Federal Ministry of
Works and Housing (FMWH)
Federal Republic of Nigeria
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Minister Federal Ministry Of Works And Housing Mr Babatunde Fashola (San).
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Inspection Tour Of Houses For The National Housing Scheme.
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Joint Commissioning Of Two-Lane Border Bridge Over The Cross River At The Nigeria-Cameroon Border.
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Feb
02
2023

LATEST PRESS

Implementation Of Phase Two Of NNPC-Funded Tax Credit Scheme On 44 Road Projects Nationwide Gains Momentum

•      As Fashola Convenes Stakeholders’ Meeting, unveil roads  
•      Describes policy as a very defining legacy for President Buhari
•      NNPCL, FIRS other stakeholders pledge to sustain funding till completion
•      Contractors pledge timely delivery of quality road infrastructure
•      This Minister has set a record of achievements – NARTO President

With appreciable progress being made in the first Phase, the implementation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and Federal Inland Revenue Service (NNPCL/FIRS) Second Phase for the rehabilitation and construction of 44 critical roads across the country under the Tax Credit Scheme initiative of the Federal Government gained momentum Tuesday as the Minister of Works and Housing convened a meeting of the Stakeholders and briefed the press while also unveiling the roads.

The Meeting came barely a fortnight after the approval of the Memorandum on the proposal by the NNPC and its subsidiaries, NNPC Exploration and Production (NEPL) and NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) to undertake the rehabilitation of 44 roads spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The selected roads, amounting to 4,554.19 kilometres, include those in the South-South zone which are the Completion of Benin-Warri Dual Carriageway, Edo/Delta States; East-West Road, (Section I) Warri-Kaiama in Delta/Bayelsa States; East-West Road (Section II –I) Port Harcourt-Ahoada in Rivers State; East-West Road (Section II-II) Ahoada-Kaiama in Rivers/Bayelsa States and East-West Road (Section III) Onne Junction-Eket in Akwa Ibom State.

Others are Dualization of East-West Road (Section IV) Eket-Oron also in Akwa Ibom; Upgrading of 15-kilometre Port Harcourt-Onne Junction (Section IIIA) in Rivers State; Construction of Eket Bypass (Dual Carriageway) in Akwa Ibom State; Dualization of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana Junction-Benin Section II Phase I: Okene-Auchi, Kogi/Edo States; Dualization of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana Junction-Benin Section III Phase I: Auchi-Ehor, Kogi/Edo States; Dualization of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana Junction-Benin Section IV Phase I: Ehor-Benin City; and Nembe-Brass Road in Bayelsa State. All the roads amount to a total of 1,308.3 kilometres.

The North East Zone has a total of 1,054 kilometres consisting of Rehabilitation of Yola-Mubi-Maiduguri Road in Adamawa/Borno States; Rehabilitation of Maiduguri - Monguno Road; Rehabilitation of Numan-Jalingo Road in Taraba/Adamawa States; Rehabilitation of Yola-Hong-Mubi Road in Adamawa State; Reconstruction of Bali-Serti-(Gashaka)-Gembu Road in Taraba State; and Rehabilitation of Yashi - Deguri - Yalo Road in Bauchi State.

North Central zone has 763.13 kilometres consisting of Rehabilitation of Minna-Zungeru-Tegina-Kontagora Road in Niger State, Section I: Minna-Tegina; Rehabilitation of Minna-Zungeru-Tegina-Kontagora Road in Niger State, Section II: Tegina-Kontagora; Shendam-Yelwa-Mato Junction-Taraba Border with Spurs in Plateau/Taraba States; Dualization of Suleija-Minna Road in Niger State: and Dualization of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana Junction-Benin Section I Phase I: Obajana-Okene, Kogi State.

Others include the Reconstruction of the existing Pavement and Completion of the additional Pavement on the Dualisation of Abuja - Lokoja Highway Section Ill: Abaji - Koton Karfe Road in Abuja/ Kogi State; Construction of the Jarmai-Bashar-Zuruk-Andame-Karim Lamido Road in Plateau and Taraba States; Reconstruction and Expansion of Mararaba - Keffi Road in Nasarawa State.

The North West Zone has a total of 980 Kilometres of roads being reconstructed consisting of Dualization of Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto Road in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States: Section I Zaria-Funtua-Gusau; Dualization of Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto Road in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States: Section II Gusau-Sokoto Road; Dualization of Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto Road in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States: Section II Gusau-Sokoto Road in Zamfara State; Dualization of Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto Road in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States: Section III Gusau-Sokoto Road in Zamfara and Sokoto States; Dualization and Construction of Kano-Kwanar Dauja-Hadejia Road in Kano/Jigawa States, Section I. Tsalle-Hadejia; Dualization and Construction of Kano-Kwanar Dauja-Hadejia Road in Kano/Jigawa States, Section II. Kano-Tsalle; and Rehabilitation of Kaduna-Pambeguwa-Jos Road in Kaduna/Plateau States.

South East has 297.52 kilometres of roads consisting of Rehabilitation of Aba - Owerri Road NNPC Depot Expressway, Abia State; Rehabilitation of Otuocha - Anam- Nzam- Innoma-Iheaka- Ibaji Section of Otuocha - Ibaji-Odulu-Ajegwu in Anambra State; Construction of Ihiala-Orlu-Umuduru Road (Ihiala-Amaifeke Section) and Completion of Spur in Isseke Town-Amafuo-Uli in Imo/Anambra States.

It also includes Rehabilitation of Old Enugu - Onitsha Road (Opi Junction - Ukehe Okpatu-Aboh Udi-Oji to Anambra Border) in Enugu State; Construction of Omor-Umulokpa Road in Anambra and Enugu States; Rehabilitation of Ozalla-Akpugo-Amagunze-Ihuokpara-Nkomoro-Isu-Onicha (Enugu-Onicha) with a Spur to Onunweke in Enugu State; and Rehabilitation of Old Enugu – Port Harcourt Road (Agbogugu-Abia Border Spur to Mmaku) in Enugu State.

