FG: House Committee on Works Inspects Federal Highway Projects in the North Central Zone ...Calls for quick completion of road projects. The House of Representatives Committee on Works has inspected the expansion of the 5.4 kilometers Abuja- Keffi expressway and the dualization of the 220 kilometers Keffi- Akwanga-Lifia- Makurdi Federal roads in the North- Central Geo-Political zone of the country. The purpose of this on-the-spot assessment by the Law makers was to ascertain the level of job done and the compliance level of the contractor handling the project. The Committee was led on the inspection by the Chairman, Honourable Abubakar Kabir Abubakar. He explained that it was part of their responsibilities to carry out regular oversight functions on critical infrastructure projects of the Federal Government in order to give value to the money spent on projects, pointing out that on this particular road project, government has spent billions of naira. Speaking on the funding of the project, he confirmed that it is a joint funding arrangement between Nigeria and China. "The project is being executed by the China Harbour Engineering Company limited through a Preferential Buyer's Credit loan from Export -Import Bank of China (CEXIM) with about Eight-five percent of the contract sum being from China and Nigeria is providing the other fifteen percent counterpart fund of the contract sum," he said. Taking the team on this tour of the project, the Chairman said that the project is very important as it connects the three states of Nasarawa, Benue and Enugu. On the project performance he said: " we have raised certain issues concerning some failed portions of the road and we have drawn the attention of the trio of the Consultant, Contractor and the Ministry to address all these issues. This he, assured will help avoid compromising standards, ensure quality and also enhance timely delivery." Responding to the issue of the failed portion especially on the section ll of the project, the Ministry's Project Implementation Unit: Road Sector Development Team led by the Senior Project Manager, Engineer Usoh Henry assured members of the Committee that urgent repairs are going to be carried out as soon as possible, more so since the Contractor has been notified of the failed portions. Speaking further on the project, Engineer Usoh said that the project is about 75% completed and reassured members of the Committee that the project was going to be delivered by April, 2023. According to him, the project was divided into two phases in order to ease its implementation. They are, Phase l; which is the dualization of Keffi- Akwanga- Lafia- Makurdi road and the Phase Il, the dualization of Makurdi-Otukpo- Obollo Afor-Enugu Road. Speaking about the quality of job done, Engineer Usoh said that the Contractor has been closely supervised as it is mandatory for all multi- laterally funded projects such as this road project requires.  He said that an Independent Consultant has being on site carrying out an unbiased supervision, monitoring and control of the project adding that the China EXIM Bank had also engaged its own Supervision Consultants to play their roles in accordance with International best Practices. ...

Fashola Commends Kano State Government on Infrastructural Development. The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has commended the government and people of Kano State on their commitment towards road infrastructure development in the state. Fashola gave the commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR, at Government House Kano, during the 28th National Council Meeting on Works which held in Kano. Fashola said that the Kano state government has made huge investment in road infrastructure development stressing how difficult it was to get to Kano during his first trip to Kano as a minister when the new government of Kano state came on board in 2015 at the peak of construction work but the result has become manifest and travel time within the metropolis has drastically reduced. “I extend my commendation to your government for the commitment you have made in improving infrastructure of Nigeria by the investment you made in infrastructure in Kano State. I know how difficult it was in my first trip here when you took office in 2015. The State Government then, was at the peak of construction work but the result has become manifest. Travelling time within the metropolis is better, that is what infrastructure does to facilitate growth and development,” said Fashola. The Minister revealed that Kano State has been at the forefront when it comes to issues relating to compensation on “Right of Way” during road construction by the Federal Government in the state, adding that the state government usually takes it upon itself and resolves compensation issues despite the fact that the law allows that the acquiring authority is the one obliged to pay compensation. “When we have issues relating to compensation for “Right of Way”, Kano State Government has stepped forward to say that land is a state matter. Kano State Government will solve the compensation matter within Kano State and resolve it.  It is a good example which other states are expected to commend and emulate because by law land is a sub national and state matter.  