Nmiru Bridge: Council Of Ohafia Monarchs, Leaders Of Thought Commend FG The Council of Ohafia Monarchs and Leaders of Thought have commended the Federal Government for expeditiously responding to their “save our souls” appeal over the state of Nmuri Bridge in Abia State, noting that their experience has shown that the President Buhari led administration is responsive to the yearnings of citizens irrespective of tribe, region and religion. The delegation led by Chief Etigwe Uwa, SAN gave the commendation during a courtesy visit on the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN in Abuja. Chief Etigwe Uwa thanked the Minister on behalf of the good people of Ohafia in Abia state for the quick response of the Minister in fixing the dilapidated old bridge. He said: “I contacted the Honourable Minister on 30th January, 2021 and when I passed through that same bridge on 8th of February, 2021, work has already started.” “This has demonstrated that the government listen to the cry of the people. It is a clear testimony that we as a community cried to government and government has listened to us. We are very grateful as a community.” Continuing, he said that the Ministry's prompt response to the deplorable condition of the bridge had demonstrated that the President Buhari led administration was responsive to the cry of Nigerians irrespective of tribe, region and religion. “We are here today to confirm that things can work and are working in this present dispensation,” he said. He called on the Federal Government to also expedite action to facilitate the completion of the construction of the Federal Road linking Ohafia, Bende and Umuahia which the Nmuri bridge is part of. Also while reading a letter of appreciation, His Royal Highness, Elder Emmanuel Onugu on behalf of the people of Ohafia in Abia state thanked the Honourable Minister for the timely intervention in the repair and the construction of a modern brand-new bridge over Nmuri River at Ebem Ohafia. Continuing, he said that the temporary work done by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) had provided succour to the people of that area who had long experienced hardship on account of the deplorable condition of the bridge which had almost become a death trap. In his response, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN said that the completion of the abandoned Nmiru Bridge in Abia State, South Eastern Nigeria will bring succour to the road users in that area. The reconstructed Nmuri bridge links Ohafia and Umuahia the Abia State capital. According to Fashola the Ohafia bridge was one of the 37 bridges and over 800 projects that the Ministry was repairing, restoring, rehabilitating and constructing across Nigeria, pointing out that some of the bridges had been abandoned for the past five to six decades. He noted that the Nmuri Bridge was among those receiving attention. already. He also stated that the Ministry through the intervention on those roads and bridges across the country had further demonstrated that the All Progressive Congress (APC) as a party has an ideology contrary to some opinions. “The APC led government is governed by progressive ideology which is progressivism, which simply means that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to improve human condition through investment in many pillars such as agriculture, mining and in particular, infrastructure expansion, repair and development,” he said. Other members of the delegation from Ohafia included His Royal Highness, Kalu Ikenga, Chief Awa Kalu, Chief Umeh Kalu, SAN, Mr. Kalu Okpo Kalu, Mr. Sunny Mbila, Architect Lucas Eme, Mr. Sunday Idika, Ogbonna Kalu, Dr. Eni Kalu and Mr. Charles Nkata. The Permanent Secretary, Babaginda Hussein and some Directors of the Ministry joined the Honourable Minister to receive the delegation.     ...

Fashola Implores Estate Surveyors to Explore Technology, Innovation in their Profession Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, SAN has urged the Estate Surveyors and Valuers in the Country to explore modern technology and innovation in the practice of their profession. He said " As newly inducted Estate Surveyors and Valuers, I implore you to explore modern technology and innovation in enhancing professionalism and good service delivery in your day to day tasks". The Minister spoke in Abuja as a special Guest of Honour at the 44th Induction Ceremony of newly registered Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Thursday June 17, 2021. Fashola was represented by the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr Abubakar D. Aliyu, FNSE. The Minister described the induction of the new members to fully practice Estate Surveying and Valuation in the country, as timely, especially this critical time that the infrastructures in Nigeria are undergoing re-engineering and rehabilitation. " Your responsibilities have now been increased as the thrust of Government is about infrastructures, which requires professionals like you to help drive her interest and safeguard wastage" he said. Fashola also charged them to look at the potentialities and contributions their Profession can unlock in this dare time that the nation's infrastructures and national assets are experiencing deficit. While commending the ESV Board for giant stride in uplifting the profession in terms of capacity building, Fashola also noted  the critical role the Board is playing in regulating and controlling the practice of the profession in Nigeria. He listed: securing the establishment and maintenance of Register of persons qualified to practice the profession and publication of lists of such persons and firms, has greatly enhances professionalism in the practice. On the same vein, Fashola noted that the Estate Surveyors and Valuers (Registration. etc) Act (CAP. E13 LFN2004 enpowers the Board to provide operation license for institutions that meets specific minimum standards, explaining that, the Board has so far  registered up to 4,000 practitioners, 4,000 firms and accredited about 35 institutions of higher learning. He charged the BOARD to ensure that the stock of Estate Surveyors and Valuers is increased to meet the needs of the Nation. On the challenges, Fashola said " the challenges are extremely large especially in the areas of legislation, little recognition by the public, invasion of the industry by unlicensed and unprofessionals amongst others". Accordingly, he assured that, the Ministry of Works and Housing is doing all it can by creating enabling environment where Estate Surveyors and Valuers can strive and make impact to support the Nigerian economy. The Minister disclosed that many Estate Surveyors and Valuers have submitted expression of interest to execute the Ministry's valuation works in all Federal Secretariats across the country, which he said is already going through the procurement processes. He explained that the Ministry is presently desirous with the implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) meant to achieve resource utilization and management of assets for decision making. Accordingly, Fashola challenged them not to rest on their little achievements but to continue to strive towards loftier goals by making Nigeria a better place for economic growth ...

