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Tag: Babatunde Fashola

  • Buhari laying foundation for economic growth – Fashola

    Buhari laying foundation for economic growth – Fashola

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said on Saturday that President Muhammadu Buhari was laying the foundation for economic growth of Nigeria through infrastructure renewal.

    Fashola said this during an inspection of the Apapa-Wharf Road Reconstruction project and flag-off of the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki-Ojota Expressway in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Apapa-Wharf Road Reconstruction Project was done by AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd and financed by the Dangote Group, Nigerian Ports Authority and Flour Mills of Nigeria.

    The Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki-Ojota Expressway project, on the other hand, was awarded to the Dangote Group.

    Fashola described port access roads as “blood vessels” that serviced all activities in the ports

    He said they had, however, been abandoned alongside various federal highways by previous governments.

    The minister said that the Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki-Ojota Expressway was constructed between 1975 and 1978 and had not been expanded since then.

    He said that the major highways had been abandoned by previous administrations until President Buhari picked up the initiative to turn things around.

    “President Buhari is laying the foundation for economic growth that would release economic prosperity, create jobs. It is this road that releases the opportunity,” Fashola said.

    He thanked Dangote for investing in the development of Nigeria, pointing out that, four of Dangote’s firms paid about N22 billion as annual taxes to the Federal Government.

    The minister said that the two major ports in the nation had been overstretched, as they were designed to take 30 million metric tons but now took over 80 million metric tonnes of cargo.

    He said that the federal government was planning the construction of the Lekki and Badagry Sea Ports to complement the two major ones, to ease port congestion.

    Fashola appealed for patience of the road users as construction work commenced.

    Gov Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos while delivering his speech said that the project was the real Lagos solution to the problem of gridlock in the state.

    He said that interconnectivity of rail, road and water transportation was important.

    Ambode commended the Federal Government for its efforts in reviving the railway in conjunction with road projects to address gridlock, saying it would bring relief to residents of the state.

    “We are happy that this project has finally commenced,” he said.

    He promised to increase deployment of traffic and law enforcement agencies to the route to ensure smooth execution of the project.

    Sen. Kabiru Gaya, Chairman Senate Committee on Works, said that concrete should be adopted for road construction in the nation as it lasted more, to tackle the huge deficit in roads infrastructure.

    Also, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu said that the construction would solve the problem on flooding of the highway.

    “The project will reduce stress of commuting for us all,” she said.

    President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, while delivering a vote of thanks, commended the Federal Government for adoption of the Road Trust Fund, which gave the private sector opportunity to participate in infrastructure renewal.

    Dangote said that the nation was losing huge revenue due to bad roads and assured that his firm would pay “special attention” to the reconstruction of the highway by doing good quality job.

    He also thanked government for the proposed Lekki ports project and thanked other stakeholders and ministry officials for efforts in completing the Apapa Wharf Road Reconstruction project.

    Dangote promised to deliver the Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki-Ojota Expressway project ahead of schedule.

    “We will not disappoint you (Fashola) and Nigerians; we will make sure we do the best job.

    “We are advocating rigid pavement not because we sell cement but because we want to give Nigerians the best,” Dangote said.

    Representatives of Apapa and Ajegunle Residents Association, Truck Drivers and owners unions and various stakeholders took turns to commend the project and the economic development it will bring to Lagos and Nigeria.

    The 32 km Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki-Ojota Expressway project will include reconstruction of Creek Road, Liverpool Road, Beach land Estate Interchange, Cele Bus Stop through Anthony Village to the old Toll gate.

    It has a completion date of two years.

  • FG awards N206bn contract for main work of Second Niger Bridge

    FG awards N206bn contract for main work of Second Niger Bridge

    Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, says the Federal Government has awarded N206 billion contract for the main work on the Second Niger Bridge.

    Fashola who spoke in Abuja during an interactive session with newsmen noted that the contract was awarded to Julius Berger Construction Company.

    He said that the project, expected to be completed in 36 months would be funded under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF).

    According to him, funding the project under PIDF means that work will no longer stop on account of lack of funding.

    He said that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road projects would also be funded under PIDF.

    Fashola said that the contract for the main work on the Second Niger Bridge was awarded after the completion of the four phases of the project.

    He said that the early works were preliminary projects to be completed before the main work, adding that all the early works were done in the river and not visible from the existing bridge.

    According to him, with the award of the main work, there will be a lot of piling works in the water and that is what people will see.

     

  • We have delivered visible achievements – Fashola

    Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, says his ministry has delivered visible and qualitative achievements to Nigerians since his appointment in November, 2015.

