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Tag: Babatunde Fashola

  • Fashola certifies third mainland bridge safe for use

    The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has certified the third mainland bridge safe for use.

    The minister in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the ministry stated that the expansion joint shown in a social media video clip was one of those scheduled for change during repairs to the bridge.

    He also added that the repairs of the bad portion of the Bridge would commence soon.

    The statement reads: “The General Public is hereby informed that the expansion joint shown in a Facebook video clip, is one of those slated for change during repairs to the Third Mainland Bridge which will commence soon.

    “It is still functioning and our engineers and consultants have advised that it does not pose any structural danger to the bridge and it is safe to use.

    “Commuters and Lagos residents will recall that the Third Mainland Bridge was shut down for a 3-day Investigative Maintenance in August 2018. Tests done on the expansion joints then – called static and dynamic load tests – were to check functionality. A number of expansion joints were identified for replacement then.”

    Read Also: Fashola: we can’t cover every road in Nigeria

    It continues: “More recently, in March this year, underwater confirmatory tests preceding the repair works to be done on the bridge, were carried out on the piles to determine if there is further deterioration or not on the piles from that done in 2013.

    “However, all the tests done preparatory to closure of the Bridge to commence comprehensive Maintenance works indicate that the integrity of the Bridge is intact.

    “Therefore the third mainland bridge is safe for use, and people should desist from spreading or sharing false information about the bridge on social media platforms.”

    On the nature of the repairs, he said: “The expansion joints to be replaced are part of a regular bridge maintenance programme that has been neglected for decades which the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is now addressing frontally on many bridges nationwide.

    “Such maintenance works include resurfacing of the bridge, along with several others, which this administration is also undertaking as the bridge users will attest to a better driving surface.”

  • Fashola suspends National Housing Project, Gwagwalada

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has ordered the immediate suspension of work at the Abuja National Housing project in Gwagwalada, FCT.

    Fashola gave the order during the inspection of the ongoing Abuja Mass Housing project in Gwagwalada, on Monday.

    The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had written “Stop Work Inscriptions’’ on buildings at the construction site.

    He said the suspension became necessary in order to settle any development control issues with the ministry and FCDA through due process.

    “As you can see, there are Development Control inscriptions on the buildings and it means there are development issues by the FCDA.

    “My staff tell me that the issue has been resolved, but I also respect the law that says every development control restriction inscriptions must be complied with.

    “So I am not going into that building; and I have ordered the head of unit here to stop work immediately until these inscriptions are removed and I see documents to that effect.

    “This is one of the many ways that we can begin to take our laws seriously because this is a government development project and we need to respect the laws we make,’’ Fashola said.

    Read also: FG to create employment, reduce poverty via maintenance culture -Fashola

    The minister said that the construction of the mass housing project was ongoing in 33 states across the country where lands had been made available.

    He stated that aside from artisans involved in the project, contractors were engaged in the pilot scheme to deliver quality work.

    “The last time I was here, I was satisfied with the quality of work and I saw carpenters that were seriously engaged in the construction work.

    “That is what the Federal Government wants to achieve; to use housing schemes to stimulate employment in the country.

    “The Federal Mortgage site is a different concept entirely, they do not only lend money, but help you to build for people who want to pay rent,’’ Fashola added.

  • Fashola to implement national infrastructure maintenance programme

    The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has concluded plans to implement a uniform standard of building and facilities maintenance under the National Infrastructure Maintenance Programme.

    This was announced in a communique at the end of the sixth top management retreat of the federal ministry in Owerri from March 22 to 23.

    Presenting the communique at the end of the retreat, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Louis Edozien, said the ministry had received approval for the project from the Federal Executive Council.

    The communique stated that the project would be coordinated by the Public Building and Housing Department of the ministry.

    The department will also help other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prepare and procure for their building maintenance works.

    The communique further disclosed that the management staff of the ministry, at the end of the retreat, came up with 29 resolutions to improve upon the services of the organization.

    READ ALSO: SERAP asks court to compel Fashola to name contractors who fail to execute power projects

    Among other resolutions, they advocated the review of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission’s extant licences and regulations governing the operations of generating and distribution companies.

    The advocacy was made to accommodate new entrants to increase competition and performance in the Nigerian Electric Supply Industry.

    It also advocated the review of the Procurement Act of 20l7 to further promote competition and inclusiveness of small businesses and openness in public procurement.

    They also encouraged technical departments in the MDAs to develop a programme to engage interns, to give them practical work experience with stipends without contravening the provisions of the public service rules.

    They further resolved to strengthen the systems, processes and structures within the Ministry to fight corruption by strengthening the anti corruption and transparency units and encourage whistle blowing and code of ethics.

