FG Commences Rehabilitation of Ikorodu-Sagamu Road, Says It Will Boost Economy The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Monday said the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Sagamu Road would boost agriculture and the economy of Lagos. Fashola said the road was strategic to industrailisation and agricultural development which were the priorities of the Buhari administration. He added that the road was strategic and would promote the growth of agricultural activities, boost business for industries in the axis and create employment opportunities. He listed the Odogunyan Industrial Estate, the NNPC Mosimi Depot and other firms as some of the beneficiaries of the project. “The present government is very strong on agric and very strong on industrialisation and, indeed, on energy,” he said. According to him, the project had a national outlook and urged politicians to shun sentiments and focus on the developmental goals when constructing projects. “President Muhammadu Buhari has said I should tell you that not only are you getting Ikorodu-Sagamu Road, work has also started on Lagos-Ota Road to Abeokuta. And work would continue on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. “And if we get approval in the 2018 budget, hopefully, we would be able to start work on the last part of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway,” he said. He said the contractors’ first priority was to stabilise the road before the rains start. He urged residents to be patient and cooperate with the contractors as the construction was likely to cause them some inconveniences. General Manager, Arab Contractors Nigeria Limited, Mr Wael Salem said, “We would try our best to make the road motor able.” The Ayangburen of Ikorodu, the traditional ruler of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, represented by Otunba Ayodele Elesho also thanked President Buhari for making the project a reality. “I have the mandate of Kabiyesi to thank you,” he said. He assured the contractors of the cooperation of residents of the community. Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, President Buhari’s senior special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mr Jimmy Benson, Federal House of Representatives member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency and others commended the Buhari administration. They all noted that the important road had been abandoned by previous administrations and appealed to the contractors to deliver the project on schedule. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 30.1-kilometre road links the Ikorodu round about in Lagos and Sagamu in Ogun State. The project is being handled by ARAB Contractors Nigeria Limited and has a completion period of 36 months. Source: (NAN) ...

FG Committed To Even National Development – Fashola The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has reiterated the commitment of the administration of President Muhammad Buhari to even national development as opposed to partisan politics and would be willing to work with all state governments irrespective of their party affiliations or ethnic divide. He made this remark when he paid courtesy calls on Governors of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Anambra State, Chief Willi Obiano, at their various Offices during his three-day working inspection tour of Federal Government projects in the South East zone of the country. Fashola commended the Governor of Ebonyi state for keying into agricultural initiative of the Federal Government while assuring him of the present administration’s readiness to link Ebonyi and Cameroon through road boarders, which would facilitate international trade for the South Eastern States. The Governor in his response thanked the Minister for his visit and pleaded with the Minister to facilitate the payment of fund owed his state, which was incurred for maintaining the Federal roads within his domain. While at the Enugu Government house, the Minister enjoined the Governor to work in mutual cooperation with Electric Distribution Company of Nigeria (DISCO) towards having regular supply of power as Federal Government has provided a window for states and corporate bodies to buy power directly. He also added that the window also provides for individual or state production of private power up to 1 megawatt without conditions attached. Similarly, in Anambra State, the Minister gave account of all the Federal Government projects he had inspected in the state, and on the indebtedness of Federal Government to the state on Road maintenance, the Minister said that what is left is appropriation from the National Assembly. He, however, warned that states must observe due process before they embark on rehabilitation of Federal roads to avoid loss of their investment. Projects inspected in the South East before rounding off his working visit included National Housing Programme in all South East states, Energising Economy Electrification of Ariaria Market in Aba., Rehabilitation of Calabar -Itu-Ikot Ekpene -Aba Road ,Section III, Enugu -Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway Section II among others. The Site of Zik’s Mausoleum and Library Complex in Awka including Second Niger Bridge in Anambra State were also inspected.   ...

FG Threatens To Terminate Abaji-Koton-Karfe Dualisation Road Project The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing  on Wednesday threatened to terminate the contract for the dualisation of the Abaji-Koton-Karfe road due to “negligence” by the contractor for five months. The Director of Highways Constructions and Rehabilitation of the ministry, Mr Dayyabu Mamman made the recommendation on Wednesday during an inspection by the Minister of State II for Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Zarma. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister in the company of some ministry’s officials was on an inspection of the Federal highways projects in Kogi state, including housing projects. The project which is being handled by Bulletine Construction Company Ltd at the cost of N15. 1 billion is part of the dualisation of the Abuja-Lokoja Road; section III (Abaji-Koton-Karfe) C/No.5884. The 49.40 km road construction which began on Oct. 12, 2006 with initial completion date of April 11, 2009 but extended completion date of March 12, 2014 has 159.72 as per cent time lapse. “The site has been inactive since December 2017, labourers have not been deployed on site, I recommend for the termination of the project. “The project is giving us sleepiness nights, all effort to make them work to hasten the completion of the dualisation proved abortive for the past five months,’’ the Director noted while briefing the minister. Mamman, also the North-Central Zone Director noted that the contractor who has spent 12 years on the project with only 54.48 per cent completion and has applied for extension of contract period. “The contractor has an advance payment of N1.6 billion only to pay back. None rendering approved services which the contractor has received payment for also amounted to the sum of N414.2 million,’’ he said. He identified another challenge facing the project as the “Rutting on the carriage way’’ report which the department of Materials and Geotechnic has conducted pavement evaluation test to certify the reason for the failure but has not been submitted. The Engineer also ascribed delay in the project to high rate of accidents on the road due to untidiness of the site. Mamman recalled that the contractor has been issued warning letters for poor performance and series of meetings have equally been held with the contractor to encourage increase performance but it yielded no result. Meanwhile, thethe company’s site agent, Mr Peter Omenye confirmed that the contract was abandoned because of labour related issues concerning workers salaries and entitlement. According to him, the workers have refused to work until they are paid all their entitlements. Reacting to this, the minister noted that there was every reason to terminate the contract because the contractor has not been on site for five months because of domestic issues. “It is not because we have any issue with them, we do not have any issue with them rather they have issues with their employees; I understand that they have not been paid salaries or allowances. “We do not owe, so we want construction to continue, we have no reason to be held hostage by any contractor in an event where we are not in default. However, Zarma who is also a Surveyor noted that in terms of contractor’s conditions, the ministry would go into the documents to look at the contractor’s conditions before making categorical statement. Zarma also inspected the dualisation of Abuja-Lokoja road, section IV (Koton-Karfe-Lokoja) Obajana junction, C/No. 5885 being handled by Gitto Construction Company with 61 per cent completion. The minister had earlier inspected the dualisation project of Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road (section 1), contract No. 5862 including spur to Airport junction. He lauded the road work progress, emphasising that there was fulfilment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to fix infrastructure deficit in the country. He said road project were always costly due to outsourcing of raw materials such as granite and cement including conducting soil test before actual project execution commenced. NAN reports that the percentage completion of the project being handle by Dantata and Sawoe construction Ltd. as at April 2018 is 90 per cent while the financial expenditure as at January 2017 is 88 per cent. The major works completed include the construction of new road (11.4km) along Airport road Spur, rehabilitation of existing road (10.04KM), and construction of interchange at Giri and Gwagwalada among others. Source: (NAN) ...