Fashola Calls On States To Re-Commit To Housing Development Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN has called on State Governments to recommit to housing development in their respective states in order to increase access to affordable housing to the citizenry. Fashola spoke in his keynote address at the meeting of the Honourable States' Commissioners responsible for housing matters during the10th Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development held in Lagos State. The theme of the meeting is "Housing Development as a Catalyst for Job Creation, Social Inclusion and Economic Development." The Minister explained that the inequality among the nations and people can be reduced drastically if housing need of the poor is considerably addressed in the states.  "These are some of the reasons why I seek to persuade all of you to go back to your States to persuade your Governors to re-commit to housing development. I said re-commit, because I am aware that many states are doing something, but you will agree that there is a scope to improve and scale up," he said “One reason why this will require an All of Government Action is the fact That land is a critical component of capital formation and it is controlled by the states (not the Federal Government)and I am persuaded that appropriate, targeted and purposeful use of land, such as for  the development of housing by the states and private sector, will unleash prosperity in all states that aggregates to national prosperity,” Fashola explained.   The Minister gave example of Lagos State days of the LEDB, LSDPC and Lateef Jakande has been and added that the present Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu, remains example of what state governments can do to deepen housing supply and reap the benefits that comes with it.   Buttressing his position, Fashola stated that land and housing is a sub-national matter of jurisdictions, pointing out that what the states do to facilitate processing of land titles, documentation, Certificate of Occupancy and other Geographic Information (GIS) details will go a long way in facilitating easy housing delivery.   Accordingly, he stated that appropriate, targeted and purposeful use of land, such as for the development of housing by the states and private sector, will unleash prosperity in all states that aggregates to national prosperity.   The Minister informed the meeting that the Federal Government is undertaking a National Housing Programme in 34 states aggregating to about 5,000 housing units, and trying to complete an inherited ministerial pilot housing scheme across the states which has a little over 6,000 units. Fashola said that the decisions to recommit to housing development by State governments would facilitate the creation of variety of jobs because the services of various professionals in the built industry such as town planners, architect would be required, adding that artisans like masons, plumbers, carpenters and food vendors  would not be left out of the value chain of prosperity resulting from economic development. "When construction actively starts, ‘the economic explosion happens, supplies of sand, cement, reinforcements, roofing, plumbing, painting, and other components get to work" and "this drives a critical business in all our states, the micro small and medium enterprises who make or supply these building components, “he emphasized. In the same vein, he explained that the Federal Housing Authority and Federal Mortgage Bank are also intervening as federal agencies in respective housing development directly through cooperative societies and the provision of development loans and mortgage loans. But all these, he added, account for only a small amount of the need across the nation for many reasons not excluding the limited amount of land available to these federal agencies. In his opening remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while assuring participants at the council of implementing the recommendations of the meeting, disclosed that the state had begun to implement the commendations agreed on at the 9thNationalCouncil on Lands Housing and Urban Development, on making land available for Building by providing lands to build a mini city at Imota in Ikorodu   Division of Lagos State. He said the state would develop about 3,500 housing units of 2 and 3 bedrooms in phases for civil servants and those in the informal sector who fall within the category of low-income earners and to be acquired at a single digit interest rate mortgage plan that could span a period of 15years. He added that his administration was determined to develop decent homes within the states as well as meet the housing needs of the citizens irrespective of their location. Mr Governor, who said that home ownership was a vital tool for taking people out of poverty, assured the council that Lagos State would collaborate with the Private sector to adopt the monthly rent payment as proposed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN. In his vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works And Housing, Babangida Hussaini, commended the excellent leadership of the works and housing sectors. He also noted the commitment of Council Members to the 10th Meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development and urged them to go back and implement the Council Resolutions.   ...

