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. ...

FG Challenges Its Contractors On Quick Delivery Of Road Projects Going On Across The Country  In its quest to improve the socio- economic lives of its citizenry and the nation the Federal Government has challenged its contractors handling federal road projects across the country on quick delivery before the end of its tenure. The Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing,Hon. Umar Ibrahim EL – Yakubu stated this while inspecting the Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road Section 1, covering Kano – Wudil – Shuarin awarded to Messrs Dantata and Sawoe Construction Co, Nigeria Limited since 2006. El-Yakubu said that on the part of  government, it will continue to  push and support  speedy completion and commissioning of all roads nearing completion before the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration. “On our part, we will continue to push you to ensure quick delivery.  We want to be able to commission this project before the end of this year.  I don’t know why you are mentioning next year. We don’t have many months left to commission this project, and I am sure putting in the right resources after the rainy season , you will be able to meet up,” he said. The Minister of State noted that all road contracts are being awarded to competent and capable contractors and so there is no reason why you can’t  deliver on time as funding which might be the challenge has been addressed by the Government of President Muhammdu Buhari by providing alternative funding schemes apart from the yearly budgetary allocation. “You have I suppose the capacity and competence to do the job. I believe you can do better so you need to challenge yourself but if you hadn’t the competence and the capacity, that’s a different thing but you do. So it is a matter of harnessing those potentials and leveraging on the resources at your disposal,” EL-Yakub said. EL-Yakub also disclosed that the project has taken too long but the commitment of the present administration to deliver on road infrastructure because of the recognition of its importance to lives and livelihood in job creation and national development, the road needs to be completed and delivered. “We want to complete this project, it has taken too long, Nigerians have been patient but thank God for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari that has commitment to delivering road infrastructure because of the recognition of what it does to lives and livelihood of Nigerians.  You know every side of it creates job and we need those jobs both direct and indirect,” he said. The Minister admonished all contractors to be engaging the youths more especially the graduates to be given  proper training on construction sites for them to have practical knowledge of what they studied in the universities and higher institutions in order to ensure competent personnels and technicians in the construction industry.  He added that more Nigerians should be allowed to participate in construction companies be it foreign or Nigerian owned.  He appreciated the contractor for the work done so far and encouraged them to increase their pace and achieve more before the end of the year. Briefing the Honourable Minister of State earlier on the scope of work, the Engineer Representative on site, Engr. Hanish Kolayoka Sarjius explained that the 207.73 km road project was awarded in 2006 but has a set back because of lack of fund but since the project was placed under SUKUK, there has been an appreciable work done on the road. He added that the flyovers 1 and 2 and river bridges 1, 2, and 3 have been completed and so the overall percentage completion work to date is 69.57% with a time lapse of 103.83%. The Project Manager of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Engr. Roy Hunushi appreciated the Federal Government for awarding the contract to them, saying that the project would be delivered and that they were working in line with the laid down procedures. He requested for the release of fund to enable them deliver the project as scheduled though the rainy season has delayed the pace of work on site.   ...

Nigerians Commend President Buhari's Impactful Infrastructure Development President Muhammad Buhari has once more reaffirmed his Administration’s Commitment to infrastructural development. The reaffirmation was made during the commissioning and handover of the completed 66 .10Km Gombe Kaltungo Road at Kumo Town, Gombe State. President Buhari who was represented at the occasion by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Issa Ali Ibrahim Pantami observed that his  administration has given priority to infrastructure development starting from road, to rail line and broadband development.  Mr.President disclosed that the FG has embarked on the National Information and Communications Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase 2. Also about 400 Million US dollars has been planned for the project which will commence from Abuja to Borno State. He said that his  administration has given approval for the construction of the  rail line from Borno to Rivers State, adding that the rail line was an  area that lacked attention before the advent of this administration.  The Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya praised the Federal Government for the completion of the Kaltungo-Gombe Road Project. The Governor observed that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing had successfully completed several roads to ensure that road users have a rewarding travelling experience.   He added that the Gombe - Kaltungo Road Project  had created jobs  directly and indirectly as well as provided social economic benefits to the people. Works and Housing Minister , Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN who was represented by the Director Highways North East in the Ministry, Engineer Celestine Shausu disclosed that the road is the sixth to be commissioned in the second phase of highway projects  completion and commisioning. He said," This is the second phase of project completion and handover our country will be witnessing as we progress further in this season of completion and impact which started in the last quarter of 2021," said Fashola. The Minister recalled  the completion of Efon Alaaye - Erinmo Iwaraja road in Ekiti,  Isoko Ring Road Section II covering Aviara- Uzere in Delta State,  Phase II of  Hadejia - Nguru Road covering Kirikasama - Nguru in Jigawa State, Nguru - Gashua- Bayamari Road in Yobe State and Lafia - Obi Awe - Tunga Road in Nassarawa State that were completed in the last quarter of 2021 which he described as major  investments in road transport infrastructure that serve as  drivers for economic growth and prosperity. The Minister said these completed roads are viable assets in proof of what the country's resources are invested in. In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Bashir Nura Alkali who was represented by Engineer Amos Thomas stated that the Buhari led administration is focused on the completion of several ongoing road infrastructure projects to stimulate economic development, job creation and promotion of local content. He added that government is also committed to linking the major arterial roads to refineries, ports, tertiary institutions and high volume commercial centres with a view to reducing travel times, vehicle maintenance costs, safety and security of commuters. In his goodwill message, the Emir of Arko, His Royal Highness Alhaji Umar Atiku expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the construction of the road project. He urged the people of the state to continue to support the Federal and State government and maintain  peace and tranquility in the state by being law abiding.   ...