The South-West has a total of 150.56 Km of roads consisting of Rehabilitation and Expansion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway (Agbara Junction-Nigeria/Benin Border) in Lagos State; Dualization of Akure-Ita Ogbolu-Iju-Ado Ekiti State Road, Section I: Akure - Ita Ogbolu - Iju - Ekiti State Border in Ondo State; and Dualization of Akure-Ita Ogbolu-Iju-Ado Ekiti State Road, Section II: Ita Ogbolu - Iju – Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

In his remarks at the Meeting and Press Briefing, Fashola described the public private sector agreement as a very defining legacy for President Muhammadu Buhari pointing out that the impact of the “very innovative investment policy” would help Nigeria to really do business both locally and internationally being a sound infrastructure-based investment policy on which business is done.

The Minister, who recalled that back in 2015 at the inception of the Buhari Administration, contractors were being owed two to three years’ payment arrears resulting in the shutdown of many project sites and laying off of construction workers by the companies, added that the Buhari administration arrested the situation by budgetary expansion from N18 billion for the whole of Nigeria’s road by the previous administration to N260 billion in 2016.

“You were being owed”, the Minister reminded the contractors at the Meeting. “Some of the complaints that I heard at the first meetings that I had with many of you when I was first appointed Minister were that you were paid only 10 percent advance payment two or three years ago. That was how bad the construction industry was when we started”, he said adding that some of the roads were contracted back to “the private sector” to go and raise fund to finance them.

Fashola, who also recalled that the roads contracted to the private sector, included the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge, among others, added, “But where was the private sector going to raise hundreds of billions of Naira to fund them”. He explained that the Buhari administration had to utilize more practical funding initiatives like SUKUK.

Recalling the controversies and criticisms that followed the borrowing option which the administration chose to fund the road and bridge projects, the Minister, who acknowledged the concern of the people over debt, however, added, that the debts “are buying roads, bridges, airports and seaports, assets that will last and sustain Nigeria’s development for the next 50 years”.

He pointed out that the administration also met debt when it took power adding, however, that the difference between it and its predecessor was that the debts it met on assumption of office in 2015 had no assets attached to them while the Buhari administration invested its debts on infrastructure assets. He said the choices at the time were either borrow or increase taxation noting that without any of the choices, the economy would collapse.

Faced with the choices, the Minister said, the administration took the borrowing option and also utilized an expansionist fiscal budget from N18 billion to N260 billion, adding that it thereafter supported the SUKUK and also went to recover some of the monies taken away from this country which today, according to him, “are building Abuja-Kano Highway, Lagos-Ibadan and the nearly completed 2ndNiger Bridge”.

Giving a brief history of the NNPC/FIRS agreement, Fashola, who said that the NNPCL was investing its resources into infrastructure, explained the ideology of the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme as “a new model of partnership with the private sector companies whereby government is saying, “Give me my tax in advance and I will invest it in infrastructure”.

“That model is why all of you are here”, he told the audience consisting of funding agencies and government representatives as well as contractors and newsmen adding that the innovation “shows the clear difference between two different government policies and it shows how they affect your businesses”.

On the 44 roads, Fashola, who explained that many of them have been contracted but without funds to execute them, told the contractors, “This intervention, therefore, is to complete those roads and the NNPCL is providing the fund. And this is the crux; because it means that whether we are here, Buhari is here but is going in the next four months, there is sustainability in the completion of these roads. And they have assured me that when you work to specification, the money is there”.

Noting that there are 21 roads in Phase One of the Scheme covering 1,804.6 kilometres, Fashola explained that there are other interventions by other groups like the Dangote Group, the NLNG Group in Bodo-Bonny, the MTN Group in Enugu-Onitsha Highway and others adding that this represented a very defining moment for the construction industry and allied industries.

The Minister appealed to all the communities encroaching on the right-of-way along the road corridors to vacate the places adding that all the claims for compensation by people who have encroached on such right-of-way would not be honoured while they must quit the encroached places or risk forceful ejection.

“Our right-of-way is 45.75 metres from both sides of the centre line. Many of the people who have built petrol stations and shops are inside our right-of-way. We will not pay compensation to those who have trespassed into our land, so they must leave”, he said appealing, however, that where the government needs right-of-way outside its zone, State governments, Village and Traditional Heads should appeal to their people to allow passage.

Fashola added, “These roads are not taking away your lands rather they are bringing prosperity to you and we expect that in the process of nation building everyone must be ready to contribute something”.

Highlighting the benefits of the revitalized construction industry to the economy, the Minister declared, “We have increased the number of quarrying companies, sand quarrying has also increased from 247 to 302. Granite quarrying companies have also increased from 334 to 655 and those who are quarrying laterite have increased from 108 to 259”.

Describing quarrying as a driver of the construction industry, the Minister who said it is impossible to build roads without laterite and granite, added “And this translates to jobs as we build more quarries. I am sure members of NARTO and NURTW who are here can begin to calculate how many trucks trips and how much income that could bring. I was at their AGM recently and the least they could say is “Business is good”. This is the impact of a policy that is driving the economy”.

The Minister also cautioned the Contractors against variation in the contract noting that the agreement was very specific on the variation. He declared, “So if you are going to ask for variation please opt out and say you cannot carry on with the programme. That is one of the reasons we are signing the agreement; and that is from the investors’ side because they are not factoring in variation”.

He appealed to the financiers for timely payment of certificates for work done adding, “We need to improve the governance side of payment so that when receipts come, payments should not be delayed unnecessarily. Delayed payments increase the chances of variation. So, it is critical now that we also, with dispatch, sign the contracts when we are able, start the work so that we can process all the advance payments”.

He urged the legal department of the Ministry to hasten the preparation of the documents so the agreement could be signed soon adding, “We have just finished our EMBER Months programme so this meeting is very strategic and we should handle it properly. The NNPC and FIRS are ready to go. So, I call on our legal department to accelerate the completion of this agreement.

The Minister also warned the contractors, “Quality must not be compromised; they will have their own consultants. So, if their consultant queries the quality of your job, you don’t get paid. We don’t have the money; they have the money”.

