How We Are Mitigating the Impact of Covid 19 - Fashola The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN has revealed the contribution of his Ministry to the efforts of the Federal Government to overcome the economic downturn occasioned by the impact of Covid 19. Fashola made this disclosure in his address at the 26th National Council on Works in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State which took place from December 7- 11,2020. Fashola said the impact of the disease on livelihood and the global economy led countries across the globe to design and implement measures and policies to keep their economies going and reflate them. The Minister said the Federal Government under   President Muhammadu Buhari developed the Economic Sustainability Plan in order to provide work, increase opportunities and sustain productivity with the Ministry of Works and Housing as one of the focal MDAS for the implementation of the policy. Fashola said by May, 2020 11 of the biggest contractors of government returned to work in 26 states in addition to maintenance work by the Federal Road Maintenence Agency in 92 locations across 24 states of the Federation. All these according to Fashola contributed greatly to economic recovery with an increase of 41.81% in7 quarrying and other mineral deposits, 11.96% in cement manufacturing and 2.64% in construction. He added that there is an increase in wealth distribution as a result of increased economic activities and job creation in communities where construction works are going on. In his speech, the Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike who expressed happiness over the opportunity given to his state to host the event said, "Because most developed countries understand the critical link between transport infrastructure and economic advancement, they have successfully built their economic prosperity on the back of investing in adequate and modern transport infrastructure." Governor Wike said Nigeria cannot be an exception if it must realise basic developmental goals and make life more meaningful for the people. The Chairman Senate Committee on Works, Senator Adamu Aliero in his remarks commended the Federal Government under the leadership of President Buhari for initiating various financial mechanisms such as the SUKUK Fund, the Presidential Initiative on Infrastructure Development Fund for road construction and rehabilitation to complement budgetary provisions which was grossly inadequate. He expressed the determination of the National Assembly to continue to support the developmental initiatives of the government. ...

FG Reaffirms Commitment to Complete All Iconic Road Projects Across the Country The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Ernest Umakhihe has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to complete on-going iconic road infrastructure across the country. The Permanent Secretary made this known this morning while delivering a speech at the on-going 26th National Council on Works in Port Harcourt, Rivers State which started on Monday, December 7, 2020. Mr Umakhihe said, "The Federal Government is committed to completing some iconic projects such as the 2nd Niger Bridge, Bodo-Bonny Road, Abuja-Kaduna- Kano Express Way and Obajana-Kabba Road in Kogi State." "In the same vein, Government is also committed to completing the Sukuk Bond financed roads projects across the six geo-political zones of the country and maintain schedule maintenance of 5,000 kilometers of roads annually." He disclosed that the Ministry has over 700 on-going road projects across the country including road intervention projects in higher institutions of learning. Mr. Umakhihe explained that the commitment of government was premised on the determination to reduce poverty by creating wealth through road infrastructure development in both rural and urban areas of the country, adding that the objective of this year's Council was to propose viable actions to impact positively on national economic development in the country. Earlier in his address, the Rivers State Commissioner of Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi Esq stated that the Rivers State Government was delighted to host the meeting because the theme of the Council meeting echoed one of the policy thrust of the Rivers State Government, which is road infrastructure development. Citing the saying of the Chinese thus "If you want to be rich, build roads first" the Commissioner said his state government was aware that every positive step taken in the area of road infrastructure development impacts on the entire nation and its citizens. Tasie- Amadi further said the indices upon which the development of a nation is judged are based on the happenings in the states that make up the nation added that Rivers State Government was adding value to the development of the nation. He said, "For every infrastructure project we embark upon, we are fully aware that these contribute to the National Economic Growth be it a state or federal project." The Council meeting continues tomorrow with the meeting of Commissioners of Works in the 36 States and FCT to be Chaired by the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. ...

FG Doing A Lot Under the Special Projects Unit –Fashola The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde R Fashola, SAN has disclosed that the Federal Government is executing a lot of projects under the Special Projects Unit. The Minister made the disclosure during an interactive session with a group of journalists under the auspices of the All Progressive Congress, (APC), Press Corps who paid him a visit at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Mabushi, Abuja. The Minister said a total of 3,109 projects had been executed between 2016 and 2019 consisting of 1,100 classrooms, 179 road projects, 79 maternity and healthcare centres and 6,656 solar light projects installed across one hundred and four locations as well as some solar powered water facilities. The Minster who explained that currently, rehabilitation and maintenance work on highways is going on across the nation said, out of 35,000 kilometres road networks in the country, 13,000 kilometres were currently at various stages of repair. Adding that work on some roads have been completed and being used. Disclosing that the reason for the delay in Auchi – Okpella Road is ecological and environmental, Fashola added, “The contractor is funded but there is a drainage problem there, if we choose the option we have, it will flood an entire community. The alternative is to build a bypass around the community, it becomes a longer road that has to be designed. It is an environmental and ecological problem we have to find a way to solve it”. The Minister explained that because roads and road materials will behave differently in different parts of the country as a result of ecological and environmental conditions that was why concrete roads were being introduced in some places. While speaking on bridge construction and repairs the Minister said that a surveillance of all bridges in the country had been conducted and work had started from the most critical ones. He gave examples of the Kotonkarfe Bridge, Tambuwal Bridge, Eko Bridge, 3rd Mainland Bridge, Marine Bridge, Chachangi Bridge and the old Niger Bridge which he said were being maintained while work is ongoing in the new bridge. Earlier, the chairman of the Corps Mr. Jide Orintunsi who works with the Nation Newspapers said they were in the Ministry to interact with him on the activities of his Ministry as part of stewardship in public administration. ...