Constructed Roads Are Depreciating Assets - Fashola The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has stated that constructed roads across the federation are   assets to the nation which depreciates over time and should be maintained. He made the clarification at the celebration of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) 20th Anniversary held on 1st December, 2022 at NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja. Fashola revealed that road construction is a life impacting asset that should not be toyed with.  Noting that from the day any road is opened for use to motorists that is when the life span and asset value of that road begins to go down which already is calling for maintenance. “So, from the day when you start to drive on the road, the asset value of that road begins to go down and therefore you are already generating a maintenance need and this is perhaps the way it should be and this takes us to the larger issue of the need for maintenance in the construction industry,” he said. Fashola noted that engineers in road construction have a lot to do after each road construction and commissioning for motorists.  He said they need to teach people all the necessary things they need to know about road construction starting from how roads are built to the dos and don’ts that perhaps bring the biggest step of maintenance to the fore. “Engineers have a lot of work to do.  Teaching people how roads are built, and what roads do not like.  In order for the teaching to stay long with people, the teaching must not be done with technical language. There are engineers in almost every community in Nigeria, if people understand the dos and don’ts of roads that perhaps is the biggest step towards the maintenance, which has started because roads are depreciating assets,” he said. The Minister reaffirms that maintenance and operation create high number and lasting jobs for citizens and that is why President Muhammadu Buhari appropriately signed Executive Order No 11 which states that maintenance is not a culture but an economy that we must appropriately nurture because of its bountiful nature. “The experts will tell you that after design and construction all of which employ less than 40% of the work force, it is maintenance and operation that create the longest lasting jobs and employ the longest and largest number of people and this is why President Buhari has appropriately signed Executive Order No. 11, the Maintenance Order, saying to all of us that maintenance is not a culture, it is one that we must appropriately nurture because it is bountiful,” he said. Fashola announced the institutionalization of facility maintenance in the system saying that it creates a lot of opportunities to the general populace both direct and indirect, creates long term jobs, a large supply value chain of small businesses, engaging the artisans and sustaining the larger economy.  He added that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is undertaking maintenance in 24 Federal Secretariat complexes across the country with a facility manager assigned to each and at least 40 persons are employed which is expanding the implementation of the Executive Order No.11. He added that very soon the importance of maintaining assets in turn will automatically reach every part of the country. The Minister reiterated that road is a life impacting asset, a total economic package that many people’s lives and livelihood depend upon.  He added that there is large economic dependence on the movement of millions of people on the highways at different points and parks on the highways. Fashola congratulated FERMA on their 20th anniversary celebration and all the invited guests for rejoicing with them.  He admonished FERMA to keep the ball rolling and encouraged them to start advocacy work to compliment all their efforts and what the ministry is doing also. During his welcome address, the Chairman Governing Board of FERMA, Mr. Babatunde Olakunle Lemo, OFR thanked the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for being extremely helpful and supportive to them.  He appreciated the efforts of the former governing board of FERMA saying it is the foundation they laid that is keeping them moving.  He welcomed all the guests and wished them all the best. While delivering his keynote address, the Managing Director of FERMA, Engr. Nurudeen Rafindadi, presented a Book titled “FERMA @ 20, the Journey so far, challenges and way forward,” and thanked the Minister of Works and Housing and the Ministry as a whole for giving them the freedom to operate and being with them in all they do. Speaking at the event   the Honourable Minister of State Works and Housing, Hon. Umar Ibrahim EL-Yakubu said: “Congratulations FERMA on your 20th anniversary and to all those who have supported your journey towards changing the future of our road network.” Commenting also was the Chairman Senate Committee on FERMA, Sen. Gershom Bassey, who urged FERMA to achieve zero portholes on the nation’s highways and advocated for minimum of two options of traveling for travelers.  You either go by road or by air not zeroing everyone to fly because the roads are bad. In a goodwill message the Chairman House Committee on FERMA, Hon. Femi Bamisile, requested that FERMA should install weigh bridges on our roads to check axle loads and apportion appropriate sanctions on defaulters. The highlights of the event were a book launch to commemorate the 20th existence of FERMA as an Agency of government titled, “FERMA Footprints in National Road Infrastructure Maintenance (2018 – 2021)” which was unveiled by the Special Assistant to Mr. President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adeshina, OFR, the unveiling of the 20th Anniversary Logo plus FERMA Footprint and also the launching of FERMA short code. There was also a Panel Discussion Topic:” FERMA at Twenty: Achieving Her Mandate in Uncertain Times,” anchored by Mrs. Claire Adelabu-Abdulrazak. Present at the occasion were: the representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing, Hon. Umar Ibrahim El-Yakubu, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, the Chairman Senate Committee on FERMA, Sen. Gershom Bassey, the Chairman House Committee on FERMA, Hon. Femi Bamisile, pasts Chairmen FERMA Governing Board, past Managing Directors of FERMA and a host of other dignitaries. ...