    Fashola said this on Monday in Abuja at a media briefing to give the third year progress report of the ministry under his watch.

    He said the ministry had in a statement titled “Setting the Agenda for Delivering Change” in December 2015 set out what it inherited, plan to do and what Nigerians should expect from it.

    According to him, as at May 2015, many contractors have stopped work because of payment and many fathers and wives employed by them have been laid off.

    He said the possibility to return those who had lost their jobs back to work was the kind of change the ministry promised Nigerians.

    Fashola said that the progress report on public sector works relating to roads and bridges had confirmed that the ministry had fulfilled its promise.

    He said that the ministry had recovered the thousands of jobs that were lost as a result of an expansive infrastructure spending on works from N18.132 billion in 2015 to N394 billion in 2018.

    “The outcome is that there is not one state in Nigeria today where the Federal Government is not executing at least one road project with construction workers engaged on the sites.

    “Difficult or abandoned projects like the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos Ibadan Expressway and the Bodo-Bonny Bridge have been brought back to life.

    “Sections of Ilorin-Jebba, Sokoto to Jeba, Sokoto-Ilela have been completed, while progress of work continues nationwide.

    “Apart from recovered construction jobs and growth in construction sector of the economy, the feedback from road users is that the journey times are reducing on the completed roads,” he said.

    According to him, we acknowledge that the work is not finished, but as long as we remain able to finance the projects, I have no doubt that it will get better.

    He said that the ministry had extended its intervention on roads to universities to ensure that unattended internal roads were given attention.

    The minister said that 14 Federal Universities would benefit from the first phase of the intervention under the 2017 budget adding that more would be accommodated in the 2018 budget.

    NAN

  • Tinubu, Fashola, Adebule, others offer Eid prayers in Lagos

    The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, has urged Nigerians to eschew all forms of violence ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Adebule made the call on Tuesday at the Eid-prayers at Dodan Barracks Prayer Ground in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Among dignitaries who observed the Eid prayers are Chief Bola Tinubu, APC National Leader and Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works, Power and Housing and former governor of Lagos State.

    Adebule said a violence-free election would demonstrate to the world that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.

    “As another election year approaches, I urge Nigerians to conduct themselves peacefully.

    “I also urge us to pray for a peaceful coexistence, enhanced national security and continued development of our dear state, Lagos, and the country.

    “As we celebrate Sallah, we pray to God for wisdom to choose love instead of hatred, peace instead of violence and progress instead of stagnation.

    “By God’s grace, the future is bright as long as we allow the rule of law and peace to reign in the country, ” she said.

    The deputy governor also admonished Nigerians to pray for good governance and also sustain their support for Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration.

    Also, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, expressed regrets that rather than engage youths meaningfully, politicians had turned them to political thugs.

    Obasa urged Nigerian youths to aspire for political positions rather than allowing themselves being used as thugs to foment violence during and after the elections.

    “If anybody wants to use you, tell such politicians to bring his or her child. Do not allow yourself to be used.

    “My advice to the youths is that you should show interest in politics because you are not too young to run,” he said.

    Obasa promised to continue to promote the business of legislature in the interest of the people.

    In his message, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, (Lagos East), urged political office holders to keep to their electoral promises for the good of the people.

    In his sermon, Alhaji Sulaimon Abou-Nolla, the Chief Imam of Lagos, who led the prayer, said that participation in election was a civic duty of every adult citizen in a democratic government.

    Abou-Nolla urged every Muslim to get their Permanent Voter Cards to enable to participate in the forthcoming general elections.

    He said: “’You must ensure that you vote. It is a duty and vote for a righteous and just leader that will bring a positive change not corruption for the people.

    “We must also embrace peace and love for one another rather than killing. Life is sacred, do not kill for it is an unjust act.”

    The cleric enjoined Muslims to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice in their daily activities as exemplified by Prophet Mohammed.

     

  • Power generation rises to 7,000 mega watts, says Fashola

    Nigeria’s current power generation has reached 7000 Mega Watts, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has said.

    Fashola said this on Friday in Calabar at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing 4th Edition Retreat for top directors, heads of units and chief executives of agencies and parastatals.

    He said that although there was still more to be done, the ministry had moved forward from where it was three years ago.

    “Three years ago, the story was that power generation was the main problem of Nigeria. The story was that the distribution companies were complaining that they did not have enough energy to distribute to Nigerians.

