President Buhari Commissions Federal Secretariat Lafia ...Names it after Justice Sidi Bage ...On this project, we are proud to say we have delivered-- Fashola The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR has commissioned the Federal Secretariat Lafia, Nasarawa over the weekend. The newly commissioned Secretariat complex which was built by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has also been named after a renowned Jurist and Legal personality, a respected Royal Father, a retired Honourable Justice of the Supreme Court and the current Emir of Lafai and Chairman of Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs. HRH. SIDI BAGE Welcoming Mr. President, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN said that upon the Ministry's recommendation, Mr. President approved the naming of the edifice after the retired Justice of the Supreme court, His Royal Highness, Sidi Bage. He added that it was in commemoration and laudable contribution of his public service activities especially in the Judiciary. According to Fashola the conference room of the complex also got the approval of Mr. President to be named after a very prominent Nasarawa State indigene in the person of late Mrs. Maimuna Katai for her hard work, courage, simplicity and honesty. Speaking of the complex, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola said that it is sitting on a 6,702 square meters of land and that it could accommodate 2000 to 2,300 staff in the 402 offices. He added that it has car park with the capacity to accommodate 300 cars and also other facilities. According to the Minister, the socio- economic impact of the project includes the creation of small businesses around the facility such as - Food Vendors, POS Kiosks and increased value of landed properties in Bulka Sidi Environs among others. Moreso, the Minister stressed that these Federal Secretariats are Federal Government symbols and images in the states. They are indeed National Monuments that bring all Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under one conducive working environment for improved productive and enhanced service delivery to the people of the state where they are sited. While thanking Mr. President for entrusting the Ministry with the project, he said: " We are proud to say that on this project, we have delivered." He acknowledged the contribution of the National Assembly for appropriating funding for the project. Also, he commended the State Governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule as well as the past Governor of the State Tanko Al-Makura for providing the peaceful and safe environment for the contractor to deliver the project. The President was accompanied to the commissioning ceremony by the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawal, Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Yaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi, the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Honourable Minister of Environment representing Nasarawa State St the Federal Executive Council, Barrister Abdullahi Mohammed amongst others. ...

Building Infrastructure Improves the Economy - Fashola Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has said that the Federal Government has committed so much money into infrastructure to ensure that people reap the benefit of it, saying that without infrastructure businesses cannot grow. Fashola made the remarks at the 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) that was held in Abuja. The Minister said road building in the country has improved dredging, granite, laterite and quarry businesses and NARTO is one of the major beneficiaries for moving goods and services during construction works. Fashola advised NARTO to enforce weight regulation from loading point for the safety of our roads and also ensure that their members are professionally trained drivers. In the same vein, the Minister told NARTO to create certification for its members and drivers must be made to maintain speed limit, as well as bringing a stop to the culture of repairing trucks by the roadside, suggesting that workshops or trucks should be created in all states and NARTO divisions across the country. In his remarks, NARTO President, Yusuf Lawal thanked President Buhari for making NARTO part of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Road Task Team that will supervises critical roads being handled by NNPC. Yusuf further disclosed that NARTO has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that its members would observe high level of sincerity and responsibility during and after the conduct of 2023 election while moving election materials around. Mr. Yemi Adetunji who represented NNPC at the event said NARTO was involved in almost all activities of its organization and they are a key player in realizing its objective of contributing to the National economy. He said NNPC is to support government to rehabilitate the road in Nigeria and they would ensure the petrol products is available for people through NARTO. The Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Corps Marshal Dauda Ali said “NARTO has been working with us for a long time and we will always advise them when it is necessary, we worked together to ensure a successful ember months period “ The Representative of Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Godwin Jarikre said “since 2020 we have been collaborating with NARTO for the benefit of Nigerians to ensure safe driving on the road and to ensure bad emission from their trucks are not affecting members of the public. We will advise that drivers look for tools to manage their trucks and NARTO should keep emphasizing on the training, education, medical fitness of drivers to ensure we have good transportation system in the country”. ...

Fashola Performs Ground Breaking of 116 FISH Housing Programme Units in Gwagwalada, FCT Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola has performed the official ground breaking ceremony of 116 housing units under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Programme in Gwagwalada town of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Thursday, January 19th, 2023. In his capacity as Special Guest of the occasion, in his address, the Minister described Civil Servants as Critical Component of Development in a Nation, that is why the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is paying special attention to their welfare needs in terms of Housing. The Minister who spoke in parables, reeled out many policy efforts being demonstrated by the present administration, targeted towards uplifting the welfare of Civil and Public Servants in Nigeria in order to make them comfortable to perform optimally. He listed among others; the Federal Government's support for States to clear their salaries liabilities; civil servants salary review; Pension reforms, and the removal of equity contribution of the Federal Mortgage Bank housing loan of below N5 million for Civil Servants. The Minister also commended the leadership of the Ministry's public building and housing directorate for their commitment in securing the land and development of the site master plan and infrastructure that has enabled developers' interest for investment. Accordingly, he assured the Gwagwalada community of government’s continued effort in developing the area, citing the recent tax credit policy investment on infrastructure, and happily the Abaji- Lokoja road is among the beneficiaries. Earlier in her keynote address, the Head of Service of the Fedration , Dr Folashade Yemi Esan thanked the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing under His Excellency, Babatunde Fashola for graciously providing the expansive land in a prime area spanning 5 hectares  . Dr Folashade described the ground breaking event as a watershed moment in accelerating attainment of government's agenda of ensuring the welfare of civil servants through the provision of affordable housing. Accordingly, she said, the FISH Programme was conceptualized as a vehicle to address the current housing deficit faced by civil servants consequent upon monetization policy that saw the selling of  government's quarters across the country. ...