The Law describes that the acquiring authority is the one obliged to pay compensation,” said Fashola. Fashola publicly acknowledged the partnership Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has had by working with Kano State Government which he said has been very strategic and helpful to the mandate of the Ministry as directed by Mr. President. “I just wish to publicly acknowledge the partnership that we have benefitted as a ministry by working with you personally and working with your government that it has been very strategic and helpful to our mandate by Mr. President,” Fashola said. He added that the Federal Government is not competing with any state government, adding that it is the responsibility of federal government to support every state government to achieve its developmental objectives as conceived by the state government. “We are not competing with any state; after all we are the federal government.  Our responsibility is to support every state to achieve its developmental objectives as conceived by the state government,” said Fashola. Fashola thanked Kano State Governor for responding quickly when requested to acquire land to build a housing estate was made. He also disclosed that coincidentally Kano State has the highest number of the Ministry’s projects in the country that it is not only by distance but also by budget and cost.  He mentioned the Kano –Maiduguri Road that ends in kano, the Abuja – Kaduna – Kano Road, the Kano-Katsina Road among others that the state is blessed with and it is strategic for the development of our country. The Minister expressed his heart felt gratitude to Kano State Government for accepting to play host to this year’s 28th National Council on Works. While responding to the Honourable Minister, The Governor of Kano State, Dr, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje thanked the Federal Government for investing heavily on road infrastructure and housing development in the state.  He noted that before the coming into power of the present administration, many road projects in the state were abandoned, but now they are receiving commendable attention from the Federal Government. He acknowledged the good and working relationship between the Kano State Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure and the Federal Controller of Works Kano State Engr. Yahaya Ali, adding that it has helped to improve infrastructural works in the state. He thanked the Minister for accepting to host the 2022 National Council on Works Meeting in Kano State and assured all delegates maximum security and safety during their stay in Kano State. ...

El -Yakub on Familiarization Tour of Key Housing and Road Projects in Kano .....NHP Phase III, Kano Project to Begin Soon- Minister of State Works & Housing The Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing (HMSW&H) Hon.  Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub on Saturday visited the completed National Housing Programme (NHP) Phase I & II, construction of Kano (Dawakin Tofa) – Gwarzo – Dayi Road and construction of Kano Western By- Pass Road projects under the Ministry all in Kano State on a familiarization tour. The Minister expressed his happiness and satisfaction with the Kano NHP during his visit, which he called familiarization visit to the completed NHP phase I and II projects of 132 housing units of different configurations, "I am indeed happy with the quality of work, landscaping and the infrastructure put up in these phases of NHP, the third phase of Kano NHP will kick off soon at Dawakin Tofa Local Government in Kano State’’ he said El –Yakub said the location of the NHP I & II is a good choice in a decent environment with serenity, he continued, “the choice of this site, we owe it to the Government of Kano State for giving us the opportunity to site this project on this very piece of land, I appreciate many policies and programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari, unprecedented level of infrastructure has been delivered during this administration “.   The Minister said NHP was not only beneficial to the people of the State but to the people around the vicinity of the site, over 70, 000 direct and in-direct jobs were created, lives were impacted, people’s economy were improved because people have income due to NHP project. The Federal Controller of Works in Kano State, Engr Yahaya Ali conducted the Minister round the project of the construction of Kano (Dawakin Tofa) –Gwarzo –Dayi Road, he said ‘It is a major route in the Northern part of the Country which links Kano with many States in the Northwest and North Central geopolitical zones” The Minister while responding to the challenges of compensation for structures and land settlement along the Kano –Kastina road faced by the project contractor Messrs CGC Nigeria Ltd as explained by its Commercial Manager, Engr Mei Shou. The Minister said “We shall continue to engage the Kano and Katsina State governments so as to enhance the delivery period of our projects as the issue of compensation is been handled by the Ministry headed by Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and it shall be resolved sooner than later.  El –Yakub said the importance of the project cannot be over emphasized, it is an interstate road that needs to be reconstructed, it's one way carriage way would be dualized after the completion of the project, and the benefit of the road are enormous; it reduces the traffic on the street, it shortens the travel time which has an invaluable economic and social effect on the people. The Hon. Minister of State, Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub however,  expressed his dissatisfaction with the  contractor handling the construction of the Kano Western By-Pass Road during his visit to the construction site, he said government, stakeholders and the people of  Kano  are not happy with the slow pace of work on the road, he urged  the  Contractor handling the  project, Dantata & Sawoe Construction Co. Nigeria Ltd, whose  Project Manager ,  Engr Roy Nguishi  that the company has to redouble their pace of work while also reassuring them that their payments are been resolved. ...