    “We were distributing averagely 2,690 mega watts of electricity to Nigerians, but today, that story has changed, distribution has risen to 5,222 mega watts, an all time national high.

    “Transmission has reached 7,000 while generation has reached 7000. The problem has not finished but all we can say is that we have made progress.”

    The minister added that the Federal Government was constructing roads in virtually all the 36 states some of which were through collaborative efforts as well as direct interventions.

    According to him, the present administration has spent over N300 billion on roads construction since coming to power three years ago.

    “Before this administration, there was no housing policy but now we have one.”

    Fashola commended members of staff of the ministry for their support and teamwork, noting that without teamwork, the ministry would not have been able to achieve much.

    He said that the theme of the retreat which is “Goal Setting and Goal Reaching for a Focused Team,’’ was meant to reinforce the team spirit while setting out on its goals in the next 90 days.

    “It is a team that wins. We will go together as a team. If we bind together, everything is possible,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr Louis Edozien, said that the retreat was meant to appraise the performance of the ministry in the past 90 days.

    Edozien, who was represented by a Director, Mr Ahmed Abdul, added that the retreat would also afford the top management the opportunity to strategise on the plan of action for the next quarter.

    NAN

  • Fashola approves N133m compensation for 5 Abia communities

    Fashola approves N133m compensation for 5 Abia communities

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has approved the payment of N133 million compensation to Abia communities for land acquired for the construction of a trailer park on Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

    The Federal Controller, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr Chukwudike Nwankwo, spoke in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria on Friday during the minister’s inspection of the rehabilitation work on the Okigwe end of the expressway.

    Nwankwo said the ministry would commence the disbursement of the fund to the five communities in Umunneochi Local Government Area where the land for the project is located.

    “The minister has given approval for the payment of compensation of about N133 million. It is a very large parcel of land involving about five communities

    “We will commence the disbursement soon and once we are through, the construction of the park will start.”

    Nwankwo further said the minister had directed the immediate evacuation of the trailers from the two sides of the dual carriageway to allow for free-flow of traffic.

    He said that the ministry would also fence off the cattle market from the expressway.

    The controller commended the minister for attracting additional budgetary allocation which had made progress of work on road rehabilitation projects nationwide possible.

    Heavy duty trucks, trailers and the cattle market had spilled into the dual carriageway and hampered smooth traffic flow.

    Earlier, Mr Fouad Sarraf, the Area Manager, SETRACO Nig. Ltd., the contractor, complained that work was stalled at Lokpanta due to the overflow of the cattle market into the road and the presence of heavy duty truck.

    Addressing newsmen at the end of the inspection your, Fashola expressed delight that the use of SUKUK fund had brought tremendous progress on the project.

    He said the ministry would apply for another intervention from SUKUK so that more money would be made available to the contractors to ensure the completion of the project before the next rainy season.

    He said more than 40 per cent of the job had been done by SETRACO and hoped that one side of the dual carriageway would be completed and opened for traffic before December.

     

  • Fashola rejects completed houses, roads in Kebbi

    Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday warned that the Federal Government would not accept the 74 housing units and Jega-Yauri road project due to shoddy job.

    Fashola who inspected the two projects in Birnin Kebbi, told the contractors to undertake the project within specification otherwise the government would not accept them

    He observed that most of the roofing of the bungalows in the Federal Housing Estate and road culverts were not done properly.

    “The roofing is not standard and road culverts are not properly done. They have to reconstruct some of these buildings because we cannot accept them; their roofs are not well constructed,” he said.

    Similarly, Fashola told the contractor handling the Jega-Yauri road that he was not satisfied with the narrow culverts constructed along the road.

    “I am not satisfied with these culverts, you have to reconstruct them.

    “The government has overcome the challenges of funding but is now faced with the challenge of getting the project done in compliance with contractual agreement.

    “With all clear intention, we cannot do the work, we have to entrust the contractors to do the work for us, hence they should do it according to the agreement,” the minister said.

    Mr Walid AbouJaoude of TRIACTA Nigeria Limited handling the road project pledged that the company would do all the necessary corrections and complete the project on time.

    He said that the company had since completed the first phase of the 186 kilometre road project, which began from Sokoto, through Jega, Yauri and would terminate at Birnin Kebbi.

    NAN

  • FG concludes regulations on new class of meter suppliers

    The Federal Government says that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has concluded regulations that will provide framework to license new class meter suppliers in the country.

    The Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola made this known at the 25th monthly power sector meeting in Uyo.

    Fashola, in a text of his opening remark, said the framework would complement efforts of Distribution Companies (DisCos) to supply meters to Nigerians.

