Federal Government Commissions National Housing Programme in Enugu State .Enugu State Government Commends FG for project.. The Federal Government as part of its developmental agenda has commissioned 70 housing units Comprising of 16 units of three-bedroom, 24 units of two-bedroom, 24 units in condominium and 6 units of one -bedroom apartments in Enugu State. The commissioning ceremony took place at Amankpaka Autonomous Community, Ugwogo Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of the state under Phase One of the National Housing Programme of the Federal Government. President Muhammadu Buhari represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Geoffrey Onyeama expressed delight over the completion of the housing project as a fulfillment of the promise of change this administration made to the people at its inception. President Muhammadu Buhari appreciated Enugu State Government for the intergovernmental collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing through the provision of the land for the project, which was once left fallow, but today has come alive to shelter ordinary Nigerians.  He described it as “One of the developmental approaches across levels of governments to improve the human condition." Buhari reiterated that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which drive our economy, won the contracts to build these houses. Not only did their successful bids offer an opportunity for these companies and their employees both skilled and unskilled workers through them, and we have also unleashed a value chain of economic activities that has improved the conditions of the ordinary Nigerian." "These are some of the people our country remains committed to move towards prosperity and away from poverty and we are already reaching them by providing opportunities for employment for those who were hitherto unemployed”, he added. He directed that in the fulfillment of promise of change made by this administration that 22 units of the houses be reserved for the 1994 Olympic medalists in fulfillment of a pledge made to them 28 years ago by the then Federal government to encourage others that wish to sacrifice for their country. In his goodwill message, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi , commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN for the laudable initiative of providing these houses for the teeming rural communities in the state  which he said was the first ever National Housing Scheme in the state “. Represented by the Commissioner of Works Enugu State, Engr. Gregory Nnaji, the Governor noted that provision of shelter anywhere brings development and improve livelihood and for that they appreciated the government of President Buhari for providing the houses. While making his remarks, The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN who was represented by the Director Housing of the Ministry, Arc. Iquo Lucy Uzodinma, stated that the 70 housing units under Phase 1, comprising 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units, completed and being commissioned were the outcome of a survey conducted throughout the federation. "In terms of design, this project is the outcome of a national survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to find out the type of houses Nigerians desire," he said. Fashola explained that the survey revealed a preference for bungalows in Northern Nigeria and flats in Southern Nigeria, adding that the survey also showed the need for space which, according to him, “Is why the one-bedroom units are 60 - 70 square metres and two-bedroom units 76 - 103 square metres while three-bedroom units are110 - 137 square metres." Fashola also disclosed that the housing units are offered to the public through the National Housing Portal at https://nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng to ensure that interested buyers are not inhibited by any “artificial obstacle and allocations are made on the basis of those who apply and pay on a first-come- first-served basis." The Minister added that Nigerians would witness many more commissioning of completed projects across the nation as President Buhari's tenure wines down, adding that many more projects would soon start to bear fruits. The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali who was represented by the Federal Controller of Housing, Enugu State, ESV Emmanuel Eijie, stated that the Ministry was promoting local content in building construction in line with Executive Orders 3 and 5. According to Alkali, at least 1,200 building contractors have been engaged under Phases I, II and III of the housing programme since 2016 and over 14,500 and 50,140 direct and indirect jobs have been created. “During this period, the Ministry has been undertaking the construction of at least 6,000 housing units at 45 sites out of which 2,465 units have been completed in 34 States and the Federal Capital Territory,” he said. In a goodwill message, His Royal Highness, Eze Akpata 1 of Amankpa Nike Autonomous Community Ugwogo, Enugu, Engr. Damian Ikechukwu Edeh thanked the Federal Government for the project and the State government for siting the project in his domain. He added that the physical infrastructure has developed the area. The royal father noted that  the area which used to be a hideout of robbers and kidnappers has been cleared. The President General of the Amankpa Community, Hon. Joseph Onu added that the community needs employment for their unemployed youths and urged the community to rejig the existing infrastructure for the betterment of their community. One of the beneficiaries under the Federal Government fulfillment of the promise made to the 1994 Super Eagles Team members who won the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia 1994, Mr. Christian Chukwu while delivering the vote of thanks expressed profound gratitude to the Federal Government for this unforgettable gesture. He said he is delighted to have taken full possession of his own semi-detached three-bedroom bungalow. The housing estate has internal roads, drainages, water reticulation and a central borehole with overhead tanks and   electricity. ...

