Infrastructure, Most Legitimate Way Of Wealth Distribution - Fashola The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, CON.SAN, has said that infrastructure development is the most legitimate way of distributing wealth in an economy, explaining that its impact on job creation and economic growth is very significant on the Nation’s economy. Fashola stated this, Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at the National Press Center, Radio House Abuja, during the media briefing of his Ministry’s scorecard during President Muhammadu Buhari's Administration, 2015-2023. This is the inaugural edition of this series.  The event being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, was presided over by the Honourable Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed. According to Fashola, the Change Agenda which was unfolded in the Ministry of Works and Housing in 2015 as part of the larger objective of the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was to grow the economy through the revamping and expansion of the nation’s infrastructure on a scale that has not been seen in a long while. “Indeed, the Ministry of Works and Housing is present in all the States of the Federation either through a Road, Bridge, National Housing Programme, Federal Secretariat or Special Intervention Project.” he said. Explaining further, Fashola stated that in the last seven and half years, the administration of President Buhari has been very resolute in the pursuit of Progressivism, which is globally recognized as the improvement of the human condition, pointing out that the administration has never abandoned any project of the previous administrations but rather, President Buhari gave a matching order to complete existing projects instead of starting new ones. Fashola asked “If in 2015 the conversation was on the existence of a large number of abandoned infrastructures and the seeming lack of political will to complete those infrastructures in spite of the availability of resources and today the Buhari administration has made these possible in spite of lean resources; if in 2015 such critical infrastructure as the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway were either totally non-existent or in a very deteriorated state and if today the Buhari administration has demonstrated that needed political will to break the jinx on our nation’s historically most difficult projects, does it not stand to reason to conclude that the Party which formed the Government deserves to continue to deliver to the people of Nigeria these lifes- defining infrastructure”  Fashola disclosed that the second Niger bridge was now completed and will soon be opened to the public for use, pointing out that what was delaying the commissioning was the construction of the link road to the bridge from both the Asaba and Onisha axes.  “I can confirm that the second Niger Bridge itself is finished. People can walk through it now. What remains now is the link roads.” he said On Housing, the Minister said that the National Housing Programme that was initiated by the Ministry of Works and Housing at the onset of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration had affordability and accessibility as key considerations.  He said “the National Housing Programme is now delivering on its objective of stimulating the economies of the 35 states and the FCT. Jobs have been created in the communities where the construction of the houses are being built. Such needs  for artisans, builders, engineers, and other skilled persons in the built industry, the construction sites have been and remain centres of supply for building materials and other commodities”   He explained that with the Programme now in a season of completion, many of the houses have been completed and are now being handed over to the beneficiaries who follow the allocation procedure set out in the National Housing Programme web portal (https://nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng ) “The National Housing Programme has therefore produced new home owners but in the process also produced citizens who found economic fulfilment as contractors, suppliers of various construction items and artisans’ he concluded   ...

Federal Roads, Bridges Construction in Oyo State: Local Contractors to Be Given Opportunities .....2022 Sukuk, NNPC Tax Credit Scheme and 2023 Budget to tackle Road Funding Challenges-Fashola   The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has said that local contractors in Nigeria needed to be given opportunities in federal highways and bridges construction. He made the remark during his assessment tour of some federal roads and bridges under construction in Oyo and Osun States Fashola said, “If you don’t give local contractors the opportunities, they can’t acquire the experience and the equipment.   I have pointed out some areas where I think the contractors can improve upon. They are not structural but aesthetics. So far so good the standard has not been compromised but to have some equipment for smooth finishing on some concrete works, they just have to improve. However, Mr. President is committed to engage local contractors. That is the purpose for Executive Order No.7, i.e.  Local Content and Contractor participation on Road Infrastructure Development." During the inspection tour of rehabilitation of outstanding sections of Iseyin- Okeho Road including two bridges in Oyo State, he promised the local contractor handling the road, Messrs. HMF Construction Ltd that when 2023 budget and 2022 Sukuk are being considered government would be able to accommodate the 4 billion naira needed by the contractor to complete the remaining part of the construction works on the road. The Minister charged Messrs. Kopek Construction Company, the contractor on the reconstruction of Ibadan –Ife-Ilesha Dual Carriageway in Oyo /Osun States not to stop work and to make some sections of the road motorable during the ember months. While inspecting the dualization of Oyo – Ogbomosho Road, he remarked, “Relief will soon come the way of the road users, though the rainy season has slowed down the construction works on the project, the earthworks will improve as soon as the rains subsides." He said dualization of the road is being funded through Sukuk and the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme for Roads, therefore, there wouldn’t be funding challenge in delivering the road at the time due. Fashola said the importance of road infrastructure cannot be underestimated as it affects our businesses, the number of times spent on the road while going to work or school and everywhere roads are built the land value appreciated. He enjoined commuters not to abuse the roads and maintain road speed limits when the roads are completed. Oba Rafiu Adeitan II, the Onjo of Okeho who approached the Minister during the   inspection visit within his jurisdiction, thanked him for the good job the contractor is doing on Iseyin- Okeho Road. The king pleaded with the Honourable Minister to include the road that leads to Ayegun border from his domain in the project because of the economic importance of the border to his area. The Minister was accompanied on the inspection visit to the various projects in Oyo State by the Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Works and Housing Engr. Folorunsho Esan, the Zonal Director South West in the Ministry, Engr. Ademola Kuti and Federal Controller of Works, Oyo State, Engr. Kayode Ibrahim and others. ...

Minister Charges NYSC/IT Members, Others to Be Diligent and Committed to Duty. The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has charged serving and newly posted National Youth Service Corp Members and Industrial Training Students to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to be diligent and committed to their duties while in the Ministry. The Minister gave the charge during the first ever organized Induction/ Orientation Training Workshop for Corp Members and Industrial Training Students at the Ministry’s Headquarters, Abuja. Mr. Fashola who was represented by his Special Adviser on Strategic Coordination and Administration, Mrs. Motunrayo Alimi also encouraged them to crave for more knowledge and appreciate the experiences garnered during their stay in the Ministry, advising them to make their voices count in their different departments and units in the appropriate manner that would not go against the rules of the Ministry. The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali, while declaring the training open said that the induction course was to familiarize the participants with the operations and core values of the Civil Service as well as the processes, procedures, structure, functions and mandate of the Ministry to enable them understand the ministry’s work environment. Mr. Alkali also commended the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN and the Minister of State, Hon. Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub on the initiative to organize this first ever induction course in the Ministry, adding that the training   would introduce them to the general operations of the Ministry and also provide them with ideas that could be of assistance in their future endeavors. He urged them to maintain positive attitudes assuring them that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing was poised to reward hard work and good behavior. On his part, the Director Human Resources Management, Aliyu Abdullahi commended the Management of the Ministry for organizing the training workshop, saying that the Ministry places high premium on training of Staff. He said that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has over five hundred (500) Corp members serving in the Ministry and that this shows that the Ministry is a good starting ground for the nation’s young graduates. “To whom much is given, much is expected. We are going to give you the best, so we expect much from you,”’ he said. On behalf of the Corp members, Miss Boluwatife Ajayi of Press and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry commended the Management for organizing the induction training and assured that they would make good use of the experiences acquired during the training. ...