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.    ...

We Must Maintain The Infrastructure We Build – Fashola ...Emphasizes maintenance of infrastructure as critical job creation and sustenance strategy ..Bauchi State Government acknowledges President Buhari’s infrastructure development strides The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has charged participants at the 27th Meeting of the National Council on Works in Bauchi, Bauchi State to activate the infrastructure maintenance economy in their respective states in order to create wealth and sustain long term jobs for citizens. Addressing Council Members at the 27th Meeting of the National Council on Works the Minister said since the implementation of the Marshall plan in 1948, after the Second World War, it has become clear to any serious-minded economist or politician that infrastructure provision is critical to development, growth, wealth creation, employment and prosperity. Speaking on the theme of the 27th Meeting of the National Council on Works: “Infrastructure Delivery, Maintenance Economy and National Prosperity”, he said: “I hope it would help all of us focus on, not just the importance of the investment in infrastructure, but more importantly on the maintenance of infrastructure, the economy around maintenance and sustainable and long-lasting jobs that are created through maintenance.” According to Fashola, the heart of the matter and the message participants should all take home from the Meeting of the 27th Meeting of the National Council on Works is on what should be done in addition to building infrastructure, in order to keep the jobs on. “The answer, Ladies and Gentlemen is simple. We must maintain the infrastructure we build,” he charged all and sundry. Speaking on maintenance economy, he said: “This is important for many reasons, the first of which is that it preserves the life of the infrastructure and get the best value for the money we spent on it.” He explained further that maintenance economy is a critical contributor and driver of GDP in many economies around the world. He said: “You will notice that I have spoken about a “maintenance economy” not a “maintenance culture.” This is because maintenance is not a cultural thing, it is an existential matter of survival, bread and butter and income.” “Available data shows that in the “built industry” only about 30% of the manpower is employable by design and construction which lasts until the project is completed; while the remaining 70% are employed in the process of “operation” and “maintenance” of the infrastructure,” he said. Speaking on the need for investment on infrastructure, the Minister said that the nations that are richer have more infrastructure than the country and in order to bridge this gap must invest saying that “No nation or community can grow bigger than the stock of infrastructure.” He explained: “Infrastructure also helps to make people efficient, it creates competition and leads to productivity. Currently the Federal Government is executing 895 contracts in 795 projects spanning over 13,000 km of roads and bridges nationwide.” Delivering his opening address, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed who was represented by the Deputy-Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Baba Tela acknowledged the contributions of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration on infrastructure development across the country. The Governor further said that his  administration was also focused on reversing the trend of infrastructure deficit and decay that has held back the socio-economic development of the state. He said: “As a deliberate policy, we have since assumption of office over two years ago, embarked on the provision of infrastructure that has direct bearing on the socio-economic life of our people.” Speaking on infrastructure renaissance, he said that the state had embarked on accelerated urban renewal and rural development programme. “Within the last two years, our government has completed or about to complete over twenty-five roads covering over 200 kilometres in urban and semi urban areas across the state,” he said. He commended the Federal Government for the support of the state urban renewal drive through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. “We are particularly appreciative of President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the expansion of dual carriage ways of two major Federal Highways that lead into Bauchi metropolis. In his remarks the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing,  Babangida Hussaini thanked all Council members for attending the Council meeting and urged them to go back and implement all Council resolutions. In attendance at the 27th Meeting of the National Council on Works were the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, representative of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Commissioners of Works  across the states of the country,the Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, the Permanent Secretaries of Ministry of Works from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, captains in the built industry and other critical stakeholders in the works sector of the economy. After the Council Meeting, the Honourable Minister inspected the expansion of the Bauchi-Ningi dual carriage way and the Phase 1 of the 2016 National Housing Programme in Bauchi. On the National Housing Programme, the Minister said that the one, two and three bedroom semi-detached bungalows are meant for all and that subscription to it would be done online through a dedicated portal to ensure transparency and avoid undue human interference.   ...

NIESV Agrees with Fashola on Need for Accurate Data Bank for Housing The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) Thursday in Abuja corroborated the assertion of the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr.  Babatunde Fashola, SAN that Nigeria does not have a 17million housing deficit. President of NIESV, ESV Emmanuel Okas Wike, who corroborated the long-held standpoint when the Institution paid a courtesy visit to the Minister, said the body was in full agreement with the Minister on the fact that the figure which had been bandied in the country for a long time had no scientific proof. The NIESV President in his opening remarks at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Mabushi, told the Minister, “We are in total agreement with you on the unreliability of the 17million housing deficit being brandished in Nigeria for lacking scientific proof. We are using this opportunity to reaffirm the importance of data bank and our commitment to the provision of property data bank for all state capitals and major cities in Nigeria.’’ He disclosed that plans were ongoing to carry out enumeration of wasting and abandoned properties across the state capitals, most of which, according to him, belongs to government at various levels, adding that the Institute would then make recommendations on what could be done with them. In his remarks, Fashola said, ‘there is more demand in housing due to people that move from rural areas to urban centres to squat in the city, and when demand exceeds supply there will be scarcity adding that the solution lay in having accurate data of empty houses in the cities. The Minister, who expressed delight that the endorsement by NIESV on the non-existence of the 17 million housing deficit in Nigeria put an authoritative seal on the controversy, charged the Institute to come up with accurate data on the housing issue adding that such a data would help towards solving the housing problem. While commenting on the Land Use Act, the Minister said, “The law is not the problem, it is not enough to say repeal the law, the communities fighting over land resulted in enacting the Land Use Act. Every section of the Land Use Act has been interpreted by the Supreme Court. Administration of the law is the problem rather than the law itself.” ...