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

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

FG Hands Over Keys To More 1994 Super Eagles Players The Federal Government has handed over keys to more members of the 1994 Super Eagles team such as Mutiu Adepoju, Ike Shorumu, Finidi George, Akin Amao a doctor in the team in fulfillment of the promise that was made to the team 28 years ago by the Federal Government. Adewale Adesokan a beneficiary of the National Housing Project of the Federal Government also received his key. Works and Housing Minister who handed over the keys at the project site in Onidundu in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State was represented by the Federal Controller of Housing in the state, Mr. Gbolahan Jacob Adesola. The Minister disclosed that four (4) Nigerians in the state have fully paid for their houses, he therefore, encouraged other Nigerians to seize the opportunity to become house owners by subscribing through the Ministry's portal: https://nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng. Fashola said the portal was opened to avail members of the public equal opportunity to apply for and own their own houses without discrimination or artificial obstacles. He added that interested members of the public could apply through the Mortgage Bank as well. Fashola said that buying a house in the National Housing Project, (NHP) has an advantage over what is obtainable in the market as the payment options are really flexible. He said, " The advantage of owning a house in the National Housing Programme, NHP include well-spaced site such as one bedroom unit which is about 60 - 70 square meter, two-bedroom unit, which is 76 - 103 square meters and three-bedroom units that is 110 - 137 square meters." " These are extremely generous spaces when compared to what is available in the market." In his speech Oyo State Governor Dr. Seyi Makinde who was represented by the state Commissioner of Land Management, Segun Olayiwola expressed gratitude to the Federal government for undertaking the project. He noted that the project will no doubt ease the housing problem in the state and the country at large. The Governor stated that it was in recognition of the immense benefit that the project could bring to the people that the state government donated the land for the construction. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali who was represented by Mr. Raymond Ogunlewe said the Federal Government inaugurated the National Housing programme for the construction of affordable and acceptable houses nationwide as part of President Muhammadu Buhari's developmental agenda of addressing the Housing needs. The Permanent Secretary added that the Ministry had successfully constructed housing schemes in 35 states in the country. He also said the housing types comprise of two-bedroom, three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows and condominiums. Mr. Alkali disclosed that the houses were built in cognizance of the culture and climatic peculiarities of the regions while upholding the tenets of building, energy and efficiency code being championed by the Ministry. In response the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to God for making it possible and praised the Federal government for the execution of the project. ...