Quality Infrastructure, Impacting Quality Education -Fashola The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola,SAN said that the quality of infrastructural development within a country could un-debatably impact quality education and the learning environment. He made the remark at the handing over ceremony of  a completed internal road intervention project by the Federal Ministry of  Works and Housing at the University of Calabar, Cross River state. Fashola who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works Cross River State, Engr. Bassey Nsentip observed that the road completed had enhanced students mobility  and reduced stress in the learning environment. He further stated that although the road intervention project was a civil works project, the Federal Government intends to invest in education by improving the ambience and environment of tertiary institutions to  enhance academic activities. The Minister also disclosed that the Federal Government is presently working on the rehabilitation of 43 internal roads in federal tertiary institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the country out of which 18 had been completed and being handed over. He said the 1.17km road handed over to the University of Calabar was among such roads, urging the school authority and students to ensure the asset was used and maintained properly. Speaking earlier the Vice Chancellor University of Calabar,Prof. Zana Akpagu who was full of delight for the laudable initiative disclosed that prior to its rehabilitation, the road was in a deplorable state. He added that before the rehabilitation the road was inaccessible for students to go through especially during the rainy season. Prof. Akpagu said the road now enables easy access to the hostels, classrooms, the medical department and the chapel. He thanked the President and the Minister of Works and Housing  for the road while believing that the government would do more roads and infrastructural interventions in future to help the university. Also in a chat with the media,  the Director of Finance and Supplies Cross River State Ministry of Works,Mr.Ebere  Ignatius thanked the Federal Government for the support and pledged more collaborations with  the federal government. ...

Build On Knowledge And Value- Fashola The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN  has urged builders in Nigeria to deploy  knowledge and value in building projects, pointing out  that it was the combination of both that give value to building. "We need to build on our knowledge and value. It is these that give meaning to the bricks and mould we use. If we build without knowledge,  it will not last, " he said. Fashola made the remarks while receiving the Fellowship Award of the Nigerian Institute of Building in Abuja yesterday. The Minister used the occasion to debunk the news going round that Federal Government was planning to sell un-occupied  houses. According to Fashola  what the Government was saying was to encourage big house owners to break them to small units so that people can rent or buy them and start to make income from such houses. He also charged builders to build what people can use, instead of building big houses only to be left unused. He said,  "Build to the sensitivity of the young generation by building small houses." Fashola thanked the Institute for the conferment of the award on behalf of the Ministry saying that it was a recognition of hard work and team spirit. "On my own, I will do my best to live up to the responsibility of encouraging the building of affordable houses",  he stated. Earlier,  the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Building,  Builder Kunle Awobodu said that, "The conferment of the prestigious honorary fellowship of the institute is the highest recognition to be bestowed on  an individual solely based on performance evaluation of which Fashola is a beneficiary." He said that construction of buildings is a barometer of a thriving economy, adding that what distinguishes a city from a town,  and a town from a village is the number and quality of buildings. Speaking further,  he stated that,  " Any nation bereft of  building codes is vulnerable to inappropriate building construction." He therefore called on manufacturers of building materials, artisans and professionals that the culture of doing it right must be embraced. He enjoined the Minister not to relent in his efforts to ensure the use of Nigeria's building code to guide building construction in Nigeria. ...

FG Steps Up Road Infrastructure In Tertiary Institutions The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to bridge the infrastructural gap across the country and in all sectors as it continues its internal road intervention project to boost education and make the learning environment more conducive for students. The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, expressed the government's commitment to bridging infrastructural gap while handing over a newly reconstructed 1.33 kilometres internal road by his Ministry at the Federal University Oye, Ekiti State. Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Fashola who was represented by the Ekiti State Federal Controller of Works Engr. Ishaq Lawalsaid that the intervention in internal roads construction within tertiary institutions is currently going on in 43 tertiary institutions, out of which 18 had  been fully completed by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and  admonished the school authority to ensure that the asset  was maintained and not abused. The students of Federal University Oye, expressed renewed enthusiasm with regard to attending classes and becoming more zealous in the pursuit of their academic career as a result of the reconstructed road. Earlier In his welcome remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Kayode Shoremekun, thanked the federal government and the Ministry of Works and Housing for the reconstruction of over 1 kilometre internal road within the campus to ease vehicular movement and other activities. He urged the Minister not to abandon the school in subsequent budgetary provisions as more projects were begging for attention. He also appealed to the federal government to continue to partner with the school towards ensuring the provision of necessary social amenities to cater for over twenty thousand students of the university. The occasion was witnessed by top government officials and management staff of the institution. ...