Those who spoke at the event included the Group Managing Director of NNPCL represented by the Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Umar Ajiya, the Chairman of the FIRS, Mr. Mohammed Nami, who all pledged to ensure the success of the Scheme, representatives of the contractors and President of NARTO, President of the NURTW who all hailed the Buhari administration and the Minister for driving the economy positively through massive investment in infrastructure. According to the NARTO President, “This Minister has set a record of achievements”.

Feb
02
2023

Implementation Of Phase Two Of NNPC-Funded Tax Credit Scheme On 44 Road Projects Nationwide Gains Momentum •      As Fashola Convenes Stakeholders’ Meeting, unveil roads   •      Describes policy as a very defining legacy for President Buhari •      NNPCL, FIRS other stakeholders pledge to sustain funding till completion •      Contractors pledge timely delivery of quality road infrastructure •      This Minister has set a record of achievements – NARTO President With appreciable progress being made in the first Phase, the implementation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and Federal Inland Revenue Service (NNPCL/FIRS) Second Phase for the rehabilitation and construction of 44 critical roads across the country under the Tax Credit Scheme initiative of the Federal Government gained momentum Tuesday as the Minister of Works and Housing convened a meeting of the Stakeholders and briefed the press while also unveiling the roads. The Meeting came barely a fortnight after the approval of the Memorandum on the proposal by the NNPC and its subsidiaries, NNPC Exploration and Production (NEPL) and NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC) to undertake the rehabilitation of 44 roads spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country. The selected roads, amounting to 4,554.19 kilometres, include those in the South-South zone which are the Completion of Benin-Warri Dual Carriageway, Edo/Delta States; East-West Road, (Section I) Warri-Kaiama in Delta/Bayelsa States; East-West Road (Section II –I) Port Harcourt-Ahoada in Rivers State; East-West Road (Section II-II) Ahoada-Kaiama in Rivers/Bayelsa States and East-West Road (Section III) Onne Junction-Eket in Akwa Ibom State. Others are Dualization of East-West Road (Section IV) Eket-Oron also in Akwa Ibom; Upgrading of 15-kilometre Port Harcourt-Onne Junction (Section IIIA) in Rivers State; Construction of Eket Bypass (Dual Carriageway) in Akwa Ibom State; Dualization of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana Junction-Benin Section II Phase I: Okene-Auchi, Kogi/Edo States; Dualization of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana Junction-Benin Section III Phase I: Auchi-Ehor, Kogi/Edo States; Dualization of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana Junction-Benin Section IV Phase I: Ehor-Benin City; and Nembe-Brass Road in Bayelsa State. All the roads amount to a total of 1,308.3 kilometres. The North East Zone has a total of 1,054 kilometres consisting of Rehabilitation of Yola-Mubi-Maiduguri Road in Adamawa/Borno States; Rehabilitation of Maiduguri - Monguno Road; Rehabilitation of Numan-Jalingo Road in Taraba/Adamawa States; Rehabilitation of Yola-Hong-Mubi Road in Adamawa State; Reconstruction of Bali-Serti-(Gashaka)-Gembu Road in Taraba State; and Rehabilitation of Yashi - Deguri - Yalo Road in Bauchi State. North Central zone has 763.13 kilometres consisting of Rehabilitation of Minna-Zungeru-Tegina-Kontagora Road in Niger State, Section I: Minna-Tegina; Rehabilitation of Minna-Zungeru-Tegina-Kontagora Road in Niger State, Section II: Tegina-Kontagora; Shendam-Yelwa-Mato Junction-Taraba Border with Spurs in Plateau/Taraba States; Dualization of Suleija-Minna Road in Niger State: and Dualization of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana Junction-Benin Section I Phase I: Obajana-Okene, Kogi State. Others include the Reconstruction of the existing Pavement and Completion of the additional Pavement on the Dualisation of Abuja - Lokoja Highway Section Ill: Abaji - Koton Karfe Road in Abuja/ Kogi State; Construction of the Jarmai-Bashar-Zuruk-Andame-Karim Lamido Road in Plateau and Taraba States; Reconstruction and Expansion of Mararaba - Keffi Road in Nasarawa State. The North West Zone has a total of 980 Kilometres of roads being reconstructed consisting of Dualization of Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto Road in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States: Section I Zaria-Funtua-Gusau; Dualization of Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto Road in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States: Section II Gusau-Sokoto Road; Dualization of Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto Road in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States: Section II Gusau-Sokoto Road in Zamfara State; Dualization of Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto Road in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States: Section III Gusau-Sokoto Road in Zamfara and Sokoto States; Dualization and Construction of Kano-Kwanar Dauja-Hadejia Road in Kano/Jigawa States, Section I. Tsalle-Hadejia; Dualization and Construction of Kano-Kwanar Dauja-Hadejia Road in Kano/Jigawa States, Section II. Kano-Tsalle; and Rehabilitation of Kaduna-Pambeguwa-Jos Road in Kaduna/Plateau States. South East has 297.52 kilometres of roads consisting of Rehabilitation of Aba - Owerri Road NNPC Depot Expressway, Abia State; Rehabilitation of Otuocha - Anam- Nzam- Innoma-Iheaka- Ibaji Section of Otuocha - Ibaji-Odulu-Ajegwu in Anambra State; Construction of Ihiala-Orlu-Umuduru Road (Ihiala-Amaifeke Section) and Completion of Spur in Isseke Town-Amafuo-Uli in Imo/Anambra States. It also includes Rehabilitation of Old Enugu - Onitsha Road (Opi Junction - Ukehe Okpatu-Aboh Udi-Oji to Anambra Border) in Enugu State; Construction of Omor-Umulokpa Road in Anambra and Enugu States; Rehabilitation of Ozalla-Akpugo-Amagunze-Ihuokpara-Nkomoro-Isu-Onicha (Enugu-Onicha) with a Spur to Onunweke in Enugu State; and Rehabilitation of Old Enugu – Port Harcourt Road (Agbogugu-Abia Border Spur to Mmaku) in Enugu State. The South-West has a total of 150.56 Km of roads consisting of Rehabilitation and Expansion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway (Agbara Junction-Nigeria/Benin Border) in Lagos State; Dualization of Akure-Ita Ogbolu-Iju-Ado Ekiti State Road, Section I: Akure - Ita Ogbolu - Iju - Ekiti State Border in Ondo State; and Dualization of Akure-Ita Ogbolu-Iju-Ado Ekiti State Road, Section II: Ita Ogbolu - Iju – Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State. In his remarks at the Meeting and Press Briefing, Fashola described the public private sector agreement as a very defining legacy for President Muhammadu Buhari pointing out that the impact of the “very innovative investment policy” would help Nigeria to really do business both locally and internationally being a sound infrastructure-based investment policy on which business is done. The Minister, who recalled that back in 2015 at the inception of the Buhari Administration, contractors were being owed two to three years’ payment arrears resulting in the shutdown of many project sites and laying off of construction workers by the companies, added that the Buhari administration arrested the situation by budgetary