    The group also resolved to continue to liaise with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to conduct corruption risk assessment aimed at identifying corruption vulnerabilities and mitigating same through integrity planning.

  • Osinbajo, Ambode, Fashola, Sanwo-Olu meet in Lagos

    Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on Saturday met in Lagos.

    The gathering was made known by the Lagos State All Progressives Congress Governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a photo tweeted on his official twitter handle.

    It was also attended by Chairman of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, (AMCON) Muiz Banire and President Muhammadu Buhari Deputy Chief of Staff, Adeola Rahman Ipaye.

  • Deportation: FG vows to clamp down on illegal immigrants

    Following the deportation of 723 Nigerians by the Ghana Immigration Service, the Federal Government on Thursday said it would soon clamp down on illegal immigrants in the country.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola who said this in Lagos at the BRF Gabfest, lamented the inhuman treatment of Nigerians abroad.

    According to him, the country also has extant laws to deport illegal immigrants in the country.

    The event, tagged BRF2GABFEST, second edition, was organised by some youth groups to celebrate Fashola.

    It is themed, ’Where are the jobs?’

    The minister said there is a current audit of workers on so many construction sites in the country to ascertain how many ECOWAS citizens are working in the sites, noting that even though they do not need a visa to come into the country but they need a work permit.

    Fashola said: “But you heard that Ghana deported some Nigerians. It is the right that every country has but it is a right we have never exercised but we are going to exercise it now.

    “It is just the law, every foreigner who has legitimate papers to come to Nigeria is welcome.

    “If you want to work in Nigeria the same regulation that applies in your country that you must get a work permit applies to you here also.”

    Read Also: Lagos CP warns ballot box snatchers, others

    He added: ‘’If you don’t have a work permit here and you are in my site, I will take you out. That is already happening I refused to approve payment for one consultant two months ago because I said I wanted to see his work permit and make sure it was valid for the period the job was done and thankfully he produced it and he was paid.

    “These are the policies about of jobs and employment that are in place by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.’’

    He said the issue of job creation in the country was hampered by policies enunciated by the previous administration.

    On job creation strategy of the present administration, he said the president has issued an Executive Order known as Executive Order 5.

    “What Executive Order 5 seeks to achieve is that anytime our economy produces opportunity, we must ensure that if Nigerians are able to do that job we should give them preference,” he said.

    Fashola noted after about 300 found themselves in difficult business terrain owing banks over N5 trillion, the government then bailed the banks out with N5 trillion in order not bring the country’s banking system down and collapse the economy.

    He explained the lesson from that experience informed why the Buhari-led government decided to support people at the base of the pyramid by starting with social intervention funds to cushion poverty and established N-power and School Feeding Programme for over nine million children, among others.

    Fashola said the programmes had overtime created linkage support for farmers producing the foodstuff needed to keep the programme going.

  • APC will bring more prosperity, development – Fashola

    The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Saturday appealed to members  of the electorate to vote for the All Progressives Congress(APC) candidates in the February 16 and March 2, general elections.

    Fashola, who made the appeal in a chat with journalists at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, venue of the APC Presidential Campaign rally, urged the people to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ready and vote en-masse for APC.

    According to him, re-electing APC will bring more prosperity and development, among other things dividends of democracy.

    Read Also: Fashola demands N1b, retractions from Leno

    “After voting, please wait behind for it to be counted in your presence. We cannot allow our votes to be rubbished,” he said.

    Dignitaries at the event include the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, National Leader of APC, Chief Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, APC Lagos Governorship Candidate, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu, Gov. Atiku Bagudu, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Kebbi, Oyo and Ekiti states, respectively.

    President Muhammadu Buhari arrived the venue at 2.46p.m.

    NAN

  • Fashola, FCT Minister lead campaign for Buhari re-election

    The Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, along with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Musa Bello, led a campaign to further President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection bid.

    The campaign, themed FCT Next Level Task Force, took place in Abuja on Friday.

    Fashola advised Nigerians to make an informed choice in the upcoming general elections in order to avoid regression in the economy and security of the country.

    “We are putting our record on the line, and our government, our party, our President, Buhari, and our candidates deserve another term,” he said in an interview.

    “We expect that this campaign will strengthen our bid, not only for the president but for all of our candidates.

    “And whilst we have the nationwide rallies led by the president, we also have some other contact levels and campaigns led by the vice president, Senators, House candidates, and gubernatorial candidates reaching out to voters to continue to carry out our message of consolidation and the message of our achievements over the last three years compared to the last 16 years.

