Works Minister Fashola
Works Minister Fashola
Fashola Presents Buhari’s 3 years Scorecard on
Infrastructure
The Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde
Raji Fashola, SAN, has presented the Ministry’s scorecard and
achievements on infrastructure development and provision across the
country in commemoration of his three years in office. He added
that the ‘’present government has no doubt move the nation forward
by consolidating on the mandate of change promised Nigerians.
Addressing the media and the general public at a press
conference held in Abuja, today, he noted that there is the need to
refresh on his inaugural statements titled, ‘’Setting the Agenda
for Delivering Change,’’ when President Muhammadu Buhari
inaugurated the present Federal Executive Council and the
subsequent creation of the Ministry of Power, Works and
Housing.
The Minister noted that with regards to power supply, ‘’I
promised that we will improve on gas supply, increase transmission
capacity, pay MDAs’ debts to the DisCos and generally improve your
experience with power supply, first by getting incremental power,
then proceed to stable and hopefully reach uninterrupted
supply.’’
Fashola also reported that with regards to works, ‘’as at May,
2015, many contractors have stopped work due to lack of payment and
many fathers and wives employed by them laid off as a result. The
possibility to return those who have lost their jobs back to work
is the kind of change that we expect to see’’.
Retrospectively speaking on the Housing sector, the Minister stated
that, ‘’it presents an enormous opportunity for positively
impacting the economy to promote not only growth but
inclusion’’.
He further stated that ‘’Government will lead the aggressive
intervention to increase supply starting with a pilot’’.
Fashola, however, noted that where the nation is standing today,
despite little resources to work with, is a clear evidence of
qualitative progress in the delivery of infrastructure across
Nigeria, adding that this is a remarkable departure from past
Administrations.
Further in his address, the Minister disclosed that power
generation has increased from 4,000 MW to 7,000 MW, transmission
from 5,000 MW to 7,000 MW and distribution from 2,690 MW to 5, 222
MW.
He noted that the consistence progress recorded in the power sector
from 2015 till date is a clear departure from what obtained before,
also a proof of change.
In relation to public works, the Minister stated that the dogged
determination of the present Administration to deliver on critical
infrastructure has brought about expansive spending on Federal road
projects across the nation. He stressed that this development saw
the budget of the works sector growing from N18.132b in 2015 to
N394B in 2018.
The outcome of these massive spending and investment on
infrastructure has not left any state in Nigeria today without a
Federal Government visible road project(s) with thousand of
construction workers, who were formerly laid-off now being fully
engaged.
Fashola stated that the Ministry’s intervention on roads does
not stop on interstate highways alone. It has also affected Federal
Universities, where failed internal roads are now receiving proper
attention.
According to the Minister, the present government also took a
giant stride by creating a Presidential Infrastructural Development
Fund to address critical economic projects across the country.
Projects such as the 2nd Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the
Mambilla hydro – power project and many more are expected to
benefit from the Fund.
Speaking on the housing sector, the Minister stated that the
pilot National Housing Programme, second in the history of the
nation, has led to a nationwide housing construction currently at
various stages of completion in 34 States where landed properties
were provided.
He added that construction works at these project sites are an
ecosystem of human enterprise, where artisans, vendors, suppliers
and craftsmen are direct beneficiaries, as well as contributing to
nation building.
The Minister opined that the Ministry is also tackling the
backlog of issuance of Consent and Certificates of Occupancy on
Federal Government lands. He stated that ‘’a total of 1, 216
applications for Consent to Transfer Interest in Land and 1, 300
Certificates of Occupancy were approved and signed’’.
Fashola noted that without the team of dedicated staff, the
landslide achievements and growth in these sectors would have been
a mirage.
In attendance were, the Permanent Secretaries of Works and Housing,
Mohammed Bukar and that of Power, Engr. Louis Edozien, Directors
from the three sectors, Heads/CEOs of Parastatals.
Olatunji John