expansion from N18 billion for the whole of Nigeria’s road by the previous administration to N260 billion in 2016. “You were being owed”, the Minister reminded the contractors at the Meeting. “Some of the complaints that I heard at the first meetings that I had with many of you when I was first appointed Minister were that you were paid only 10 percent advance payment two or three years ago. That was how bad the construction industry was when we started”, he said adding that some of the roads were contracted back to “the private sector” to go and raise fund to finance them. Fashola, who also recalled that the roads contracted to the private sector, included the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge, among others, added, “But where was the private sector going to raise hundreds of billions of Naira to fund them”. He explained that the Buhari administration had to utilize more practical funding initiatives like SUKUK. Recalling the controversies and criticisms that followed the borrowing option which the administration chose to fund the road and bridge projects, the Minister, who acknowledged the concern of the people over debt, however, added, that the debts “are buying roads, bridges, airports and seaports, assets that will last and sustain Nigeria’s development for the next 50 years”. He pointed out that the administration also met debt when it took power adding, however, that the difference between it and its predecessor was that the debts it met on assumption of office in 2015 had no assets attached to them while the Buhari administration invested its debts on infrastructure assets. He said the choices at the time were either borrow or increase taxation noting that without any of the choices, the economy would collapse. Faced with the choices, the Minister said, the administration took the borrowing option and also utilized an expansionist fiscal budget from N18 billion to N260 billion, adding that it thereafter supported the SUKUK and also went to recover some of the monies taken away from this country which today, according to him, “are building Abuja-Kano Highway, Lagos-Ibadan and the nearly completed 2ndNiger Bridge”. Giving a brief history of the NNPC/FIRS agreement, Fashola, who said that the NNPCL was investing its resources into infrastructure, explained the ideology of the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme as “a new model of partnership with the private sector companies whereby government is saying, “Give me my tax in advance and I will invest it in infrastructure”. “That model is why all of you are here”, he told the audience consisting of funding agencies and government representatives as well as contractors and newsmen adding that the innovation “shows the clear difference between two different government policies and it shows how they affect your businesses”. On the 44 roads, Fashola, who explained that many of them have been contracted but without funds to execute them, told the contractors, “This intervention, therefore, is to complete those roads and the NNPCL is providing the fund. And this is the crux; because it means that whether we are here, Buhari is here but is going in the next four months, there is sustainability in the completion of these roads. And they have assured me that when you work to specification, the money is there”. Noting that there are 21 roads in Phase One of the Scheme covering 1,804.6 kilometres, Fashola explained that there are other interventions by other groups like the Dangote Group, the NLNG Group in Bodo-Bonny, the MTN Group in Enugu-Onitsha Highway and others adding that this represented a very defining moment for the construction industry and allied industries. The Minister appealed to all the communities encroaching on the right-of-way along the road corridors to vacate the places adding that all the claims for compensation by people who have encroached on such right-of-way would not be honoured while they must quit the encroached places or risk forceful ejection. “Our right-of-way is 45.75 metres from both sides of the centre line. Many of the people who have built petrol stations and shops are inside our right-of-way. We will not pay compensation to those who have trespassed into our land, so they must leave”, he said appealing, however, that where the government needs right-of-way outside its zone, State governments, Village and Traditional Heads should appeal to their people to allow passage. Fashola added, “These roads are not taking away your lands rather they are bringing prosperity to you and we expect that in the process of nation building everyone must be ready to contribute something”. Highlighting the benefits of the revitalized construction industry to the economy, the Minister declared, “We have increased the number of quarrying companies, sand quarrying has also increased from 247 to 302. Granite quarrying companies have also increased from 334 to 655 and those who are quarrying laterite have increased from 108 to 259”. Describing quarrying as a driver of the construction industry, the Minister who said it is impossible to build roads without laterite and granite, added “And this translates to jobs as we build more quarries. I am sure members of NARTO and NURTW who are here can begin to calculate how many trucks trips and how much income that could bring. I was at their AGM recently and the least they could say is “Business is good”. This is the impact of a policy that is driving the economy”. The Minister also cautioned the Contractors against variation in the contract noting that the agreement was very specific on the variation. He declared, “So if you are going to ask for variation please opt out and say you cannot carry on with the programme. That is one of the reasons we are signing the agreement; and that is from the investors’ side because they are not factoring in variation”. He appealed to the financiers for timely payment of certificates for work done adding, “We need to improve the governance side of payment so that when receipts come, payments should not be delayed unnecessarily. Delayed payments increase the chances of variation. So, it is critical now that we also, with dispatch, sign the contracts when we are able, start the work so that we can process all the advance payments”. He urged the legal department of the Ministry to hasten the preparation of the documents so the agreement could be signed soon adding, “We have just finished our EMBER Months programme so this meeting is very strategic and we should handle it properly. The NNPC and FIRS are ready to go. So, I call on our legal department to accelerate the completion of this agreement. The Minister also warned the contractors, “Quality must not be compromised; they will have their own consultants. So, if their consultant queries the quality of your job, you don’t get paid. We don’t have the money; they have the money”. Those who spoke at the event included the Group Managing Director of NNPCL represented by the Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Umar Ajiya, the Chairman of the FIRS, Mr. Mohammed Nami, who all pledged to ensure the success of the Scheme, representatives of the contractors and President of NARTO, President of the NURTW who all hailed the Buhari administration and the Minister for driving the economy positively through massive investment in infrastructure. According to the NARTO President, “This Minister has set a record of achievements”. ...