Minister Charges Occupational Safety And Health Association To Promote Safety Awareness In Nigeria The Minster of State for Works and Housing, Hon. Umar Ibrahim El- Yakub, has charged the Occupational Safety and Health Association to be committed and dedicated to creating awareness and promoting the importance of safety at the work place and homes in Nigeria. He made this charge while declaring open the 12th International Occupational Safety and Health Association Conference and Awards event which held at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Headquarters, Abuja. The theme of the conference was "A Partnership that Works: The Role of Stakeholders Towards Safety in the Workplace." Hon. El-Yakub said, " I encourage your dedication and commitment to promoting safety in the region and I have no doubts that through your deliberations at the 12th conference, the great work you have been doing in the country over the years will be reinforced and strengthened." The Minister noted that the conference was very significant because it would be an avenue to discuss practical solutions and partnerships that could work for the safety and benefit of all in the private and public sectors in the country. El-Yakub explained that the Ministry has put in place an active and robust workplace safety and health team to oversee and promote this important aspect of our lives in the work environment. Responding on behalf of other new Fellows and Awardees, the Minister expressed gratitude for the decoration and Award received. He assured the Association of their commitment to contribute to the safety awareness and practice in Nigeria. In his remarks the President of the Nigeria Region of the Association, HRH, Dr.Olusegun Aderemi, noted that the issue of safety should be a precondition which must dominate the discourse when designing policies guiding   operational  procedures  at work places. Dr. Aderemi explained that due to the increase in the number of work related hazards, risks and fatalities that occur due to human errors, the association has now decided to organize this conference where favorable outcomes  that would lead to practical and actionable steps to curb these fatalities  could be achieved. The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Sen. Babafemi Ojodu, stated that though   government was expected to show a clear commitment on health and safety in the country, the private sector being the major employer of labour should also inculcate health, safety environment and best practices across every segment of their operations. Speaking further he said that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, on the other hand, should also understand that compliance with safety best practices alongside the installation of safety instruments within their facilities would not only help address incidents when they occur but will at the same time save them the cost that would have been incurred from such disasters. In his goodwill message, the Minister of Environment, Barrister Abdullahi Mohammed who was represented by an officer from the Ministry, Mrs. Chika Okpalaka, enjoined the public to adopt environmental and health tips in the working environment such as: i. Conduct risk assessment to identify hazards and implement effective risk control measures. ii. Make sure the work environment is safe. iii. Develop and implement systems for dealing with emergences. iv. Ensure workers are provided with sufficient instructions, training and supervisors so that they can work safely. Professor George Genyi, from the Federal University, Nasarawa,  in his paper titled, "The need for Partnership for all"  noted that collaborating with Royal Fathers to promote safety was commendable because issues of safety and security were  the responsibilities of  everyone. Highlights of the occasion were:  decoration of some Eminent Nigerians as Fellows and Grand Patron of the Association as well as presentation of plaques of the Honorary Fellow of the Association to them. The Awardees included: the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Hon. Umar Ibrahim El- Yakub, the Ministers of Defence, Environment and the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani  Aliyu, the Estu Nupe, H.R.H. Alhaji Abubakar Yahaya was decorated as the Grand Patron of the Association. In addition, the kid’s safety book, tagged, "Amanda, The Smart Safety Girl "was unveiled. The book, authored by an eight-year-old Zara C. Uwalaka, has 17 basic safety tips every child must know. It was a very successful and colourful event that was well attended. ...

Critical Road Interventions Is To Support Education- Fashola ...This unique internal road will remain evergreen in our minds- VC The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON has said that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Works and Housing's intervention in the construction of the nation's tertiary institutions internal roads is government's commitment of improving the human condition and a critical intervention to support education. The Minister made the remarks at the official handover of the 1.2 kilometre internal road at the University of Uyo,  Akwa Ibom State. The Honourable Minister, represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Akwa Ibom State, Engineer Gabriel Akinwande said that with the reconstruction of the internal road at the University of Uyo and other universities, the gap of the nation's infrastructural needs was steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways as well as in schools. Speaking on the impact of the newly reconstructed roads and the quality of education, the Minister said: "It is unbeatable that quality of education will be impacted on by the quality of these infrastructure and the learning environment and that those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedbacks from students in the schools where this type of intervention has taken place." From the feedback gathered so far, Mr. Fashola said students are now expressing renewed enthusiasm with regards to attending classes because some defective roads have been restored to good condition. On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Nyaudor Ndaeyo commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, CON, saying that these internal roads were unique gifts to them and the university and also that it will remain evergreen in their memory. "The entire University community are very happy for this commissioning and handing over of these roads today. It will no doubt enhance the socio- economic life of members of the community," he said. Commending President Muhammadu Buhari, the VC said they are very grateful and would continue to display their unalloyed loyalty and support to his administration. In varied interview sessions with some students, hear their comments:  Master Sito Abasi, a Law student of the institution, Miss Okiyi Grace and Lawrence Okieji of the institution all agreed unanimously that the hitherto poor condition of the roads posed serious impediments, if not death traps to both staff and students of the institution. Speaking on behalf of other students, Sito Abasi thanked President Buhari and the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing for the timely completion of the road projects which took just three months. "We are now happy because some time ago, we had suffered greatly because of the poor condition of these roads but this has become history now. We say thank you President Muhammadu Buhari," he said. On his part, the Dean of Environmental Studies, Professor Ephraim Edem commended the quality of the road projects saying that they are very impressed. " All eyes can now see that the roads have added value to the campus life and we do not have fear of rain causing impediment to our movement during the rainy season," he said. ...