FG To Fix  Roads To Ease Fuel Distribution, Commuting –Fashola * Says funding, inclement weather major challenges The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has assured Nigerians that critical roads across the country, particularly those leading to fuel depots would soon be fixed in order to enhance fuel distribution and ease the usual high traffic during the ember months. Fashola spoke in his office in Abuja while responding to a request by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for urgent intervention by the Ministry on some roads leading to fuel depots without which the distribution of petroleum products during the festive months could be seriously hampered. The Minister, who assured that arrangements were already being put in place to fix such roads and a number of those which conditions had deteriorated as a result of heavy rainfalls, listed such selected roads to include Suleja-Bida-Lapai-Lambata;Oyo–Ogbomosho-Ilorin;Jebba-Mokwa-Tegina;Benin-Sapele-Warri;Benin-Auchi-Okenne;Enugu-Onitsha;Awka-Amansea and Odukpani-Itu roads. On the state of the listed roads, Fashola explained that the Suleja-Lambata-Minna Road was in a fairly good condition adding that the failed portions were slated for emergency repairs during the ember month’s programme while work is ongoing on the Bida-Lapai-Lambata Roads where the contractor handling it has already stabilized a substantial part of the road. The Bida–Minna Road, the Minister explained, is a Niger State Government Road and is in a fairly good condition while the Suleja –Lambata –Minna Road; is a Federal Government road under SUKUK funding. Disclosing that his Ministry had commenced discussions with the contractors handling the various road projects for the commencement of repair and rehabilitation works as soon as the rains subside, Fashola said approval has been given for the Engineering Corps of the Nigerian Army to repair the bad portions of the Bokani-Makera-Tegina-Birnin Gwari Road in Niger and Kaduna States, which is currently under procurement, due to the security situation in that axis. He further explained that funding has also been a challenge, adding that the Federal Government would endeavour to meet its financial obligations to the contractors handling the various road projects to ensure that they returned to the sites.   He said work on the Oyo-Ogbomosho-Ilorin Road is on-going by the contractor handling the project, which, he explained, is one of the projects that received dedicated funding under SUKUK. According to him, although the project is being challenged by the current weather situation and funding, the old alignment of the Oyo-Ogbomosho route is receiving palliative attention. On the Ilorin –Jebba –Mokwa Road, which is under a dualization contract, Fashola explained that the project has been divided into two sections with Ilorin –Jebba in Kwara State as Section1: while Section II comprises Jebba–Mokwa–Bokani Junction in Niger State adding that it is a new project and mobilization was still being processed. For Okene–Lokoja Road, which is in four sections and under SUKUK funding, he explained that all the contractors handling the various sections had been directed to do palliative work on the failed portions of the road.  He said while a Federal Government appointed contractor is currently working on the Enugu –Onitsha Road, the bad portions of the Awka –Amansea Road are being repaired by the Anambra State Government. For the Odukpani –Itu Road, the Minister said the contracting firm which is handling the project, has left the site as a result of the challenges of the weather situation and funding adding that the Ministry is currently intensifying efforts to address the challenges for the company to return to site as soon as possible.   ...

Fashola Calls For Collaboration With National Assembly on Projects Completion ….. Says No Works Projects Abandoned The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has called for a stronger collaboration with the National Assembly for the completion of all  on-going projects, pointing out that there was no abandoned project in the sector. Speaking during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on abandoned Federal Government’s Projects (Works) from 1999 till date, the Minister said that one of the mandates of President MuhammaduBuhari was to complete all projects inherited from the previous administrations. He stated, “It is the government policy to ensure that we complete as many projects as possible. Unlike in the past, this government has focused on completing projects.” Fashola said: “No project has been abandoned, but we have some projects where works is delayed due to contractors having issues with the local communities as well as payment of outstanding debt.” He also noted security, contracts review cost due to time lapse and weather as some of the factor responsible for the delay in the completion of on-going projects. On funding, he disclosed that the Ministry got only N18bn when he first assumed office in 2015 which was not enough to complete one major road in Nigeria.“Now there is a distinction, we have increased the budget to roughly about N300bn, but we still can’t fund the N300bn,”he said. Accordingly, Fashola therefore called for adequate budget appropriation, releases and collaboration with the National Assembly in the areas of funding and prioritization of projects for implementation. “Our revenue is not growing with the same size as our projects, so we need to prioritize our projects by laying emphasis on the A1- A4 projects that would be of benefits to our people,” he said. Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Honourable Francis Uduyok stated that the essence of the interaction was not to witch-hunt any ministry or person but to investigate Federal Government abandoned projects from 1999 till date. He also explained that they were to evaluate and determine the cost of completion of the projects, make appropriate recommendations for their completion in the annual budgets, adding that they were also to access the viability of the projects and their benefits to Nigerians. The Chairman commended the Minister for his elaborate presentation to the Committee. The Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu and some Directors of the Ministry were at the interactive session with Fashola. ...

No Bridge Has Collapsed Along Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani Road- FG The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Monday, strongly dispelled as fake, news circulating in the social media speculating that some bridges along Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani Road, especially Tatabu Bridge, collapsed and advising motorists to avoid the route. The Ministry clarified that there is no bridge collapse along the route and urged members of the public to disregard any mischievous circulation of old pictures as a recent incident. In a Press Release signed by the Deputy Director, Press, Mr Stephen Kilebi, the Ministry confirmed that all the bridges along the route are in good motorable condition pointing out that the route was very recently traversed to confirm the condition of the bridges. Dispelling the news as unfounded, the Press Release noted that the Federal Controller of Works/Engineer’s Representative in Niger State, Engr. I.F. Umeh, who along with other officers travelled on the road up to the Kwara State border confirmed that, “All the bridges are in good and passable condition. There is no bridge that collapsed along the road. The Tatabu Bridge is intact and in perfect condition”, adding that there is also free vehicular movement along the entire stretch of the road. While advising motorists to ignore any fake news of bridge collapse along the aforementioned road, the Ministry stressed the need for caution, especially by those using the social platform for the dissemination of news pointing out that the circulation of such unconfirmed and fake news concerning an important public utility such as the Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani Road could trigger off a situation that could have grave economic consequences to the nation. ...