Jan
31
2023

FG Commences Phase II of The NNPC Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme  … Intervention will ensure cash flow, steady projects completion - Fashola The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has stated that the Federal Executive Council has approved Phase II of the NNPC/ FIRS Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme. The Minister said that the introduction of the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme will ensure the sustainability of funding critical infrastructure in Nigeria Fashola stated this at a press briefing in Abuja where all the stakeholders, including NNPC, FIRS and contractors were in attendance. The Minister noted that contrary to inadequate funding of infrastructure experienced under the past governments, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, has identified alternative sources of funding that could guarantee sustainability from the beginning of the projects to its completion without hitches Accordingly, he explained that the tax credit scheme is a new model that encourages partnership with private companies where taxes are paid in advance to enable the government invest in notable projects that would be beneficial to its citizens like what is going on in the road sectors of the economy. The Minister also mentioned that the Federal Government which has focused on nine major axis of Nigeria, explained that the A1 – A4 axis of the country covers the Northern part of the country, while the A5 - A9 axis covers the East-West zone of the country. He explained that the successful completion of all the roads would lead to sustainable mobility for Nigerians. The roads like Akure – Ado –Ekiti and East-West which people have been complaining about would be adequately catered for with the approval of the second phase of the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme. On payment of compensation, Fashola noted that compensation would not be paid to anyone occupying the government’s right-of-way, saying that the federal government right of way was 5.75 meters on both sides and appealed to members of the communities occupying it to vacate. Earlier, in his introductory remarks, the Permanent Secretary, represented by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Engineer Folunsho Esan, recalled that in line with the Executive Order 7 (2019) approved phase 1 of NNPC/FIRS Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme on the 27th of October 2021. He stated that with the completion of Phase 1, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has also approved phase II of the scheme to fund 44 critical road infrastructures to the tune of N1.96 trillion naira. Speaking further, Esan said that as it was done with phase I, phase II would be governed by a set of guidelines to be issued to each contractor, adding that there would be a funding intervention agreement to be implemented in addition to the standard condition of the contract governing the execution of the projects. He said: “The availability of this new funding window will ensure steady cash flow and a timely completion of projects.” He also stated that the NNPC intervention which began in October 2021 with phase I has now occupied the top of the log with a portfolio well in excess of N2.6 trillion. On the part of NNPC, the Group Managing Director who was represented by the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, Umar Aliya said that funding would not be an issue anymore as the Corporation is committed to fully funding phase II. He said: “We are committed to setting aside funds for phase II. Funding would not be a problem. What is important to us is that our consultant will need to validate the value for money and the quality of work. We will not compromise the quality and timely completion of work. “ The NNPC MD further assured of the availability of fund, saying that “there is no need for excuses. As for us on our part, we are committed and we implore the contractors to do quality work and do it on time so that the road projects can be open for use to Nigerians,” On his part, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services, Mohammed Nami, he commended NNPC for the intervention as well as the contractors for the quality of the job done in phase I of the scheme and assured that the NNPC has the capacity to fund the phase II of the scheme. He explained that most of the roads captured by Executive Order 7 to be executed by NNPC were mostly road projects inherited by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari and they are being fixed by the present administration through the taxes paid by Nigerians “So, we are appealing to Nigerians to trust Executive order 007 so that government will continue to provide the physical infrastructure that our people need. “he said. The representative of the indigenous contractors, Isa Muhammed Gerawa, who spoke in the Hausa language, commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for giving equal opportunity to local contractors to execute such contracts. He described the Minister of Works and Housing , Babatunde Fashola as a hardworking and committed Nigerian under whom many dilapidated Nigerian roads have been fixed and a number of single carriageway now dualized. Gerawa also commended the present government for raising the budget of the Works Ministry from N18bn in 2015 to over N200bn, pointing out that it was a clear commitment of the administration’s desire to fix the nation’s road infrastructure for development. ...

Jan
25
2023

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”. ...

First First First

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Mar
12
2023

OTHER NEWS

Dec
21
2022

Works Ministry Sensitizes Staff On Corruption Trends In The Public Service

In a bid to ensure a corrupt free public service, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has organized a sensitization seminar for its officers on corruption trends in the public service.

The theme of the seminar is "Corruption Trends in Public Service, Causes and Impact on National Development,” was organised by the Anti- Corruption and Transparency Unit, ACTU at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mabushi, Abuja.

Declaring the workshop open, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola advised participants to be transparent and obey the rules and regulations guiding the operations of their schedules as they carry out their assignments.

Fashola, represented by the Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Mrs. Blessings Lere-Adams, emphasized that corruption is crime and urged participants to shun it in a bid to live a peaceful retirement life devoid of incessant invitations from anti-corruption agencies after retirement.    

He added that adopting a corrupt free attitude in the course of duty would enhance Nigeria's overall development as a nation.

Presenting her paper tagged, "Corruption and Its Impact,” a facilitator from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Matters Commission, ICPC, Mrs. Adebimpe Abodunrin, “explained to the participants that every civil servant has been trusted with the assignment given to him and should not be seen betraying it by being corrupt. 'Public Service is a position of trust, don’t betray it," she said.

She urged participants to exhibit good characters while carrying out their duties as the public service was vitally important and majorly counted when any country was being adjudged corrupt or not by the ranking of Transparency International. "Public Service contributes to the perception," Abiodun remarked.    

According to her the act of corruption which included abuse of office, dishonesty, breaking of rules and regulations, evil and immoral acts among others were major hindrances to any nation's development and should be shunned completely by Nigerians in all sectors if Nigeria must develop in all areas, noting that individual actions in workplace could either have a negative or positive  impact on the entire system.