Fashola Salutes Pioneering Work of Alhaji Femi Okunnu in Inaugurating ARCON 52 Years Ago  ·       Minister advocates synergy, cooperation among Nigerians as he performs groundbreaking, foundation laying ceremony of ARCON House in Abuja ·      Commends ARCON for showing example of choosing to build in spite of past disagreement ·      ARCON President, past president, Obong Victor Attah, others praise Minister for brokering peace within the profession Fifty-two years after he served as Federal Commissioner for Works, Elder Statesman, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, was Thursday commended by the current Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, for kick-starting the great journey of building the nation, by inaugurating the first Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) in 1969. Fashola, who spoke Thursday while performing the groundbreaking and foundation laying ceremony of the proposed ARCON House in Abuja, saluted the former Federal Commissioner for Works, who happens to be his Uncle, for his foresight, describing as ironic the fact that he is today continuing the journey of nation-building as a distant successor of his Uncle. “It is indeed very ironic that I happen to be here today to now continue the journey he started. Really, it is interesting how these things happen and ironically none of us is an architect, but very happily we are both lawyers”, the Minister said expressing joy that the challenge is that of building and not of disagreement. In a short but impactful speech he gave at the ceremony, Fashola called for synergy and cooperation among all Nigerians, especially professionals and other stakeholders, to join hands to rebuild the nation, saying in spite of the challenges and disagreements among the various stakeholders and interest groups, Nigerians could work together to build a nation of peace and harmony. He told the quality audience consisting of past presidents of ARCON, members of Council and other icons in the Built Industry, “This is time for rebuilding our nation, this is time for rebuilding brotherhood, this is time for building our future”, adding that in a symbolic way, ARCON, by the day’s event, “is building its own future”. Noting with delight that despite being enmeshed in challenges of disagreement a few years ago, ARCON had decided to set aside those challenges and build for itself a befitting House, Fashola declared, “Therefore, in spite of disagreements, we can still build if we choose to listen, if we choose to work together and if we choose to keep ego aside”. The Minister commended the current ARCON leadership noting that three years ago, when it was inaugurated, the Architecture profession had very many challenges which he described as largely man-made. “But” he added, “I am happy that Engr. Ajayi (President of ARCON) and his team have taken upon themselves to say that if these problems are man-made, it will only take men of goodwill to resolve it and this is a very good example of the microcosm of what ARCON has done as a blessing to all of us”. Commending ARCON for the decision to build and establish its presence in the Federal Capital Territory as a symbol of the unity of its professionals, Fashola declared, “To all the seen and unseen hands who have helped to restore engagement, who have helped to restore that family, I send my great word of thanks”, adding, “This is a much better place for the Architecture Family than where it was three years ago”. “I am joyous because you have helped to give invaluable quality to the many generations of those who are aspiring to join the profession. This is a very great challenge worth having; a challenge of building not a challenge of disagreement”, the Minister said. Fashola, who expressed pleasure in the honour accorded him to perform the ceremony, however called on all the stakeholders to endeavour to contribute their quotas to see to the completion of the House in record time, adding, “The work has just begun, so all of those hands, president and past presidents and all other interest groups must brace up to this challenge, so together we can hand-over a very befitting and very momentous turn to the next generation”. In his goodwill message earlier, the Governor of Taraba State, Arch. Darius Dickson Isiaku, congratulated ARCON for finally deciding to build for itself, describing as a paradox the fact that the Council has for decades built edifices for others without having a roof over its own head.  Commending the efforts of the Minister of Works and Housing and his FCT counterpart to bring the ARCON decision to reality, the Governor, who was represented at the occasion by one of the State officials, Arc. Dauda, also commended the efforts of the Council to make the project possible at this time. In his own goodwill, the Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, who was also represented at the occasion, congratulated ARCON on its efforts to establish its presence in Abuja noting that by its mandate his Ministry considers ARCON a veritable stakeholder in the development of the nation. Others who gave goodwill messages included a past President of ARCON and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Arc. Obong Victor Attah, who thanked Fashola for brokering lasting peace within the profession urging him to ensure that Nigeria is being built by Nigerian Architects and where a foreigner is concerned, such foreigner should be registered in Nigeria. Earlier in his welcome address, ARCON President, Arch (Sir) Gabriel Oladipupo Ajayi listed the cardinal objectives of ARCON to include re-engineering the Council, harmonizing positions with all interest groups with the help of the Minister of Works and Housing, who, according to him, “calls us together all the time” and building a befitting home for Architects as well as maintaining a visible presence in Lagos. Expressing gratitude to the Minister for his peace efforts that have brought the profession and interest groups together, the ARCON President declared, “On his part, he has been a backbone of this Council”, adding that as a result the Council has delivered on all fronts. ...