We Create Jobs Through Housing Construction - Perm Sec Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Babangida Hussaini said the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration is creating jobs for Nigerians through construction of mass housing nationwide. Hussaini who made the remarks at the ongoing 10th National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development holding in Lagos State was represented at the occasion by the Director Lands and Housing of the Ministry, Mrs. Great- Edereka. The theme of the Council meeting is "Housing Development as a Catalyst for Job Creation, Social Inclusion and Economic Development." Hussaini restated the commitment of the Federal Government towards the creation of employment for the citizens through mass housing construction across the states. The Permanent Secretary said that the present administration is committed to addressing critical economic challenges confronting the country as well as lifting hundred Nigerians out of poverty through creation of jobs and sustenance of an inclusive egalitarian society. He explained that the construction of mass housing by the federal government under the National Housing Programme has led to the creation of numerous jobs both directly and indirectly, pointing out that it has positively impacted immensely on the economy. "This Programme has impacted massively on the national economy through the creation of direct and indirect jobs," he said. The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the federal government had embarked on the construction of decent and affordable mass housing nationwide under the National Housing Programme (NHP) and also strengthened collaboration with the organised private sector under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) to provide same to Nigerians. Hussaini also disclosed that in a bid to   realise President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision to expand the infrastructure and housing stock of the nation, the Ministry has adequately supported the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Federal Housing Authority with all the necessary assistance needed. While urging the participants to engage in a robust deliberation on memoranda presented before them, he noted that it was the responsibility of stakeholders in the built industry to ensure that housing development served as a catalyst for job creation, social inclusion and economic development. Hussaini said "The task of ensuring that housing development serves as a catalyst for job creation, social inclusion and economic development rest on the shoulders of all the stakeholders in the industry," therefore " I urge all stakeholders in the industry to make good use of the opportunity provided by the council meeting to deliberate on memoranda submitted towards formulating and strengthening policies that will address housing development in Nigeria." Speaking earlier, the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State, TPL Dr. Idris Salako, revealed that the Lagos State Government had relaxed some policies to encourage investments in the Real Estate Sector for housing provision by lifting embargoes from areas that were under various ban. He explained that the advantages of the policy relaxation included: availability of more land for housing delivery, abundant job creation to engage professionals, technicians and artisans in the production line of the housing sector. The day three of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development Meeting is the day of the meeting of the body of Permanent Secretaries under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. The meeting was to deliberate and brainstorm on the memoranda earlier produced during the first two days meeting of the technical officers and directors of relevant agencies in the built industry. The body of the Permanent Secretaries will forward their report to the higher body of States' Commissioners meeting of the built industry under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing for final endorsement.       ...

FG’S Strategy On Infrastructure As Driver Of Economic Growth Is Working - Fashola      *  As Minister inspects Keffi-Makurdi Road, National Housing Programme, Federal Secretariat in Nasarawa      *  “Our role as a progressive government is to improve the human condition”, he says      *  Advocates collaboration, rather than agitation, as means to resolve issues arising from compensations The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has inspected the ongoing Dualization of the 221 KM Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Road, the National Housing Programme and Federal Secretariat projects in Nasarawa State, declaring that the strategy of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on infrastructure as a driver of economic growth is working. Fashola, who also noted that the role of a progressive government is to improve the human condition, advocated collaboration rather than agitation as a means of solving issues like compensation because collaboration would enable government to engage the owners of land and properties along the corridors of ongoing road projects while construction and rehabilitation works continue on such projects. Responding to a question on Federal Government’s borrowings while interacting with newsmen after inspecting the Road, the Minister,  explained that the road is being funded from a China EXIM Bank loan, pointing out that although the decision to borrow from the Chinese bank was initiated by the immediate past administration, the process was completed by the current administration because “It is money borrowed for investment to improve peoples’ lives”. “I have always told you that my own view of our