Federal Government Set to Resume Work on Major Highways … Barricades to be restored to ensure safety at construction sites Recall that barricades were removed at all construction sites on December 15,2022 for ease of movement to reduce travel time during the yuletide season. Contractors are now set to resume work on major highways especially the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (from OPIC to the old toll gate) and the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway (around Kawo on the Kaduna-Zaria Section). To this end the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has directed that construction barricades be returned at construction sites for safety purposes with effect from Tuesday, January 10,2023. The Second Niger Bridge will, however, remain closed for public use with effect from Sunday, January 15,2023 for continuation of work on the completion of the access roads to the bridge. The Honourable Minister seeks the patience and understanding of motorists and members of the public on this action aimed at completing the on-going projects. ...

Fashola Lists Benefits of Loko-Oweto Bridge, Road Project …Says the project would be commissioned soon Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, said the Loko-Oweto bridge and the linking roads when fully completed would be of great benefits to the communities along the corridors of the project, motorists and commuters that use the route. Fashola listed many benefits of the project while on inspection. He disclosed that the bridge had been   completed and what remained  was the approach roads to the bridge. Fashola said, "This is about my fifth visit here since 2016 when we started out as Power Works and Housing Ministry. There was essentially nothing here. We now have a bridge over the River Benue, 70 Kilometers road linking Benue State to the bridge and we also have another 74 kilometers of road linking Nasarawa State into the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. “This Bridge has been finished about two or a year and a half years ago but we are waiting to connect the link roads. The link roads are substantially finished now and I think I can comfortably go and report to Mr. President that this bridge is now ready to be formally commissioned and opened to traffic.” Speaking on the benefits of the project, he said that the Loko-Oweto bridge would provide a shorter route for commuters and motorists. He said that despite the fact that the project has not been officially opened for use, it has offered shorter routes for travelers and reduced travel hours to its barest minimum. “I remember it used to take about four and half hours from Mabushi in Abuja to get here. The main problem was the 74-kilometre road part of which we are standing on now.  That road is essentially finished so it took about 30 minutes to get here from the approach road. The journey from Mabushi to here now is two and a half hours from four hours,” he said. Still speaking on the benefits, the Minister said the project has further demonstrated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to infrastructure growth and development of the nation saying, no nation can produce without infrastructure and that it was the legitimate means of distributing wealth of the nation. He said: “But it is important to inform Nigerians that those who speak about production, the economy, should come here and learn what infrastructure can do. You cannot produce without infrastructure. You cannot drive an economy without infrastructure. So, they should come here because this bridge is actually a test case that demonstrates the commitment of Mr. President to infrastructure as a way of boosting our economic growth.” Speaking on behalf of the Emir of Loko, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed, Sabo Mai- Loko and the entire community, the Area Council Chairman of Loko, Honourable Shaibu Umah expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari on the construction of the Loko- Oweto bridge which he said has impacted their lives positively. “We thank the Honourable Minister and Mr. President on the Loko- Oweto bridge and the adjoining roads which are near completion. When fully completed and commissioned would provide business opportunities to our community." ...

Quality of Infrastructure, Impacts Quality of Education-Fashola UNEC – Deputy Vice Chancellor: We Are Grateful for The Intervention The commitment and actual execution of internal road network project, intervention in various federal Tertiary Institutions has greatly impacted on increased quality of education in Nigeria. These were the affirmation by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola – SAN, CON at Enugu. The Minister who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu State, Engr. Tony Animaku confirmed this during the commissioning and hand over of the 0.8-kilometer road rehabilitated by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on behalf of the Federal Government at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus (UNEC). Speaking further, the Minister said that the gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the schools. It is undebatable that the quality of education as attested to by students themselves has been greatly impacted on by the quality of these recent Federal Government infrastructure. These are some of the feedbacks from student in the schools such as this one in the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC) where these varied types of intervention have taken place. The Minister Babtunde Raji Fashola also confirmed that the Ministry has successfully intervened in 64 Internal Road Projects in various Federal Tertiary Institutions and handed over a total of 46 as at March, 2022 and has another 18 ready to be handed over, while we are currently attending to 19 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 85. Among the several students interviewed, they all expressed renewed enthusiasm with regards to attending classes because of some of these defective roads, which have been restored to good condition, making them happier walking with ease to attend lectures across their different Faculties and Departments where these road network rehabilitations were carried out. President Muhammadu Buhari’s consistent progressive ideal of improving the human condition continues with the handover of this 0.8-kilometer road in the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus (UNEC) as a critical intervention to support education in Nigeria. Fashola also stressed that although this is a civil works project, yet it is both an investment in education and the Nigerian Economy. He said Infrastructure is the key needed for unlocking the Economy for speedy development, according to him the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has achieved advancement of the Nigerian economy through massive and visible Infrastructure development. For instance, the creation of employment and market for small and medium enterprises at construction sites ‘Infrastructure is the key that unleashes trade and productivity. And without infrastructure you can’t drive trade and commerce’ This is so because during the construction period over 100 people were employed in the process contributing to the creation initiatives of the Government. It is hoped that the school will ensure that this asset is used properly and not abused. Earlier, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Edith O. Nwosu, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Work Services, UNEC, Engr. Udechukwu Humphrey Chukwuemeka, appreciates Federal Government efforts for considering the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus worthy of this lofty venture which the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu handled. The road network actually gave a face lift to the internal roads we have in the University, most importantly the Nnmadi Azikiwe drive transverse, through the major Faculties we have in UNEC, we have about five (5) Faculties – we have the Faculties of Law, Basic Medical Sciences, Business Administration, Health Sciences and Environmental Sciences (80%) Eighty percent of the students stream this road to attend their lectures. The University is deeply grateful to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works and Housing. Some student who spoke expressed satisfaction with the ease of walking conveniently through these road network within UNEC – Mr Amobi Ezekiel a Law student was all smiles of appreciation to the Federal Government and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Miss Chisom Elizabeth, also a Law student affirmed what her course mate had earlier said, it was a very colourful ceremony and the entire University Community, the shuttle bus drivers especially were all full of gratitude for the rehabilitation of these internal road network within UNEC. ...