VC Commends Fashola For Internal Road Intervention Project In University The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State, Professor Andrew Haruna has commended the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SANfor the internal road intervention project he executed in his University. The highly excited Vice Chancellor said, " I am excited, excitement is the summary here. In fact any other adjective I use now will water down my joy." The Minister was represented at the handover ceremony  by the Federal Controller of Works Yobe State, Engr. Akinmade Babalola. Fashola, in his address at the handover ceremony, said,  "Thee 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." Fashola said that the quality of education would no doubt be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment, pointing out that the feedback from students in the institutions that benefited from such intervention attested to that, "The intervention by Federal Government will improve the ambience and environment of Federal Tertiary Institutions to enhance academic activities,"he said. Federal University Gashua  is among the 18 Federal Tertiary Institutions that benefited from the Federal Government Road Intervention Project executed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing under phase I and ll. Professor Haruna also said, "If one must say the truth, without any embellishment, one can say, if all agencies of the Government will take the steps taken by the Federal Ministry of Works   and Housing in investing a little here and a little there, this University will, within the next few years, have it's share of massive infrastructural development. It is for this reason that I stand here to appreciate the Federal Ministry  of Works and Housing for their initiative and intervention." Accordingly, the Vice Chancellor appreciated the kind gesture of the Federal Government for the concern and committment shown to towards the development of the citadel of learning under the prevailing austere times in the country. Representative of the Students Union Government (SUG), Comrade  Mahammad  Haruna, who is also the Financial Secretary Zone C of the Union, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola,SAN  for such  projects in tertiary institutions. Comrade Haruna said, the projects are not only dear to the Federal University of Gashua but to the entire national body of students union because of the positive impacts they would have on education in the country. The completed internal road project in the Federal University of  Gashua  comprised of rehabilitation and asphalt overlay, construction of reinforced concrete drainage and patching of potholes of 300 meters. So far eighteen (18) out of the forty-three (43) road intervention projects procured under phase I (2017) and phase ii (2018) appropriations had been completed across tertiary institutions nationwide. ...

Fashola  Assures AFRIGIST of His Support The Honourable Minister for works and Housing Babatunde Ragi Fashola has assured the Africa Regional Institute for Geospatial Information, Science and Technology, (AFRIGIST) of his support to solve some of the challenges confronting it. The Minister gave the assurance while receiving the management of the institute who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. Fashola noted that the statutory activities of AFRIGIST were pivotal to unlocking the potential of member countries and Africa in general. He said, “ I cannot overemphasize the importance of this agency especially in regards to the recent adoption of the free trade agreement among the African countries”.  Fashola further said, “Africa Regional Institute for Geospatial Information, Science and Technology has become too critical for the engagement of the future for human civilization”. The Minister who said the world was increasingly becoming information dependent, emphasized the relevance of the agency to the growth of trade, health care, defense and aviation. Fashola directed the Surveyor General of the Federation Surveyor Taiwo Samuel, who led the delegation on the visit to make appropriate recommendation to the Ministry for its intervention. Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of the Institute, Dr. Adewale Akingbade disclosed that the Institute which was established in 1972 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, (UNECA), had eight members such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameron, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, the host country. The Director who praised the Nigerian government for promptly paying its dues said the Institute had supported the county in providing training for defence intelligence such as the Nigerian Customs, Immigration and police.  Dr. Akingbade sought the assistance of the Honourable Minister in championing the conference of the Ministerial Committee of the agency. In attendance were the Minister of State for Works and Housing  Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu and some Directors of the Ministry ...

FG’S Renewal, Construction Of Major Highways Has Reached Schools - Fashola * As FG hands over 3 completed internal road projects to FUTO * Gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged - Minister * Says quality of education would be impacted by the quality of infrastructure, learning environments * VC, Senate Council laud FG, Students say, Now that the roads have been fixed we can move easily to our classes" The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, Monday in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, handed over three rehabilitated internal roads in the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) to the authorities of the institution, expressing delight that the nation’s infrastructure gap was being gradually bridged. In his remarks at the handover ceremony, Fashola, who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works, Imo State, Engr. Anthony Animaku, expressed joy that the roads were now completed and ready for formal handover to the Institution adding that the purpose was to enhance the quality of education. Buttressing the importance of infrastructure development in educational institutions the Minister declared, "The gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repair, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached schools”, adding that the quality of education would be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environments. Underscoring the positive impact of the projects, the Minister said anyone in doubt should simply “listen to some of the feedbacks from students where this type of infrastructure has taken place”, adding, “The interventions in the various tertiary institutions will have a critical contribution to support education in the country. “Currently, there are a number of internal road interventions across tertiary institutions in Nigeria, and the students are saying that their reluctance to attend classes because of the bad roads, has been replaced by an enthusiasm to do so, now that the roads are better”, he said. Pointing out that the project is an investment in education although a civil Works project, Fashola declared, “During the construction, people were employed in the process contributing to the job creation initiatives of the government, and it is hoped that the school will now ensure that this asset is used properly and not abused”. The Minister, who promised that Government would continue to intervene in education, explained further, “The intervention by Federal Government would improve the ambience and environment of Federal Tertiary Institutions to enhance academic activities". The roads, which are among the 18 completed out of Federal Government’s 43 road intervention projects in tertiary institutions across the country, include the Health Centre, Hostel and Smat Roads. Awarded in 2018 and completed the same year, work done on the roads includes construction and asphalting of Health Centre and Hostel Roads and rehabilitation of Smat Road. Responding, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Francis Chukwuemeka Eze, commended the Federal Government for choosing Federal University of Technology, Owerri as one of the beneficiaries of its laudable intervention. Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Ndukwe James Okeudo, the Vice Chancellor, who stated that the roads are of great importance to the institution as it would aid access and movement around the school, added, “The Senate, Council and the entire Management are very grateful that FUTO was singled out as a beneficiary. We thank Mr. President and the Minister for this honour done to us". He promised that the school would maintain the projects. Also speaking on behalf of all the students of the institution, Mr. Donald Anarado recalled that hitherto the roads were not passable especially during the Rainy Season. In his words, "When rain falls, we cannot move easily from our hostels to classes,  but now that the roads have been fixed we can move easily to our classes. We are very grateful to Federal Government". ...