role as a progressive government is to improve the human condition”, he told the newsmen adding that all the activities along the project corridors, including business and other economic activities, were for improving the human condition. Listing some of the benefits that would accrue from the project after completion to improve human condition, Fashola said some of them would be the reduction in journey time and cost of travel as well as safety of lives pointing out that an attempt was currently being made to reshape the sharpness of a dangerous curve and reduce the steep slope on the road around Nasarawa-Eggon as a way of reducing accidents in the area. The Minister said aside the direct jobs generated by the project by way of employment, there are quarrying plants that have come on board as a result of the project and are employing over 100 people while an asphalt plant that has also come into existence is also employing dozens of people. “These have brought a lot of economic activities around here and along the stretch of this corridor we are employing thousands of people”, he said. The Minister appealed to the communities to remain peaceful and collaborate with government, especially on the issue of compensation, adding that agitation would only delay the completion of the work. Noting that the 221 kilometre road runs from the Federal Capital Territory through Nasarawa all the way to Makurdi in Benue State, the Minister explained further, “The Dualization is being undertaken to include a 10-lane expansion of over five kilometres where Abuja joins Nasarawa around Mararaba area”. Responding to a question on the perceived delay in the project execution, the Minister, who said the contractors are working in Sections, explained further, “There are places where we still need to relocate, to resettle people, we still need to deal with the issues of compensation”, adding that the government was currently working with the governments of Benue and Nasarawa States to ensure that those who would get compensated are the real beneficiaries and not middlemen. Fashola, who also noted that the road is being expanded, explained, “As you know, we are dualizing, so where one bridge existed before, we now have to build another bridge”, adding that at the end of the Rainy Season the contractors would come back and do the earthwork. On the Lafia-Shendam Road, Fashola, who noted that the road needed attention even before the Buhari administration came to power, said some rehabilitation work would be done on the road in response to the State governor’s appeal. “But we cannot do everything at once. If you understand, we have talked about the Loko-Oweto Bridge, we have talked about the Shendam Bridge and there are so many other repair works we are doing. So as these things come, we take them one at a time”, he said. At the National Housing Programme in Lafia, Fashola, who was joined by the State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, explained that the programme was being undertaken in Phases in 34 states of the country. He added, “We are now in some states at Phase 3; in many other states we are in Phase 2, and that is why you see some completed and some uncompleted houses here”. According to the Minister, the programme “is driving other unseen businesses in the SMES those who make and supply all the materials, nails, binding wires, wire boards and lubricants and there are people who provide nourishment at the sites”, he said. “It is a big value chain of opportunities, so if you see the economy heading towards growth, it shows clearly that the President’s strategy on infrastructure as a driver of growth is working. What is needed now is just to deepen that which we already have. So if somebody comes to tell you that infrastructure does not drive growth tell him that he is talking of home economics, he does not know public financing”, the Minister said. Fashola, who also visited the Federal Secretariat Complex under construction in Lafia told newsmen that after the creation of the State some 25 years ago there was need to properly accommodate Federal Government workers serving in the State pointing out that the burden of accommodating the workers had put pressure on the facilities belonging to the State. “When we talk of workers’ welfare, it is not just their salaries and emoluments; it also includes their work environment. This is the place where workers spend the longest part of their days, in fact the longest part of their life and it is very important to make that environment conducive”, Fashola said. He added that the President has also committed to completing the secretariat projects currently being undertaking across the country “to demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to workers’ welfare and that will translate to enhanced productivity”. Also speaking at the Secretariat Complex site the State Governor, Engr. Sule expressed deep appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister for the number of infrastructure projects going on in the State including the new Secretariat. Earlier during the courtesy visit to his office, the Governor, who commended Fashola’s inspiring achievements as Governor of Lagos State and now as Minister, declared, “I have nothing else to say than to thank you, thank Mr. President for all the support Nasarawa State has continued to receive. You have mentioned clearly the Nasarawa-Loko-Oweto Bridge that you have completed and even the over N30 Billion that you have just recently approved at FEC in order for us to get that project completed for the 74 kilometre Road.” Fashola was accompanied on the one day working tour by top Ministry officials including Directors, the Controllers of Works and Housing in the State as well as Special Advisers.    ...