FG to Boost Economy by Consolidating on Existing Housing Projects Across The Nation The federal government has reiterated that it will consolidate on the various existing housing projects across the nation as a way of boosting the economy and taking Nigeria out of the present economy recession. The minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, stated this while presenting the 2017 budget proposal of the Housing Sector of the ministry at the Joint Committee on Works, Power, Housing and Urban Development recently. The minister, while giving an overview of the 2016 appropriation noted that despite the delay in budget passage of 2016 coupled with the process of finalization/standardization of the prototype designs for the National Housing Projects which was concluded around December, the ministry has issued award letters to competent and successful contractors. The contractors, who have since been mobilized, have moved to their various sites to commence work. He further stated that the ministry was only able to achieve about 57 per cent of the estimated budget appropriation in 2016 due to paucity of funds and delay in releases, adding that the ministry will have done better if sufficient funds were released for designated projects. Fashola said that the country will soon begin to feel the impact as laid-off workers have been re-absorbed, more are being employed, goods and services are in exchange and the local economy of the various project locations/sites around the country are now taking shapes. While giving the broad framework of the proposal for 2017, the minister noted that the highlight of this year’s budget will focus mainly on the National Housing Programme, completion and award of new federal secretariats in some states of the federation and payment of outstanding local debt to contractors, adding that this in the overall will positively impact on the nation’s economy. The chairman, Joint committee on Works, Power and Housing Urban Development, Hon. Ahmed Babba Usman Keita thanked the minister and his team for their efforts and requested that the minister should furnish the committee with a detailed breakdown and clarifications of the proposed 2017 budget to help in facilitating necessary appropriation for the ministry. Hon. Keita also assured the minister that the committee will use every constitutional means available to it to ensure the release of adequate funds to the ministry. ...

FG To Ensure Speedy Completion of Projects in the South –East The Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola says the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari will ensure that contractors handling federal road projects in the South- East complete them within the specified time frame. Mr. Fashola who stated this when he visited the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia said the Federal Government had put modalities in motion for the prompt release of funds and monitoring of the projects. The Minister, who said that he was in Anambra State to rap- up his inspection tour of federal roads in the South East, noted that it was the intention of Federal Government to ensure that the roads, especially those connecting the States within the zone and with other regions were in good motorable condition. Mr. Fashola who disclosed that alternative measures were been put in place to end the frequent failure of the Ninth-Mile-Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway pointed out that time and economic activities have improved in places where work had been completed on the Port Harcourt highway. He reiterated the commitment of the present administration to support the state governments in the zone to achieve their development objectives and appealed to them to allow their Commissioners of Works to liaise with Federal Controllers in their areas to workout modalities for more efficient service delivery. On the issue of Second Niger Bridge as well as the power situation in the country, the Minister explained that the Federal Government last year gave approval for early pilling works at the site, while it had adopted a three pronged approach to address the power challenges in the Country. Governor Willie Obiano who expressed delight that the bad portion of the Umunya-Awkuzu axis of the Enugu- Onitsha Expressway would soon be included in the ongoing reconstruction of the highway appealed for more Federal Government presence in the area. He pledged the support of Anambra State Government to the efforts of Federal Government to transform the Country. In their separate remarks, the Federal Controllers of Works and Housing respectively in Anambra State, Messrs Edward Bosah and Newton Okorafor assured of the Federal Government commitment to initiate meaningful development in the South- East zone. ...

FG Not Competing With States But Ready To Support  - Fashola. Directs Federal Controllers of Works as Ambassadors to maintain good working relations with States. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has directed Federal Controllers of Works to work in collaboration with State Governments towards the rehabilitation of Federal Roads within their domain, maintaining that the government of President Buhari is not in competition with them but ready to support them in order to build good roads in the country. Fashola who is on an inspection tour of road projects in the South-East geo-political zone stated this during a courtesy visit on the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, OON who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, MFR. The Minister said he embarked on the tour in order to verify reports of on-going rehabilitation works he had received and to further establish other areas of co-operation and assistance between the Federal and State Governments. He reiterated the repositioning of Federal Controllers of Works in various states as Ambassadors of the Federal Government who should be in cordial relationship with their host communities so as to develop good and efficient road infrastructure network across the country. The Minister emphasized that efforts are being made to ensure the provision of good, motorable roads across the country and to cause this to happen, the government released funds in 2016 to contractors who were being owed for the last three years. The contractors have since returned back to their respective construction sites, thus recalling their worker which has had multiplier effect on the nation’s economy. The Federal Controller of Works in Imo State, Engineer Oluwatoyin Obikoya, who briefed the gathering, gave a rundown of the various stages of all Federal Roads in the state and the completion stages of those that are presently under rehabilitation/reconstruction. Responding, the Deputy Governor expressed appreciation for the visit and stated that the Minister's presence in the south-east would give hope to the people and credence to the fact that the All Peoples Congress (APC) Government of President Muhamadu Buhari is concerned about their welfare and will not relent in giving the required attention to Federal roads in the South-East geo-political zone so as to grow the economy of the people, the states and the nation. Prince Madumere remarked that the visit marks the first time the presence of the Federal Ministry of Works would be felt in the state, as such the visit will avail the Minister the opportunity to appreciate the challenges faced by the people in the road sector. He added that there shouldn't be any difference between Federal and State Roads reiterating that the concern of the Imo State Government is for the people to be able to move their goods and services around in the interest of the people of the state and the generality of Nigerians. ...