    Read Also: Fashola demands N1b, retractions from Leno

    “We have done more with less, we have built a foundation, we have recovered the economy, the economy is back on the path of growth, we need to consolidate on what we have built.”

    The former Governor of Lagos also listed Buhari’s advantages over his opponents, being “his integrity, his leadership qualities, and all his achievements especially in terms of security.

    “There are places here where you couldn’t go out by 7pm just three years ago,” Fashola spoke. “We must reflect on the fact that, while there is a lot of work to do going forward, we must remember where we came from three years ago.

    “A lot of stability has happened here in the past three years. People have returned from IDP camps back to their homes and it’s one thing to lose your home and be in an IDP camp, and to build up lives which have been truncated.”

    FCT Minister Musa Bello also spoke in an interview, reiterating the important achievements the present administration has made, and asked citizens to make wise decisions at the polls so as to better their own future.

    “Buhari has restored hope to this country, ” stated Bello, “and that is why everybody you see here man woman and child are full of hope and that is why we are encouraging them that for this to be sustained it is very important that Muhammad Buhari comes back for a second term.

    “If we lose this traction it’ll be very difficult for us to rise out of the ashes.”

  • FG needs N40b to replace nine public buildings

    The federal government needs about N40 billion to replace nine public buildings currently in bad shape.

    The buildings include: the prison, court, federal secretariat, hospital, a federal government college and four of blocks of building in the ministry of Power, Works and Housing including the power house.

    The government also disclosed the country was capable of saving billions annually if members of the public embrace maintenance as they do religion.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola stated these on Thursday in Abuja during public presentation of the ‘National Public Building Maintenance Policy’.

    The Minister also stated data from other countries show maintenance contributes about 3 percent to South Africa, Canada and United States of America’s GDP.

    Speaking on the importance of the policy, the minister said: “The federal government’s decision on maintenance is an economic decision. It is meant to empower Nigerians at the base of the economic pyramid especially those who are artisans.

    “It is also meant to empower the middle class; those who are in small and medium scale enterprises, manufacturers of cottage industry produced equipment and generally drive the growth of Nigeria’s economy.”

    On the financial implication of poor maintenance, the Minister said: “We used nine public buildings as pilot; the prison, court, federal secretariat, hospital, federal government college and four of our buildings and the power house.

    Read Also: ‘Why public buildings insurance policy is failing’

    “The total overview of those nine buildings showed to us that it will cost about N40billion to replace those buildings.

    “We thought that if we pursue maintenance at about N600 million to N900 million per annum, those buildings can achieve their desired life of between 50 to 70 years.

    “If we had N40 billion in any event, instead of using them to replace existing buildings, we should be using them to expand and provide more for our growing population.”

    He also said maintenance would create employment opportunities.

    “If we spend under a billion a year, we found out that we will be employing over 400 people in just those nine buildings.

    “One of the schools will require about 34 people and I did a quick check; there are about 104 unity schools, so if you multiply 34 by 104 for schools alone, you will begin to see the numbers we are seeing.”

    Commenting on recent law prohibiting discrimination against people living with disability, Fashola urged architects to brace up to achieve the five years compliance target set.

    Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita said the maintenance culture of public facilities was worrisome.

    She also said the speedy maintenance will save cost.

    Oyo-Ita, who was represented by Mrs. Toyin Alade, said: “Our maintenance culture in Nigeria has become worrisome and it should be put in the right perspective.

    “Prompt maintenance of the buildings will save possible deterioration and save money at the end of the day.

    “The workers also desire satisfaction in a well maintained friendly building. Dilapidated buildings portend danger for its workers and this we must avoid at all cost.”

     

     

  • FG needs N40b to reconstruct nine public buildings

    …Nigeria’s maintenance culture worrisome

     

    The Federal Government has disclosed that about N40 billion is required to replace nine public buildings that are currently in bad shape.

    The buildings include; the prison, court, federal secretariat, hospital, a federal government college and four of blocks of building in the ministry of Power, Works and Housing including the powerhouse.

    The government also disclosed that the country was capable of saving billions of Naira annually if members of the public embrace maintenance as they do religion.

    This was disclosed in Abuja on Thursday by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola during the public presentation of the ‘National Public Building Maintenance Policy’.

    The Minister also stated that data from other countries shows that maintenance contributes about 3 percent to South Africa, Canada and United States of America’s GDP.

    Speaking on the importance of the policy, the minister said: “The federal government’s decision on maintenance is an economic decision. It is meant to empower Nigerians at the base of the economic pyramid especially those who are artisans.

    “It is also meant to empower the middle class; those who are in small and medium scale enterprises, manufacturers of cottage industry produced equipment and generally drive the growth of Nigeria’s economy.”