    According to the minister, Yola DisCo is already positioning to take up 400,000 meters once the contract and process formalities are concluded.

    “I am told that Abuja, Ibadan, Kano, Ikeja and Benin DisCos are also embracing the initiative, which has reserved a 30 per cent local content for the meters to be supplied under the regulations.”

    According to Fashola, government decision to pursue an out-of-court settlement on a meter contract awarded since 2003, held up in Court until 2017, has made available about N39 billion to start the process.

    He said incremental power initiative of government was yielding positive results, adding that the promise of steady power was becoming real.

    “If we persevere, I am certain that we will witness uninterrupted power, which is the final destination of our journey.

    “In many parts of the country connected to the grid, citizen feedback is positive, even though all the problems are not solved.

    “Citizens acknowledge more power in dry weather, reduced hours of running their generators and reduction in fuel (diesel and petrol) purchase to power generators.”

    He said it was cheery that Nigerians were already embracing the mini-grid policy and regulations to provide power for different uses.

    Fashola said “in Ogun State, a renewable energy project was completed and commissioned last month.

    “In Kano State, I commissioned a 73KW solar hybrid system developed by Rumbu Industries to support its mat production in a factory that employs 1,400 people.

    “Within the same period in Kano, I inspected the solar system being deployed in Sabon Gari Market that has 12,000 shops.

    According to him, about 3,000 shops have registered, while 486 shops have been connected to cheaper and more efficient solar power and more shops are being wired by 120 technicians employed by the project.

    He said government was moving away from theorising about power to actual provision of efficient power to support trade and business, especially small and medium enterprises, who are the drivers of our economy.

    According to him, government has secured a World Bank approval for 486 million dollars to fund TCN’s transmission expansion programme.

    The minister also said progress was being made with the same bank to secure funding for the rural electrification and distribution expansion programmes.

    He said TCN had completed the transmission expansion of some sub-stations to improve their capacity to supply power to the DisCos.

    He listed the sub-stations to include Uyo, Calabar, Keffi, Karu, and Abeokuta among others.

    Fashola implored operators, who were truly ready to run the business they have acquired voluntarily to continue to do so, adding that government would continue to support the sector.

    “As for those who entered the business without understanding it, please brace up for hard work and help us rebuild this country.

    “Those who choose to hide temporarily in the courts of law can do so, but the court of public opinion will scrutinise you and its verdict may be very scathing, unkind, and enduring.

    “I say this because you may not have noticed that Nigerians are increasingly taking their destiny in their hands.

    “This is the essence of privatisation. If you bother to look up and around you, you will see solar panels on rooftops.

    “The mini grid regulations allow them to procure 1MW without license. This is bigger than what many traditional generators supply. There is no law that compels them to take public power.”

     

  • Nigeria to spend N270 billion on bridges – Fashola

    Nigeria to spend N270 billion on bridges – Fashola

    Nigeria’s Power, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday said Nigeria will spend about N270 billion over three years for the rehabilitation of 50 bridges in the country, following the decay of many of the existing ones.

    The government plan to start with about N70 billion to N100 billion in year one, Fashola said when inspecting the rehabilitation of Lagos Ring Road Bridge Abutment and Approach to the Third Mainland Bridge project in Lagos.

    He said government would start work on “very critical ones’’ so that the bridges do not collapse before moving to the less critical ones.

    “Many of the bridges we built in the country over the last four, five decades have not been under any form of maintenance.

    “We now have a three-year plan affecting over 50 bridges across the country for maintenance, repairs and restoration,’’ Fashola said.

    The minister directed engineers to begin work to realign the Apongbon bridge.

    He said some columns and beams of Nigeria’s longest bridge, Third Mainland, were threatened because of human activities, sand filling and ecological factors which resulted in erosion.

    “The work we have come to inspect was awarded some years back when there was an indication of some mis-alignments here on the Lagos Outer Ring Road which is the beginning of what leads on to the Third Mainland Bridge itself which is just about here.

    “And it is being caused by erosion, sand filling and other activities. This road has moved as a result of some sub-soil displacement,’’ Fashola said.

    He said that the project which was slowed down by funding would be completed in November.

    He decried indiscriminate parking and trading activities in some parts of Ebute Ero toward the Third Mainland Bridge.

    Fashola warned that government would take action soon.

    “I want to appeal to those people who use those areas as car parks and trading to start moving voluntarily in their own best interest.

    “We intend to repose our right of way while work is going on on the Outer Marina to free traffic,’’ he said.