FG Flags-off the dualisation of 132 km Kano- Kongolom Road Project. Under the Innovative Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme adopted by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal government has yet again, flagged-off a critical road dualisation, a 132 km Kano- Kongolom Road. Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola performed the ministerial flag-off, supported by his counterpart in the Ministry of Water Resources, Engr Suleman Hussain Adamu. The Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) intervention that enables the Federal government leverage on Private Sector capital and efficiency for the construction and refurbishment of critical road infrastructure on key economic areas in Nigeria. It was provided for under Executive Order 007 which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2019. The Kano-Kongolom Road project traverses Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States, and the venue of the flag-off was Anguwan Tudu in Gwiwa local government area in Jigawa State. In his address, Fashola reiterated the determination of the Buhari administration to address road Infrastructure gap in the country even at the twilight of the administration's tenure. He also pointed out that the continued participation of the private sector in the road tax credit scheme was a statement of confidence for the administration. Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the huge economic importance of road construction to include; job creation, reduced travel time and cost among others. He appealed to Traditional Institutions in the area to talk to their subjects who are occupying the right of way within Government's roads to vacate in order to give the contractors hitch free movement during the construction. In his good will message, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleman Adamu thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for this laudable project in the North West, which he said would have great economic impact on the people.   Engr Adamu also promised to provide all the necessary assistance to the contractors to deliver the road as specified. In his remarks, the Minister of State, Works and Housing, Hon. Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub stated that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would not leave any stone unturned in terms of such developmental projects. He appealed to motorists to patiently bear with understanding all the inconveniences during the period of construction. The Group Executive Director of BUA, International Limited, the Construction Company handling the project. Alhaji Kabiru Rabiu also appreciated the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for the contract and promised that his Company would deliver quality job and on time too. Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali, represented by Director Highways (North west), Engr. Wasiu Taiwo stated that, the roads Infrastructure tax credit scheme was one of the great funding innovations of the Federal Government in its resolve to tackle Infrastructure deficit in Nigeria. The representative of the Emir of Kazaure, the Makaman Kazaure, Alh. Umar Aliyu, who spoke at the occasion appreciated President Buhari and the Minister, Raji Fashola for the laudable project which he said, would have great impact on the people in many more ways. The 132 km road originates from Dawanau round about in Kano town and terminates at Kongolom, a border town with Niger Republic. The road covers 61.15km across Kano State, spans 28.85km through Jigawa State and 41.50km through Daura to Kongolom border town in Katsina state. Party of the project scope includes; three bridges at; Ungogo (Kano), Kazaure (Jigawa) and Daura (Katsina), with eight number pedestrian crossings at different locations along the corridor of the project. ...

Works Ministry Gets N110b SUKUK Funding for Roads. The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on Monday received a cheque of N110 billions of SUKUK funding for the execution of critical road projects across the six geo-political zones of the country. Two Ministries benefited from a total of N130 billion 2022 SUKUK Fund, these are: Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Capital Territory. While the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing received N110 billion, the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory received N20 billion. The SUKUK fund is a form of Public Private Partnership (PPP) which was among the funding options adopted by the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to fund the construction of critical roads in Nigeria. Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Ministry, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN gave an account of the nature of the nation’s road before the introduction of the SUKUK funding. According to him, the total capital budget for road projects across the nation for Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in year 2015 was N18 billion. He  said: “As of 2015 the Capital budget for Works was just N18 billion for all Nigerian roads at the time oil prices were just dropping shy of a hundred dollar per barrel and all that could be committed to Nigerian roads was just N18 billion.” Explaining the impact of the meager amount spent on Nigerian roads then, he said that construction companies were therefore laying off staff because the Federal Government was owning these companies. “That was the story before SUKUK,” he said. Fashola stated that this development could not fund the nation’s road projects adequately, adding that despite the fact that the Capital budget position of the Ministry was moved from N18 billion to over N260 billion in 2016, Federal Government had to look into alternative sources of funding road projects because that was not still enough. “That is where the SUKUK funding came in and through the SUKUK, we have completed several road and bridge projects across the six geo-political zones of the country,”. According to him, SUKUK financing has enhanced the completion of some of the priority road and bridge projects across the country. Earlier the host, Minister of Finance, Budget & National Planning, Dr. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed while presenting the cheque to the two Ministries said that President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to the development of road infrastructure of the country. While listing the intervention of the Federal Government of Nigeria Sovereign SUKUK Fund in the Nation’s Road infrastructure, Dr. Ahmed disclosed that in 2017, the sum of N100 Billion was expended on the nation’s road infrastructure, N200 Billion in 2018, N362.56 Billion in 2020, N612.56 Billion in 2021, and N742.56 Billion in 2022 respectively. She said: “This symbolic event therefore is part of the celebration of the contribution of the Sovereign SUKUK Fund to road infrastructure development over the years.” ...