"Funding Key To Infrastructure Development" - Engr. Mohammed Adequate funding has been identified as a key ingredient to road development and, indeed, all aspects of development. This was disclosed by the Director, Highways, North East, Engr.  Rufa'i Mohammed, while on an inspection of on going construction works on Federal roads in the Zone. 2. While briefing Mediamen, at the end of the Tour of Duty, the Director opined that past Administrations paid lip service to road development financing, stressing that "the entire 2015 Capital Allocation to the Works Sector was a mergre N18 billion compared to over N200 billion in 2016 and N... for 2017., hence the accelerated development of road infrastructure being witnessed, nationwide." 3. Engr. Rufa'i observered that though the personnel responsible for planning, supervision, monitoring and development of road infrastructure in the country, in the Ministry and the construction industry remain, largely, unchanged, the financing has significantly changed. 4. The Director, Highways, North East Zone further disclosed that, apart from increased budgetary allocations, the present Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has, recently, released additional funds to select 25 - road and brigde projects, under the Sukuk (bonds), a novel financing window hitherto unexplored in the provision of critical road infrastructure, in Nigeria. 5. Recurring decimals from all the Federal road projects visited in the Zone were increased tempo of work occassioned by adequate funding, out pouring of ecomious on the Federal Government from the contractors, motorists, benefiting communities, construction workers and service providers and, most importantly, reduction in travel time and the cost of vehicle maintenance. None of the Federal Controllers of Works in the States visited nor the Contractors complained about lack of paymen for certified jobs executed. 6. Some of the projects visited are, but not limited to ; Dualisation of Kano - Maiduguri Road, Sections II ( Shuwarin - Azare in Jigawa and Bauchi States ), III ( Azare-Potiskum in Bauchi and Yobe States ), IV  ( Potiskum - Damaturu ) and V ( Damaturu - Maiduguri in Yobe and Borno States ) and the Rehabilitation of Gombe - Numan - Yola Road, Phase II ( Gombe - Kaltungo in Gombe State) and the Emergency Reinstatement of Failed Sections of Gombe - Bauchi Road in Gombe State. Others include the Rehabilitation of Damaturu - Biu Road in Yobe and Borno States, Rehabilitation of Nguru - Gashua - Bayamari Road, Section I, Phase I ( Nguru - Gashua in Yobe State ), Rehabilitation of Nguru -Gashua - Bayamari Road, Section II, Phase I ( Gashua - Bayamari in Yobe State ), Construction of Ningi - Yadagungume - Fuskar Mata Road, Phase III in Bauchi and Plateau States, Construction of Burga - Dull - Mbatt ll - Tandum - Gobbiya - Badagari - Gwarangar - Sum Road in Bauchi State and the Construction of Yalo - Bashar - Dengi Road in Bauchi and Plateau States ...

FG To Utilize Infrastructure Bond Instrument To Finance Critical Road/ Bridge Projects-Fashola In its bid to fast track road/bridge projects development nationwide, the Federal Government is to utilize Infrastructure Bond Investment from finance institutions and investors. This was disclosed by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola while receiving Institutional Investors, inclusive of HSBC, China group 3 and 4 led by the Managing Director of Stanbic IBTC, Dr. Damola Sogunle, in his office on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Fashola explained that to finance road/bridge projects through Tax Relief and Islamic banking “Sukuk” cannot be enough to provide infrastructure development in Nigeria, adding that Infrastructure Bond Instrument will complement government efforts at providing the needed critical infrastructure to end users. He stated that the inability of Nigerian government to appropriately in the past informed the present administration, channeling its energy towards economic recovery through agriculture. In the same vein, the Minister expressed the need for a reset in the housing sector in the country. He emphasized that the “financial establishment must stand as the vanguard of the reset” by borrowing a leaf from countries that have successfully utilized similar investment practice, such as United Kingdom. Fashola disclosed that the Pilot Home for the National Housing Programme of the present administration has taken off in 33 States of the federation. This, he said is made up of one to three bedrooms model which are expected to be valued accordingly, considering the standard and infrastructure. The Minister, further disclosed that the Federal Government who is currently holding 40% equity in the power sector, is of the opinion that privatization is logical, arguing that it has been successful in the media, banking, aviation sectors amongst others. According to him, the Ministry will optimize on existing capacity even as government has approved distribution extension programme in power. He added that investors in the power sector should be able to bring in value by looking at areas where investment is actually required; saying that supply of meters will improve service delivery and end user confidence in the DISCOs. Earlier, the Managing Director of Stanbic IBTC, Dr. Damola Sogunle, explained that the investors were interested in financing projects that will impact positively in infrastructure. He added that the visit will enable the investor in Nigeria have information and good understanding of what is happening in the Ministry and the country at large in order to make proper investment decision. The meeting was attended by Minister of State 1, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri, the Permanent Secretary, (Power Sector), Engr. Lious Edozien, Director of Finance, (Works and Housing Sector), Alhaji Ibrahim Tumsa and other Directors in the Ministry. ...

FG Sensitizes Staff On Dangers Of Corruption, Say It Is An Impediment To Sustainnable Development The Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari since inception has place high premium on the fight against corruption and has enjoined Government Agencies, Private Sector, Non-governmental Organizations, Media and indeed all Nigerians to join forces to fight this age-long menace hindering sustainable developmental goals and projects in the nation. According to Mr. President, ‘’If you don’t kill corruption, corrupt will kill you’’. The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing through its Anti-Corruption Unit (ACTU) held a sensitization workshop at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja to sensitize staff of the Ministry on the dangers of corruption within the system. Declaring the workshop open, the Director Human Resource Management, Mrs Morayo Alimi, who represented the Permanent Secretary Works & Housing, Alhaji Mohammed Bukar, enjoined participants, including Directorate Cadre Officers and other officers to take advantage of the seminar and learn more about the negative effects of corruption in the public sector. Alimi noted that ‘’we can never stop talking about anti-corruption judging by the posture of the present administration which has zero tolerance for corruption’’. According to her, ‘’we need to keep sensitizing people about it to help them internalize the concept and as such cause a shift to a service free of corruption’’.  She added that anti-corruption crusade runs across every cadre and the ministry is determined to discourage it at all levels. Also speaking at the event, the representative of the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Justine Kuatsea, an Assistant Commissioner and Head, Anti-corruption Unit of the Commission, thanked the Permanent Secretary and the management of the Ministry for making the occasion a reality by facilitating the sensitization workshop. He noted that ICPC is not relenting in sensitizing the public sector in adopting a systemic approach in tackling corruption in the country. Kuatsea further stated that in working with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing, ‘’we shall together roll back the blanket of corruption in the public service and indeed in Nigeria for sustainable development’’. In his remarks, the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the Ministry, Barr. Sunday Inyang, noted that the purpose of organising the workshop is to basically share experiences, impart knowledge, broaden and deepen participants’ understanding of ACTU’s activities and programmes. According to him, ‘it is interesting to note that the theme of this sensitization seminar, which is ‘’Corruption as an Impediment to Sustainable Development’’ is not only apt, but also timely considering the fact that Corruption continues to be the bane of most African countries, Nigeria in particular’. Barr. Inyang urged the executive arm of Government to push for the implementation of key anti-corruption protocols and good governance principles in public and private institutions. On the part of the National Assembly, Inyang, implored them to expeditiously pass into law the two Executive Bills before them that are considered critical in making the fight against corruption effective, these are the Special Criminal Courts Bill and Whistle Blowers and Witness Protection Bill, meant to protect whistle blowers and witnesses from injury, death, economic sabotage, job termination, among others. ...