Mrs. Abodunrin further gave the effects of corruption on national development to include; lack of development, high rate of unemployment, lack of qualified personnel, high cost of living, lack of basic amenities, all of these dents Nigeria's reputation and enhances stigmatization of its citizens, loss of welfare system, adding that the monetization policy was introduced because of the high rate of corruption within the public service.

Another Facilitator from ICPC, Mrs Joy Ebbah, while taking the participants through ethical behaviour in workplace, explained that the ethics of an organisation are the statues and policies of that organisation.

She noted that maintaining an ethical workplace simply means maintaining professional workplace as well as   ability to obey rules and regulations guiding their offices.

Ebbah, while calling on ACTU to constantly review and update, if necessary, the code of ethics of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, affirmed that Nations have failed due to the workers' failure to abide by ethical rules by developing good and professional characters such as transparency and obedience.

Ebbah urged participants to develop a mindset of commitment and obedience if Nigeria must attain its national development.

SPEECHES

Nov
15
2022

“Leadership And Service To Humanity” Speech Delivered By Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN At The 2022 Epiphany Azinge Foundation Lecture On 15th November 2022.

For those who may not know, Professor Azinge was my lecturer in the University of Benin, and he lectured me in the subject of Jurisprudence.

Permit me to express my sincere gratitude to my lecturer, Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN for the great honour he does me by asking me to be the speaker at this year’s foundation lecture.

It would therefore have been a great honour to have been invited as a guest to this event.

Sir, you humble and honour me by this invitation to be a speaker today, may honour, never depart from your person, family, or homestead.

Let me also use this opportunity on behalf of myself, and all my colleagues, whose young minds you so carefully and diligently moulded, a little over 3 (THREE) decades ago and the many that have come after us, express our heartfelt congratulations to you on the occasion of your birthday anniversary celebrations and wish you many more years of life in very good health.

That said, sir, I think you have set me a task, much more difficult than your jurisprudence tests and examinations back then, by asking me to speak about “LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO HUMANITY.”

The subject of leadership has become the Holy Grail of the human civilization, with a global population that is racing towards 8 billion people, increasingly searching for leadership, in our private and public spheres, from homes, to businesses, and of course Government.

The very rare iconic models that our civilization has been blessed with have become like light houses on a hill to guide our journey through life.

It is not surprising, therefore, that leadership has been, not just a much spoken about subject, but a much written about, much studied and much tutored subject.

Perhaps the place to start is to ask the question why the human civilization has the need for leaders and seeks leaders. It seems to me that the answer lies in the way we have evolved.

From time immemorial, when our ancestors were foragers and roamed the earth on an individual basis, or in very small groups, this need for leadership was either totally unnecessary, or certainly in much less need.

However, as the human civilization began to form communities, build villages, towns and cities, it seemed the need for leadership began to naturally evolve to meet the demands or needs of clusters of people living together as distinct from living alone, or in isolation.

Issues about how to produce and allocate resources like food, secure the community or provide for groups have by necessity thrown up the demand for leadership.

Therefore, at the heart of leadership lie two intrinsic qualities; responsibility and service.

In other words, in the search for leadership, we are inherently, looking for who will act take responsibility on our behalf, or conversely, who will provide for us.

This, perhaps explains why, in ancient times the ones that led were often the strongest, who could protect the rest from aggression, secure their territory and fight for them.

And so, was born, perhaps the first set of leaders, warriors, who evolved into the military as our civilization evolved. It is not an accident to see that some of the greatest leaders were those who fought on behalf of their people.

In those times, survival was a matter of pre-eminence, and those who fought to protect people were rendering a most invaluable service to the human race.

As the human population multiplied, and our civilization became more sophisticated, so did our needs, so did the quality of leadership evolve.

In today’s world, we see the stark evidence of decreasing need for leadership of brawn and force, and the increasing need for leadership of skills and values.

This is not surprising. Our survival needs are still high, but there are less wars to fight, and more people to feed, epidemics and pandemics to combat, as there are houses that need to be built, and inequality to be reduced.

Today’s leader must be the one who is able to invest his people with survival skills by providing the environment, the resources, and the training, rather than just going to battle to fight to protect them.

Yesterday’s leaders evolved from being warriors to inventors. They started from making tools.

Their inventions have created a civilization where life expectancy has significantly risen, and therefore there are more people to care for, because they’re living better, and longer, compared to a few thousand years ago.

Today’s leaders have the responsibility of providing the greatest good to the greatest number and, from the family to the government, one thing they share in common is responsibility.

Whether they identify it, and if they do, whether they accept it, and how they respond to it, is the ultimate defining character of the type of leader they become.

In effect, I hold the strong view that there is a leader in every one of us, and what matters most, is the fact that it thrusts responsibility upon us.

At the home front, the leader is the one who ensures that all the doors and windows are locked at night. He identifies and accepts responsibility for the safety of all in those in the house.

The leader is the one who ensures that there is enough for everybody to eat, even those who are not at the dinner table, although he may not be the one who pays for the food.

The leader is the one who holds himself or herself out to take charge; in effect saying, I am responsible.

In order to dimension how impactful leadership has been for providing service to our humanity I invite us to cast our minds back to a few hundred years ago, when we were certainly not here, but a time about which we have read in history.

It is well documented that the life expectancy was no more than 20 to 35 years, and people died largely due to disease and infections shortly after having their first or second child.

This, perhaps was a “good life” for those who lived it, but it was unacceptable for some people.

They took responsibility, push the frontiers of knowledge and demonstrated the utility of water and sanitation as bastions of good health and improved life expectancy.

We inherited the benefit of the great works, but we must never take it for granted.

Every day we live is owed in large part to their leadership and their service to our humanity.

Many of them did not have titles, but were driven by the desire and responsibility to make life better.

So, when you take painkillers today to relieve pain, please remember that there was a time when people lived with pain without relief, except death, and please honour the memory of those who gave us a life where pain can be managed.

When you struggle to read today and simply reach for a pair of reading glasses, and everything becomes visible, please imagine how difficult life can be without sight, or how difficult life is with impaired sight and honour the memory of the leaders who gave this service to our humanity.

There are many more leaders of the type I speak about. They don’t hold titles or offices, but continue to render service to our civilization by accepting responsibility to lead.

