Nura Alkali Charges Delegates at the 27th Conference of Directors of Lands on Eliminating Conflict Areas. The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali, has charged Directors of Lands in the Federal and State Ministries, Agencies and Departments to dwell on areas that will eliminate conflict areas among operators at the three tiers of government. Alkali gave the charge in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of the 27th Conference of Directors of Lands in the Federal and State Ministries, Agencies and Departments going on at Rockview Hotels, Abuja on Wednesday, 12th October,2022. The Theme of the conference is "The Land Use Act on Land Management, Responsibilities of the Federating Units." The Permanent Secretary explained that the conference would not only enhance efficiency and effectiveness but also afford the professionals and experts the opportunity to come up with modalities for efficient, effective land administration and management in the country. "As you interrogate the sub themes for the next two days, l urge you to critically examine the land administration/management issues comprised under the Land Use Act with a view to coming up with solutions particularly aimed at eliminating areas of conflict among the operators at the three tiers of the federation," Alkali said. In his keynote address, Director and Head of Department, Lands and Housing Development Department in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Estate Surveyor Godwin Ityoachimin, explained that the conference would address the limitations of each tier of government and establish boundaries in relation to the Land Use Act. He noted that delegates would discuss and identify the responsibilities of both the Federal and State Governments as enshrined in the law. Esv. Ityoachimin pointed out that the federal government had consistently been faced with challenges   relating to the other tiers of government on issues bothering on land administration, acquisition and compensation because the state government believes that the land in the state is owned by it, noting that state governors would move into the properties owned by the federal government and pulled them down without due process. He further argued that the impression of governors owning the land was a misconception as well as misleading, pointing out that the correct intent of the Land Use Act is that governors are trustees under the Act and not owners. He explained that Section 49(2) of the Land Use Act requirement is that the use of land by the federal government is dictated by public interest. The Director also said that Federal Government as a Corporate entity has the right to own and manage properties.     He noted that if the limitations of each tier, from the Federal to the Local Governments are clearly identified and stated, the challenges the Federal Government go through would be eliminated. "Our thinking is that we shall be able to deliberate on this limitations and work within the time frame of the limit permitted by the Law, a lot of challenges government go through particularly at the states level will be eliminated. It will enhance the process and relationship among the tiers of government, and the ultimate delivery of the impact and dividends of democracy,"Ityoachimin remarked. The outcome of the conference will impact positively on the relationship among the tiers of government, land administration processes will impact positively on the economy, wealth creation and prosperity of Nigerians. In his goodwill message, the Chairman Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, Esv. Gersh Henshaw, suggested that it would be important to establish the Land Use and Allocation Committee in the states and the Land Advisory Allocation Committees at the Local Governments level, noting that their findings and resolutions would guide the state governors in making decisions on land administration, acquisition and compensation. ...

FG Hands Over Certificate of Occupancy to Late Stephen Keshi The Federal Government, has handed over the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of a three-bedroom flat in Delta State to late Sport's Legend Stephen Keshi. The handing over was done at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Abuja on Thursday, September 29, 2022. The Director/Head of Department, Public Building and Housing, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Arc. Solomon Labafilo, who handed over the C of O on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari gave the approval to redeem the promise made to the twenty-two (22) members of the 1994 Super Eagles Team from the housing units under the National Housing Programme in any state of their choice, adding that late Stephen Keshi’s family opted to have his allocated to him in Delta State, his home state where he was also laid to rest. Arc. Labafilo added that out of the 22 members, 14 of them have been allocated houses with their keys, Title Deeds and Certificate of Occupancies handed over to them in any of the National Housing Estates of their choice across the country such as in Imo, Abia, Ondo and Bayelsa states, assuring that the remaining nine members are soon to receive their houses in addition to the entitled C of O as well. Arc. Labafilo noted that President Muhammadu Buhari was magnanimously proud, satisfied and privileged to redeem the promise Nigeria made to these Patriotic Nigerians for winning the 1994 African Cup of Nations which had remained unfulfilled. The Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s progressive ideals   tailored towards improving human condition do not leave out the dead by so remembering the family of late Sport's Legend, Stephen Keshi to receive the Certificate of Occupancy to his promised apartment. Mr. Ifeanyi Mudabai, late Stephen Kechi's uncle received the Certificate of Occupancy on behalf of the Stephen Keshi’s family. He expressed much gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for redeeming the promise after 28 years. He also applauded the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN for his thoughtful initiation of this idea of fulfilling the promise through the National Housing Programme. ...

FG: House Committee on Works Inspects Federal Highway Projects in the North Central Zone ...Calls for quick completion of road projects. The House of Representatives Committee on Works has inspected the expansion of the 5.4 kilometers Abuja- Keffi expressway and the dualization of the 220 kilometers Keffi- Akwanga-Lifia- Makurdi Federal roads in the North- Central Geo-Political zone of the country. The purpose of this on-the-spot assessment by the Law makers was to ascertain the level of job done and the compliance level of the contractor handling the project. The Committee was led on the inspection by the Chairman, Honourable Abubakar Kabir Abubakar. He explained that it was part of their responsibilities to carry out regular oversight functions on critical infrastructure projects of the Federal Government in order to give value to the money spent on projects, pointing out that on this particular road project, government has spent billions of naira. Speaking on the funding of the project, he confirmed that it is a joint funding arrangement between Nigeria and China. "The project is being executed by the China Harbour Engineering Company limited through a Preferential Buyer's Credit loan from Export -Import Bank of China (CEXIM) with about Eight-five percent of the contract sum being from China and Nigeria is providing the other fifteen percent counterpart fund of the contract sum," he said. Taking the team on this tour of the project, the Chairman said that the project is very important as it connects the three states of Nasarawa, Benue and Enugu. On the project performance he said: " we have raised certain issues concerning some failed portions of the road and we have drawn the attention of the trio of the Consultant, Contractor and the Ministry to address all these issues. This he, assured will help avoid compromising standards, ensure quality and also enhance timely delivery." Responding to the issue of the failed portion especially on the section ll of the project, the Ministry's Project Implementation Unit: Road Sector Development Team led by the Senior Project Manager, Engineer Usoh Henry assured members of the Committee that urgent repairs are going to be carried out as soon as possible, more so since the Contractor has been notified of the failed portions. Speaking further on the project, Engineer Usoh said that the project is about 75% completed and reassured members of the Committee that the project was going to be delivered by April, 2023. According to him, the project was divided into two phases in order to ease its implementation. They are, Phase l; which is the dualization of Keffi- Akwanga- Lafia- Makurdi road and the Phase Il, the dualization of Makurdi-Otukpo- Obollo Afor-Enugu Road. Speaking about the quality of job done, Engineer Usoh said that the Contractor has been closely supervised as it is mandatory for all multi- laterally funded projects such as this road project requires.  He said that an Independent Consultant has being on site carrying out an unbiased supervision, monitoring and control of the project adding that the China EXIM Bank had also engaged its own Supervision Consultants to play their roles in accordance with International best Practices. ...