FG Welcomes Private Sector Initiatives In The Delivery Of Affordable Housing The Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has reiterated the efforts of the present administration to provide affordable housing delivery to the teeming Nigerian population. The Minister in his keynote address delivered at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Abuja Housing and Investment Expo, noted that the theme of this year’s event "Housing and Investment for Economic Recovery’’ is most tropical and apt, considering the present government’s position for the provision of affordable housing, investment and promotion, job creation are all efforts targeted toward ensuring economic recovery. Fashola stated that the ministry is willing to collaborate with private sectors ready to invest in housing and urban development, adding that this will invariably create enabling environment for the citizens to purchase affordable houses of their choices based on their income. The Minister added that the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing will always welcome and continue to encourage new concept of decent and affordable mass housing for the people towards the full realization of government's ultimate goal as contained in the National Housing Policy. He commended the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Shelter Aid Limited, organizers of the event for their consistency and commitment in ensuring that adequate and affordable housing provision through massive investment in the sector is actualised. The Chairman of the occasion and the Chairman Senate Committee of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye, regretted that corruption is an impeding factor that has hindered the development and growth in the housing sector and therefore urged stakeholders to have a change of heart and put the interest of the people first. Melaye stated that his committee is already working on ‘Rent Edit’ in Abuja that will protect tenants and landlords and help checkmate incessant increase of rents in Abuja. He added that while "not everybody can own a house", the rent edit will help to tele-guide and curb excessive rent in the Federal Capital City and the nation at large’’. He however promised that the committee will ensure that the rent edit will be passed into law before the end of the 8th Senate. Earlier in his remarks, the President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Tony Ejinkeonye welcomed participants and invited guests to the occasion. He urged everyone to take advantage of the technical and plenary sessions and also interact with the exhibitors so that the economic recovery plan of the government is given a face-lift by private sectors’ participation. ...

FEC Approves $186.6m for Completion of AFAM Power Plant, N500million for Baro Port The Federal Executive Council presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday approved 186.6million dollars for the completion of the AFAM Power plant. The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola stated this while briefing State House correspondents alongside the Minister of  Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on the outcome of the Council’s meeting in Abuja.He said that the AFAM project was part of the ministry’s roadmap for incremental power to the grid. ``Council ratified the earlier approval given for GE to undertake that project so that we can complete 240MW of emergency power through 830MW turbines this year.’’ Fashola also revealed that the Council also approved ``2.2million dollars for the construction and rehabilitation of the sub-station to enable the evacuation of the power, once the turbines are installed’’. In his contribution, Amaechi revealed that the Council approved N500million for the completion of Baro River Port in Niger state. ``We hope that in the next four to six months we should be able to complete the Baro River Port. He said the Council directed the Minister of works, Power and Housing to look into possibility of reconstructing the roads leading to the River Port while the Ministry of Transportation would look at the revival of the narrow gauge to the Port. The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, disclosed that the Council granted permission to the ministry to sign a multilateral convention to implement tax treaty related matters to ``prevent tax erosion and profit shifting’’. She said: ``The benefits are the convention will swiftly modify existing bilateral tax treaties to implement tax treaty related matters in a cost efficient manner instead of individual negotiation and amendment of the treaty. ``It will address tax treaty abuse, promote transparency and drastically curtail illicit financial flows and ultimately it will increase the tax revenue of the government.’’ ...

Fashola Charges Quantity Surveyors To Educate The Public On Cost And Quality Of Infrastructural Delivery The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has charged the governing board of Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN) to educate the public on the importance of cost and quality in the delivery of infrastructures across the nation. He stated this at the inauguration ceremony of the newly constituted board of Quantity Surveyors in Abuja. The Minister said it is imperative for the board to embark on the process of enlightening the public using more of simple and regular words devoid of professional terminologies which might not be understood by a layman. Fashola noted that the elites, which include professionals in the built environment have significant role to play in terms of the aggregate quality of life in the society. He added that the assumption of the cost of project delivery are sometimes faulty but with Quantity Surveyors, who are the custodian of information on effective costing of projects delivery, can lead the debate by informing the society on the process and importance. The Minister also urged the board to develop and intensify relationship with institutions of higher learning where Quantity Survey is offered as a course and ensure that the next generations of Quantity Surveyors are professionally trained in order to be gainfully employed and self reliance. In his remarks, the president of the board of Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, Mr.  Murtala  M.  Aliyu, FNIQS appreciated the enormity of responsibility, task ahead and the associated challenges. He added that the immediate past board under the leadership of his predecessor, Hussaini Dikko PPNIQS had done very well to upscale the role of the relevance, growth and development of the profession but however noted that this present board will surpass their achievements. Mr. Aliyu stated that to deal with the enormity of challenge facing the country, Quantity Surveyors should be part of the pre-budget input preparation in order to have a prudent and efficient budgeting. He added that this will bring about correct cost effective template in Nigeria. He assured the Minister that the newly inaugurated board will do their best in ensuring that ethical code and lay down rules and regulation in the profession is upheld with dignity and in accordance to best practices around the world. ...