The tribe of these type of leaders remain with us, and their impact was mostly visible during the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They exist in every country and every village.

Whilst we panicked, they offered words of assurance, to manage our anxiety they went to work, and in a most impressive time, they produced vaccines, organized the distribution, and today, life, as we know it, is largely restored on the health front.

But their work is not done, the pandemic has left severe adverse economic consequences worldwide that these leaders are grappling with.

As we gather here today, let us remember the months of April and May 2020 when we were not only under lockdown, we saw hundreds of thousands of people buried day after day.

Let us honour the leaders, whose service has made it possible for us to converge in large number again.

They fought on our behalf, an enemy that needed to be defeated with brains not brawn. And this is the increasingly needed leadership skill that our civilization demands.

How to harness and optimize existing resources, how to create resources that do not exist, and how to deploy them for optimal impact are some of the challenges that today’s leader must confront and overcome to render impactful service to the human civilization.

While the majority of persons who provide the leadership that has made our civilization and quality of life what it is today were not in government, there are also those who served in Government and we must not lose sight of their leadership, contributions, their service, and the impact on our lives, I will focus now on a few examples.

From a time that is situated in ancient history, and perhaps locations that are distant, let me make the season more contemporary, and bring the location closer to home.

About seven years ago, a journey of 127 km from Lagos to Ibadan, which should take just about 90 minutes, was a venture of trepidation. You were not sure if you set out at dawn whether you would get there before nightfall.

Between Enugu to Onitsha, a distance of 110 km, I was told you’re required to make forays into the bush with your vehicle to complete, in a whole day, a journey that should not exceed 90 minutes.

Every day and every Christmas season, the East-West crossing across the Niger was a difficult one to undertake to put it mildly, because the existing bridge capacity has been overwhelmed by vehicular, population and business growth beyond its envisaged capacity over six decades ago, and the new bridge, the 2nd Niger Bridge has remained a mirage.

Between the mainland of Bodo, and the Island of Bonny, which hosts Nigeria’s prolific gas resources in Rivers State, and which traverses the Opobo channel where the King Jaja famously ruled; there has never been a road crossing.

Everything required to sustain life on the Bonny Island travels by boats and canoes not only with the added cost and risk but at the mercy of the weather which has been reported to occasionally cut off the mainland from the island for days on end.

These are examples of the quality of life across sample areas of Nigeria. But the Muhammadu Buhari leadership at the time of dwindling resources and global economic difficulty is finding a way.

For the first time in human civilization, Bodo mainland will be connected to Bonny Island by a 39 km road and bridge project that is under construction. The Afa/Nanabie creek has been crossed by a bridge, Opobo channel is being bridged for the first time in human history and the project will finish in the third quarter of 2023.

While Lagos-Ibadan, Enugu-Onitsha, are still under construction there is a significant journey time improvement of about 2 hours and 1 hour 30 minutes respectively, from a whole day. These are significant human impacts.

The long-awaited 2nd Niger bridge is no longer a Mirage. The main bridge is completed. The remaining works left are the connecting roads from the Onitsha and Asaba ends.

A survey across 12 recently commissioned roads by the Federal Government of Nigeria totalling 896.187 km by interviewing drivers, commuters and people who use the road regularly, showed that their travel time on these roads have been reduced by 56.2%.

These are worthy impacts on our population by the leadership provided by the Government.

As far as the impact of leadership and service to humanity go, when the National Housing project of the Buhari administration was initiated across 35 states in 2016 it was meant to serve the generality of Nigerians and this is happening through the open website portal for applications.

However, it has done more than that. The promise of housing made to the successful 1994 Super Eagles team remained unredeemed until President Buhari approved the redemption of this 28-year-old pledge through the National Housing Program.

In my view, this is a most profound and impactful example of leadership and service to humanity.

From leaders without titles, to leaders and governments with titles, I invite us to quickly look at the role of leaders who have spawned institutions for the purpose of rendering service to humanity.

These are represented in the many foundations set up by those who understand their leadership role, who accept their responsibility and seek to do something about it.

Again, we do not need to go to any distant region to find notable examples. That work and the impact was made manifest under the aegis of CACOVID, the private sector aggregation of manpower and resources, convened to support the people and Government of Nigeria in providing leadership to navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic of COVID-19.

We honour the service of these patriots. Our civilization is better, because they saved us.

While dealing with foundations, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Azinge Foundation, because it is their annual lecture series that has provided the platform to have this conversation. If you’ve been impacted by this conversation, this is Leadership by the foundation through Service.

The Epiphany Azinge Foundation, the brain child of the celebrant is a corporate vehicle for the expression of leadership through service.

Established in 2017, it is impacting humanity through the provision of grants to “high performing” individuals through what it describes as “an invitation only process.”

It becomes very revealing of the mindset of the founder and his vision for humanity when one scrutinizes one of the criteria which an applicant for a funding grant must fulfil.
 
It says : -
 
“…the application must have a significant and enduring practical impact on the lives of Nigerians and Africans amongst other conditions.”

 
I find this qualification of a “…significant and enduring practical impact on the lives of Nigerians” so profoundly typical of the person of Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN. I call it the Azinge Standard.

This, perhaps, has been his most indelible leadership, contribution and service to humanity - creating a new generation of leaders.

This was done by the thousands of hours, spent in classrooms, teaching the next generation, moulding their minds and preparing them for the next set of challenges the nation will thrust upon them.

That is impactful, it is significant, it’s enduring and it is practical.

I am a product of that leadership of Professor Azinge through service. I was in his jurisprudence class in the 1986 to 1987 academic session in the University of Benin.

At the time nobody could see today, Professor Azinge prepared me for today along with his colleagues under the leadership of Professor Itse Sagay, SAN.

Perhaps to illustrate the significant, enduring and practical impact of teaching as Professor Azinge has done for most of his life, it is helpful to tell a story. Please indulge me.

In the 19th century, specifically 1897, it is documented that there was a British expedition in the ancient Benin kingdom leading to the removal of Oba Ovonramwen.

