting in relating to the neighboring states of Lagos, Oyo and Ondo and further generating employment of Nigerians at the various sites. Fashola expressed appreciation for the dedication shown by the Governor Amosun in rebuilding federal roads in Ogun State and stated that the Federal Government is committed to repayment of the funds expended on federal roads. The Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Popoola, earlier said that there are 1,380 Kilometre of federal roads in Ogun State and that the Governor took it upon himself to repair some of the roads and also assisted in removing markets along the federal highways at Mowe and Ibafo. In response, Governor Amosun expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the intervention on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway stressing that the road is the busiest in the country; adding that no development could get to any place without infrastructure. He requested that Ogun State should be adequately compensated for the N123bn which had been certified as expenses on federal roads out of a total of N223bn expended. Governor Amosun said that state government would be grateful if attention could be focused on the Shagamu-Ajebandele Road reconstruction as it was done on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway; adding that federal government should urgently intervene on the Papa-Olorunsogo interchange Road and the Lagos-Abeokuta old road. ...

Fashola Reiterates FG’s Commitment to Co-Operate with State Governments to Achieve Their developmental Agenda The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to assist every state in the Federation towards the achievement of their developmental agenda within the scope of the nation’s Constitution. Fashola stated this at the beginning of his inspection tour of road projects in the South-West geo-political zone with a courtesy visit on the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose. The Minister who had travelled from Abuja by road to the state capital, Ado Ekiti said that help is on the way with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as far as road infrastructure is concerned; adding that the President is committed to redeem the expenses of state governments on federal roads. He explained that the Federal Government is in the process of raising bonds to ensure that states get their money back. He expressed the optimism that the government at the Federal level will assist the state to achieve its agenda, as the ministry is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Finance in providing the fund required for payment to construction companies. Fashola also enjoined State Governments to treat the Federal Controllers of works and Housing in the various states as they treat Ambassadors in order to make the roads safe and motorable. He asked for seamless relationship and co-operation as the Controllers would be held accountable for the condition of federal roads within their domain. He expressed appreciation to the State Government for the provision of land for the National Housing Programme which he said would be beneficial to the state as it would provide jobs and economic opportunies for indigenes of Ekiti State. Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works, Engineer Hezekiah Kehinde, had briefed the Governor and senior officials of the State on the situation of the various Federal roads in the State. Governor Ayodele Fayose, in his response stated that for the Minister to travel by road from Abuja to Ekiti,  “to feel what the ordinary Nigerians are feeling on the road” is enough statement to convince people of the Minister’s passion and commitment to improve the status of the roads and the well being of Nigerians. The Governor promised to remove the signposts which he had erected on federal roads in the state and to tone done his criticism of the Federal Government, hoping that the Minister will match words with action. Mr. Fayose asked the Minister to revisit the issue of payment to the State Government for the intervention on the Akure-Ikere-Ado Ekiti federal road on which he had done a lot and spent a considerable amount of about N2billion.   ...