    On the financial implication of poor maintenance, the Minister said: “We used nine public buildings as pilot; the prison, court, federal secretariat, hospital, federal government college and four of our buildings and the power house. The total overview of those nine buildings showed to us that it will cost about N40billion to replace those buildings.

    “We thought that if we pursue maintenance at about N600 million to N900 million per annum, those buildings can achieve their desired life of between 50 to 70 years. If we had N40 billion in any event, instead of using them to replace existing buildings, we should be using them to expand and provide more for our growing population.

    He also said maintenance would create employment opportunities. “If we spend under a billion a year, we found out that we will be employing over 400 people in just those nine buildings.

    “One of the schools will require about 34 people and I did a quick check; there are about 104 unity schools, so if you multiply 34 by 104 for schools alone, you will begin to see the numbers we are seeing.

    “In the ministry of interior alone, if the work begins to get to prison to make sure that there is water, electricity and that roofs don’t leak; just imagine if it spreads across all the police stations in Nigeria because they are public buildings as well. Can we then truly say that there will be no work in this economy?”

    Giving an instance of the workability of the policy, the minister said: “The data available from South Africa, Canada and the United States shows that maintenance as an economy contributes from 1.5 percent to 3 percent GDP contribution and that is massive and that is why I feel I need to let people know that what we have signed unto is enormous and that is why I said this is the work that I have done here that I am most proud of and I hope that I live to see the result.”

    Commenting on recent law prohibiting discrimination against people living with disability, Fashola urged architects to brace up to achieve the five years compliance target set.

    He said: “On the signing of the law to protect people who are living with disability or discrimination, we require five years to achieve compliance. Compliance means that in every public building, a person living with disability can operate, function, climb and descend without assistance. So, apart from lifts, there must be ramps to enable those who are in wheel chairs move freely.

    “So, our architects must brace up in designing buildings at the proper slope. Our parking lots must now have designated number of parking spaces for people living with disability. Our airports will have to be retrofitted and redesigned to provide a dedicated channel for entry and exit points as seen all over the world.

    Read Also: CCT resumes Onnoghen’s trial Monday

    “What President Buhari has done with that law is profound. A new status and new way of life has been presented to us. He has done his job, we must do ours. So, we have to retrofit all those buildings within the next fives years and as we do that, people will be employed and lives will change in one month.

    On whether there would be sanctions for those who fail to comply with the policy, he said: “We all need to work to achieve the purpose of this policy. In this country, people go to churches and mosque not because they are forced to but because they are convinced that it is the right thing. That same attitude applied in going to places of worship should be applied to the maintenance of our building. Let maintenance be our new religion”.

     

  • Fashola to court: Dismiss Falana’s suit seeking to compel FG to fix Oshodi/Apapa expressway

     

     

    The Minister of Works, Housing and Power Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has urged the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to dismiss the fundamental right suit filed by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) challenging the failure of the federal government to remove the gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway.

    In his preliminary objection against the suit, Fashola challenged Falana’s locus standi to file the suit.

    He argued that Falana has not shown that he has suffered over and above other motorists or users of the road.

    The Minister contended failure to repair the road has not in any way restricted or breached Falana’s freedom of movement

    In a counter-affidavit deposed to by one Ayodele Otedola, a litigation clerk in the ministry, on behalf of the Minister, it was stated the gridlock on the road “is always caused by tanker drivers who normally follow the route to Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) for the purpose of loading and offloading their goods”.

    It also stated that the minister’s “effort to clear the road and remove the trailers and tankers has not been easy but that effort has been redoubled to achieve this goal”.

    Falana, in his fundamental right suit, argued the state of the road constitutes a threat to his life and violation of his fundamental right to move freely in Lagos as guaranteed by Sections 33 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Articles 5 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

    He is therefore seeking the following reliefs:

    “A declaration that the refusal or failure of the respondents to remove obstructions, repair and maintain the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway is illegal and unconstitutional as it constitutes a threat to the fundamental right to life of the applicant guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Falana asked the court for a declaration the failure or refusal of the respondents to make the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway safe for motorists is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates the Applicant’s fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 12 ff the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He prayed the court for a declaration the parking of tankers and trailers on the overhead bridges in Lagos is illegal and unconstitutional as it constitutes a threat to the fundamental right to life of the applicant and other motorists guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He, in addition, asked for a declaration that the applicant is entitled to his fundamental right to economic, social and cultural development guaranteed by Article 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Falana in addition asked for an order of the court directing the respondents to remove all obstructions, repair and maintain the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway forthwith.

    Meanwhile, the federal high court has fixed January 19, 2018 for hearing the substantive suit and the preliminary objection.