FG To Support Infrastructure Development of Niger State The Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has said that the Federal Government would support infrastructure development of Niger State as articulated by the State Government because of the state’s economic activities and its strategic North-South connectivity. The Minister stated this when the Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers led by His Royal Highness, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, CFR, the Etsu Nupe paid him a courtesy visit in his office. Speaking on the importance of Niger State to the nation, the Minister stated that amongst the nine areas of commitment of the Buhari led administration as announced during the recent Presidential Retreat in Abuja, fuel supply and power supply were strategic areas related to Niger State. Continuing, he said that apart from the fact that the state is well known for its commerce, it also hostedone of the nation’s hydro power plants. “We cannot therefore achieve anything if we do not support the development of Niger State as articulated by the governor,” he stated. Fashola stated that there are fifteen projects in Niger State inclusive of construction and rehabilitation of road and bridge projects pointing out that most of the roads that pass through the states are A1 roads. He promised to expedite works on the projects adding: “We are mindful of the important role Niger Statehas to play in national development and Mr. President is determined to continue to invest in infrastructure development like roads and bridges across the country.” Earlier, the Chairman, Niger State Council of Rulers and the Etsu Nupe,His Royal Highness, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, CFR said that the purpose of their visit was to thank the Federal Government for on-going notable road projects in Niger State. He said some of the projects, which included the award of the dualisation of Mokwa bypass when completed, would be a great achievement as it would relieve the people in Mokwa town from traffic hardship. Speaking in the same vein, he said that the award of Bida Nupeko, Sachi, Patigi road when completed would be of a great relief to the Nupe kingdom in Niger and Kwara States. While calling  on the Federal Government to complete all the awarded projects in the state, the Monarch appealed to Federal Government to look into the dilapidated Lambata, Lapai, Agaie, Bida roads which are major links between the North Central, the South West Region and the country at large. ...

Our Target is to Achieve President’s Next Level Agenda – Umakhihe The new Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe has promised to actualize President Muhammadu Buhari’s Next Level Agenda. The Permanent Secretary made the promise during the formal handing and taking over ceremony of the affairs of the Ministry between him and the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Engr.Yemi Oguntominiyi. The Permanent Secretary said “Mine is to make sure I am able to mobilize all of us to work in achieving the mandate of Mr. President’s Next Level Agenda and of course our Honourable Minister and I promise you, we will all work as a team.” Umakhihe who noted the enormity of work in the Ministry assured all that he was poised to take up the responsibility. He said “I want to thank you for this reception to the Ministry of Works and Housing where I am told that there is a lot of work.” “Like the Minister told me yesterday, when he said I had joined a moving train, I told him no matter how fast that train is, I will make sure I am able to log onto it and then within a short time I will be fully on board and even join the Driver.” Umakhihe called for openness and transparency in official dealings. “ I am open and transparent in all my work and I do hope you will extend same to me in the course of our duties,” he said. Earlier,  the Director who was Overseeing the Permanent Secretary’s  Office, Engineer Yemi Oguntominiyi and who is the Director Highway Construction and Rehabilitation of the Ministry, expressed happiness and confidence that the new Permanent Secretary would move the Ministry to greater heights due to his robust experience having  served in similar capacity  in other Federal Government establishments . He said,“Permit me to first of all welcome our new Permanent Secretary who has served in no less important ministries, with a rich pedigree and requisite experience to man the affairs of this ministry, he is undoubtedly suitable for the new assignment.” Oguntominiyi who described the staff of the Ministry as competent, diligent and experienced assured the Permanent Secretary of the unalloyed support and loyalty of management and staff of the Ministry. He thanked his colleagues and the entire staff for the spirit of comradeship and cooperation extended to him while overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary. Born on the 5th of April, 1964, Umakhihe is a professional accountant of high repute and a core technocrat. He has plied his trade in the public service for years; served in the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. The occasion was attended by Directors and Heads of Units of the Ministry. ...

Loko-Oweto Bridge Providing Shorter Route Says Minister The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN said the construction of the Loko-Oweto Bridge across River Benue has offered shorter route for travellers , reduced travel hours to its barest minimum and facilitated redistribution of wealth in the local communities. Fashola made the remark on the bridge during an inspection tour to the project with his counterparts from ministries of Informational and Culture,Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Senator  George Akume. The Loko-Oweto Bridge Mr. Fashola said “Provides a shorter route cutting off about four to five hours. For someone coming from Cross River to Abuja by road, ordinarily will have to go from Calabar to Ikom, Ogoja to Katsina-Ala and then join Markudi, come through Lafia then Keffi and Akwanga into Abuja; but now you have a bifurcation through Oweto to Nasarawa." Apart from the Loko-Oweto bridge project, Fashola said work was going on at the 2nd Niger Bridge, the Ikom Bridge   and 37 other bridges across Nigeria were being constructed, repaired or rehabilitated by  his Ministry. According to the Minister of Works and Housing some of the bridges being constructed, rehabilitated and repaired were: the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos, the Murtala Mohammed Bridge in Koton Karfi and the Isaac Boro Bridge in Port Harcourt. Others were Chanchangi Bridge in Niger state, linking Niger and Ilorin and the Tambuwara Bridge in Kano. Mr. Fashola further said “This government in spite of very limited resources and having to borrow is simply doing almost the near impossible in terms of infrastructure. Mr. President continues to give his support and commitment to infrastructure. His understanding of the purpose of infrastructure for growth and development is very clear”. Speaking earlier the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was enthusiastic that with the completion of the bridge, the South-South and the South-East will be connected to the North and this would save five hours of travel time on the road. He said Benue state would automatically be the food storage of the Federation by drawing people from every part of the nation while generating economic growth on one hand it would advance social cohesion on the other hand. On foreign loans, Mohammed said, "Yes we are taking loans.We are also making judicious use of the loans. And while these loans have a life span of 20-50 years, the roads we are constructing will have 50-60years lifespan and outlive many of us”. Also lending his voice, the Minister for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations, Senator George Akume urged the people to maintain peace and order among the various communities where the project is sited owing to the fact that the project was a huge one intending to serve not just Benue and Nasarawa states but also the larger Nigerian population. The Emir of Loko, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Sabo Sarikin Loko and Second-Class Chief of Agatu HRH Chief Godwin Ngbede Onah   expressed appreciation to the Federal Government over the construction of the Loko- Oweto Bridge which had impacted on their lives positively.  The Loko- Oweto Bridge Project is 97.37% completed. ...