What is not well documented is the extent of the plundering and looting of the treasures of the kingdom by the British.

What they stole were not only treasures and priceless art, they were the identity of the people according to Chimamanda and I could not agree more.

When I look back at the vision behind the creation of the University of Benin and the number and quality of people in the leadership she has produced for Nigeria, I marvel at the farsightedness of the founders.

Nothing has been more surreal recently, than watching on television, my friend and brother, Charles Edosomwan, SAN the holder of the Benin title of Obasuyi, which means the Oba is worthy of honour, in the company of Lai Mohammed, representing Benin kingdom, and Nigeria to retrieve parts of our stolen identity from Europe.

Edosomwan is a graduate of the University of Benin Law Faculty, the first student to take the rank of Senior Advocate, and dare I say, a student of Professor Azinge, SAN, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN and many others.

The story and moral, if you have not connected it, is that the leadership training given by Professor Azinge and others, in building new leaders 3 (THREE) decades ago and beyond is having a significant, enduring and practical impact on the lives of Nigerians.

By way of a verdict therefore, I adjudge that Professor Azinge has met and surpassed his own Azinge Standard by working with others to train a generation of lawyers whose work has been impactful across diverse areas of Nigeria.

In the circumstances of our current political transition and the leadership and service conversation, it would be pertinent to speak about the choices of leadership that lie ahead of us as a people.

I do not make any apology for my partisanship, and I respect the partisanship dispositions of others; however, I do believe that there is room for objectivity, and it is to these objective parameters that I point our attention.

As we look towards making a choice between frontline and perhaps not too frontline candidates, I find an interesting parallel between some of the “frontline” candidates.

They were all elected as governors of different states, and have served eight years in the respective states, except one of them who was elevated to higher office.

It will seem logical, therefore, to look at what they have done in their states and elevated office that have had a national impact, and if you like, something that meets the Azinge (Foundation) standard for qualification for grants, i.e., something significant, enduring, practical, and impactful.

It seems to me that only one candidate, will meet the Azinge standard, when we look at the work of the frontline candidates as qualifications for choosing them in the next General elections.

This candidate championed the first ever state Government bond for infrastructure – many other states have since approached the capital market to raise funds after his pioneering leadership.

This candidate led the reform of the judiciary, investing in court rooms, judges’ welfare by innovative allowances, dispute resolution, mechanisms like multi door court houses and fast track court rules that have now been adopted not only by many states, but by the Federal Government.

The initiative to provide access to justice for the less privileged through the Office of the Public Defender has also resonated with the people and with other states.

This candidate, was the first to enact a state internal revenue service agency law to boost internal revenue generation, which many states have now adopted and applied.

This candidate also pioneered the reform of outdoor advertising through state legislation to create outdoor advertising. This has been replicated across many states.

The local security outfit, the Neighbourhood Watch and traffic control agency LASTMA that were inaugurated in his state have found ready acceptance and implementation in many states across Nigeria.

These are examples of his leadership, initiatives, and service records, which have impacted people beyond the state, they have been enduring, because they are being replicated, they have been impactful without any doubt.

I am sure that with the mention of Neighbourhood Watch and LASTMA, I have let the cat out of the bag. The candidate is Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A national survey recently commissioned shows that 15 states have embraced LASAA the advertising and signage company pioneered by him in Lagos; 16 states have embraced and enacted laws to replicate LASTMA and 10 states have enacted laws to create their own Office of the Public Defender.

The enduring nature of these policies from their adoption; the impact evidenced by the number of states where they now apply, certainly more than meet the Azinge Standard of significant, enduring and impactful service.

Of course, I can say that the diversity of this adoption from Abia, Anambra, Enugu to Edo, Rivers and Ekiti, Oyo to Kogi, Kano, Nasarawa and Kwara to mention a few, trumps partisanship.

If we have embraced and adopted his ideas across the country, why are we hiding behind a finger? Let us give him the responsibility to do more by electing him.

As I promised to be objective, I urge you also to look and see whether any of the others with the same leadership and service opportunity, can point to such widely accepted and adopted embracement of their policies and programs.

If this happens, I can comfortably predict that we will have a most significant, enduring and impactful conversation about the choices open to us in the forthcoming elections.

This conversation will be a welcome departure from talk about personality, ethnicity or religion.

It will be a conversation about ideas that impacted lives and which can do so again in a significant and enduring way.

This conversation may lead us to choosing the right leaders for this time who will serve us according to the Azinge Standard.

Thank you for listening.

Highways Code & Manual
Ongoing Projects

PHOTO NEWS

Feb
08
2023

FASHOLA, SULEIMAN, EL - YAKUB, OTHERS AT THE OFFICIAL FLAG - OFF THE DUALIZATION OF THE 132KM KANO - DAURA - KONGOLLAM ROAD IN KANO, JIGAWA AND KATSINA STATES UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND REFURBISHMENT TAX CREDIT SCHEME

Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (3rd right), Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu (4th left), Hon. Minister of State, Works and Housing, Hon. Umar El - Yakub (3rd left), representative of the Chairman, BUA Group, Alhaji Kabiru Rabiu(2nd right), traditional rulers and others during the official Flag - off of the Dualization of the 132KM Kano - Daura - Kongollam Road in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Tax Credit Scheme on Tuesday, 7th February 2023.

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PHOTO NEWS

Feb
08
2023

FASHOLA, ZAINAB AHMED, EL-YAKUB, AT THE SYMBOLIC PRESENTATION OF THE 2022 SOVEREIGN SUKUK ISSUE PROCEEDS CHEQUES TO THE IMPLEMENTING MINISTRIES IN ABUJA

Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola,SAN (2nd left), Hon. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed (2nd right), Hon. Minister of State, Works and Housing, Hon. Umar El - Yakub (left) and Director General, Debt Management Office, Mrs Patience Oniha (right) during the symbolic presentation of the N110 Billion 2022 Sovereign Sukuk Issue Proceeds Cheque for Construction and Rehabilitation of Road Projects in the Six Geo-Political Zones to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing at the Auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning in Abuja on Monday, 6th February 2023.

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