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. ...

Nigeria To Host 42nd Annual General Meeting of Shelter-Afrique in May 2023   More than 200 delegates drawn from the 44 African member countries comprising Honourable Ministers, senior government officials, representatives from the financial service sector and organisations within the housing delivery spectrum attended Shelter Afrique's 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Symposium from 25th - 29th July, 2022 at the Elephant Hills Hotel in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. It was held under the theme ‘Climate Change and the Built Environment.’ The Government of Nigeria’s delegation to the 2022 AGM and Symposium was led by the Honourable Minister of State Works and Housing, Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub who was accompanied by other senior Government Officials and functionaries. With its Headquarters in Kenya, Nairobi, Shelter Afrique is the only Pan-African Finance Institution that exclusively supports the development of the housing and the real estate sector in Africa. It was established in 1982 by African Governments, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and African Reinsurance Corporation (African-Re) and is dedicated to providing funding solutions for affordable housing projects across Africa. Nigeria is a founding member of the Organization and holds priority position as the second largest shareholder with investments exceeding USD 30,000 representing 15.8 per cent of its shareholding, coming behind Kenya with 17.27 per cent, and ahead of the AfDB at 12.78 per cent. Nigeria hosted the West African Regional office of Shelter-Afrique established in 2014, and hosted the 13th and 36th Annual General Meetings of the Organization in Abuja in 1994 and 2016 respectively. Over the years, Shelter Afrique has worked in partnership with the Real Estate Developers Association (REDAN), State Governments and other property financiers and developers to curb Nigeria’s housing deficit, and recently in April, 2022 successfully raised a N46bn five and seven-years tenure Naira dominated bonds at 13 and 13,5 per cent respectively to further boost Nigeria’s housing supply and provide affordable housing. Once again, the capital city of Abuja, Nigeria is billed to host the 42nd AGM of shelter-Afrique in Abuja in the second week of May, 2023. As the main policy organ of the Organization, the 41st Shelter Afrique AGM held in Zimbabwe provided a forum for shareholders to collectively review and deliberate on the performance and continued growth of the Organization. A new Bureau of the General Assembly to run the Company for the next one year was elected comprising, the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Honourable Daniel Garwe (Zimbabwe) as Chairperson, Minister of Works and Housing, Honourable Raji Babatunde Fashola (Nigeria) as 1st Vice-Chairperson and Minister of Infrastructure, Honourable Dr. Ernest Nsabimana (Rwanda) as 2nd Vice-Chairman. The AGM also reviewed the Reports and Accounts for the financial year ended 31st December, 2021 and appointed new directors and External Auditors for the Company among other important administrative and organizational matters set to put the Organization on a progressive part of growth. The accompanying Annual Symposium at the 41st AGM which focused on ‘Climate Change and the Built Environment’ is one of the key activities of Shelter Afrique’s 2020-2025 strategy for disseminating information on topical issues. Driven by its Centre of Excellence and the need for research-based housing solutions, the Annual Symposium is designed to be an avenue for collaboration and synthesizing information, knowledge, best practices and innovations on housing and urban development issues to the wider African housing financing and production market. It has over the years served to document and disseminate information to African countries, stakeholders, and key partners. and provided solutions for better housing strategies. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years have seen the world witness dramatic changes that have directly impacted the built environment and Climate Change which informed the theme for the 41st AGM. Climate Change has a significant influence on the social and environmental determinants of health, clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and housing security, and continues to affect day to day living, including making the provision of safe, habitable, weather proof shelter major challenges. The Symposium saw many seasoned experts address these pertinent issues, and introduce new technologies and innovations to ensure provision of good weather proof structures. As a Pan African housing development financier, a Roundtable Session of African Finance Ministers and Reserve Banks’ Governors on the theme: The Role of Central Banks in African Housing Markets was also held on the side-lines of Shelter-Afrique’s 41st AGM as part of its main activities. Central Banks the world over is considered an integral part of the economic and financial system of a nation and have a critical mandate to achieve and maintain price stability, maintain the financial system’s stability, define monetary policy and act as lenders of last resort. This central role of Central Banks was discussed in all its ramifications, and solutions and strategies were proffered by the Roundtable for further strengthening of its role in the real estate sector and provision of more efficient and effective service delivery. Another major highlight of the Shelter-Afrique’s 41st AGM was the signing of the Host Agreement for the Shelter Afrique 42nd AGM on Thursday 28th July 2022 between the Government of Nigeria represented by the Honourable Minister of State Works and Housing, Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub and Shelter Afrique represented by the Acting Managing Director Mr. Kingsley Muwowo, It signaled the commitment by the Government of Nigeria to host Shelter Afrique’s 42nd AGM earmarked for the second week of May 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria. The agreement spells out the Annual General Meeting, a Ministerial roundtable and interlinked business activities as some of the events that will constitute the proceedings. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Honourable Ministers, senior government officials and other stakeholders. The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, SAN will succeed Zimbabwe as Chairman during the 42nd Annual General Meeting in Abuja in 2023. The Government of Nigeria is expected to ensure effective organisation and success of the meetings by undertaking to contribute to the physical arrangements in collaboration with Shelter-Afrique. The Honourable Minister of State Works and Housing, Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub speaking as the first Vice Chairperson of the Shelter Afrique Bureau of the General Assembly expressed the Government of Nigeria’s pleasure to host the next AGM of Shelter-Afrique. He appreciated how things had come full circle when in 2016 Nigeria hosted the AGM when Shelter-Afrique was facing similar turbulence, and Nigeria steadied the ship and handed stewardship to Zimbabwe, and noted that Zimbabwe also now had an opportunity to do the same for Nigeria. He encouraged all shareholders to play similar roles when required to advance the cause for affordable housing in Africa. Nigeria’s Minister further observed that Nigeria recently contributed capital of US$7.1 million to the organisation which demonstrated the country’s commitment to Shelter-Afrique and the ideal of African Multilateralism. He also called for the organisation to deliver on its promise to add Shareholder Value and to swing into more positive action. He expressed gratitude to Shelter Afrique for putting together avenues for dialogues during the AGMs, and urged that frameworks be included that respective member countries can take back to their countries for implementation, a role which Nigeria will continue to advance as a member of the 41st Bureau of Shelter Afrique. Honourable Minister Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub also observed that Shelter Afrique’s return to Nigeria for its 42nd AGM demonstrated the Organization’s renewed interest in Nigeria and anticipated great returns towards housing delivery in the country. He noted that the gains to be accrued by Nigeria through hosting the AGM include regional integration, tourism and business linkages, and would also highlight Shelter Afrique’s role as a catalyst in the industry and its ability to leverage partnerships. He appreciated Shelter Afrique for bestowing trust upon Nigeria as a Nation by selecting it as its venue of choice. Also, as part of the week-long 41st AGM and Symposium activities Hon. Gen (Rtd) Dr. Constantino Chiwenga, the Vice President of Zimbabwe, officiated the ground-breaking ceremony for 164 units blocks of walk-up flats for Victoria Falls. The project is part of a revolving fund built in partnership with the private sector. The flats will be sold to affording citizens, targeting middle income earners in line with the Government’s primary focus to provide social housing for every worker including civil servants, in Victoria Falls and the countrywide can to address the housing backlog. A building and housing exhibition also ran parallel to the AGM for its week-long duration. ...