Fashola proposes University Consultancy Services, Data Provision, Poll Results, Value Data, Printing Press for Tertiary Institutions as Alternative Sources of Funding The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN said, “University Consultancy Services, Data Provision, Poll Results, Value Data, Printing Press are value proposals for Tertiary Institutions" The Minister made the above remarks as a panellist at an event organised by Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, held at a National Summit in Abuja on tertiary education with a view to providing solutions to challenges facing the sector with a   theme ‘Re-imagining Tertiary Education in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Solutions.’ Fashola also said " employees of government owned institutions who want to be autonomous is a big issue " He said Tertiary Education is on the concurrent list, meaning that States and Federal Governments can fund education in the country. Director General,  Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Benjamin Akabueze while  making his remarks  said, ‘'There has to be a sustainable funding of tertiary education .We cant continue with  the current system because it is not working and not sustainable." Professor (Mrs.) Uduak Ekpo, Department of Education Administration & Planning, University of Calabar remarked at the event, “Budget and allocation for tertiary education should go up instead of going down. Nigeria's education budget remains among the poorest in Africa." She said if lecturers run away from their core mandate of academic’s excellence through research and teaching and go into business, funding of university, education will suffer. Director Centre for Gender and Women Studies University of Jos, Professor Irene Agunloye in her remarks said, “ Education is a commodity and if you do not build the capacity of people in academics there will not be  headway.“ She advised that some institutions  should be made research universities in order to generate more fund . Chairman / Chief Executive Officer Channels Media Group, Dr.John Momoh said "There is need for the Academic Staff Union of Universities and Federal Government to come to agreement till both sides are happy with the negotiation." Momoh also said that universities should look for a way of generating fund from alumni and to also look for a way of outsourcing of assets of universities in order to improve funding. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) led by its current President, Emmanuel Osodeke said “ The level of poverty in Nigeria would not allow  Nigerian students  to pay increased tutition fees.       ...

Under Bridges Are Not Market Places - Fashola The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, CON, has reiterated to Lagos residents that under bridges built in the state are not market places but are built for ease of vehicular movement, movement of goods and services and for the benefit of humanity. Speaking during the inspection tour of the recently burnt Eko bridge and also at a press briefing on the rehabilitation and repairs of Eko Bridge burnt section (Apongbon and Ijora Olopa section), Fashola noted that tough laws are needed as regards the protection of bridges and that such Laws must have Federal Government backing and support. “If you don’t give tough laws, things will not be done.  You have our support, under bridges are not places of cooking or a residing place and it’s not only endangering their lives but also the lives of other people.  Illegal way of living must be put to an end”. He said. “We are appealing to the Lagos State government to ensure that all trading activities under the bridges in the state must as a matter of urgency be brought to a stop. We seek the cooperation of the Ministry of Transportation, Environment, Local Government Law enforcement agencies to help us preserve our bridges.” He said. The Minister emphasized that the aspect of stopping people from trading under the bridges, is a collective task and effort, as government put laws asking people to stop selling under the bridge, buyers should as well automatically stop patronizing sellers at such unhealthy locations. “This is also a generational effort, people should stand and say; this kind of a thing will not happen on our bridges again, I refuse to sell and I also refuse to patronize, no more trading that endangers lives again, the purpose is to ensure that this infrastructure continues to deliver for us”.  He said. The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Olufemi Hamzat warned the citizens to desist from doing business under the bridge and live the right way for the interest of others.   The Deputy Governor said that the state government is willing to support in any way that will ensure quick compliance by citizens to stop illegal use of the under bridges. Olufemi said: “The State Government will be available to monitor the process and provide assistance where necessary to ensure that the contractor have a smooth operation. In the aspect of people trading under the bridge, we will communicate with appropriate department to ensure that the issue is addressed.” The Director Highways (Bridges and Design) Engr. Oluropo Oyetade explained that as a result of the fire incident on the bridge, the section of the bridge has been closed and the Contractor has been directed to carry out technical evaluation of the bridge to ascertain the extent of the damage.  The Ministry’s Engineers have also been directed to carry out a thorough inspection of the burnt bridge and come up with a technical report pending the Technical Evaluation. Speaking on the extent of the damages, Managing Director, Messrs. Buildwell Plants and Equipment Industries Ltd., Engr. Enile Aboohabib said that most of the bearing of the bridge needs to be changed, jacketing of damaged piers, removal of damaged expansion joints, unclogging of drainage gullies e.t.c some parts he said are about to collapse if not for the quick intervention of the Federal Government. Enile said: “We have commenced the rehabilitation exercises but now we are shifting some of our materials to the newly burnt Ijora section of the bridge as directed because of its busy nature than the Agbogbon section, the scope for total completion will be by June 2023.    “We are committed to the vision of the Federal Government and we have record of delivering project in record time. We have categorized the affected areas into 1 to 5 and work is ongoing. Now that we are allowed to close the bridge completely it will make the work easier and faster." ...

Boost In Transportation Infrastructure for Kano, Jigawa as FG Approves Dualization, Reconstruction of Section Two of Kano-Hadejia Road •      Over 350 jobs expected as dualization/reconstruction work begins on the Section II of the 82 km single and dual carriageways •      The road will open up settlements within the project vicinity and provide access for the evacuation of goods and services, says Fashola In pursuance of its objective of improving transportation infrastructure across the six geopolitical zones of the country, the Federal Government has approved the dualization and reconstruction of the Kano-Kwannar-Danja-Hadejia Road traversing Kano and Jigawa States in the North West Zone of the country. The approval given by the Federal Executive Council covers the 82-kilometre Road, which is a composition of both single and dual carriageways of two and four lanes respectively as Section II, comprising 58 KM single carriageway and 24 KM dualized carriageway length with the dualized section located in Kano City. The FEC approval which was sequel to a memorandum dated October 31, 2022, and presented to it by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, covers the Section of the road which begins at Yankaba Roundabout located in Kano City, traversing through Gunduwawa, Jogana, Gezawa, Guruma, Kagadama, Kawo, Gabasawa, Unguwan Ari, Limawa and terminates at Tsalle Village linking both Kano and Jigawa States. Stating the reasons for seeking the approval for the contract worth N94.14 billion, Fashola, said the road when completed would open up settlements within the project vicinity and provide access for the evacuation of goods and services adding that the socio-economic life of the host communities would also be enhanced. The Minister explained to the Council that the Ministry had earlier on February 21, 2022, requested and obtained from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) the approval and a Certificate of “No Objection” for the procurement procedure for the contract adding that the BPP granted the approval vide its letter dated April 8, 2022. Fashola also informed the Council through the Memorandum that Due Diligence/Post Qualification conducted on the company showed that it is capable to execute the contract and is duly registered under the Nigerian law and fully compliant with the Nigerian Local Content Policy. While itemizing the Scope of work on the road, the Minister said the road would also improve the socio-economic lives of the people within the stretch of the different communities in the project areas adding that the condition of the existing road pavement is characterized by failures such as potholes, loss of shoulder material and alligator cracks with complete loss of pavement structure at the other sections. The Minister said there was also need to bring the dual carriageway section formerly constructed by the Kano State Government to the Ministry of Works’ standards and specifications, listing some of the construction improvements required on the existing road to include clearing on both sides of the road, provision of natural occurring materials that meet the specification as fill materials and provision of suitable laterite as base. Other improvement materials required, the Minister stated, include provision of 60mm asphaltic concrete wearing course on carriageway junction and laybys as well as provision of new and replacement of access culverts at major turnings and junctions along the road, among others. ...