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Tag: Babatunde Fashola

  • Tinubu Joins Muslims for Eid Prayers at Dodan Barracks Praying Ground

    Tinubu Joins Muslims for Eid Prayers at Dodan Barracks Praying Ground

    President Bola Tinubu participated in the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the Dodan Barracks Praying Ground in Lagos, alongside other Nigerian Muslims.

    Accompanied by prominent government officials such as Mr Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, and Mr Babatunde Fashola, former Lagos State Governor, President Tinubu joined the congregation for the religious gathering.

    During the sermon delivered by the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Suleiman Abu-Nolah, the significance of Eid-el-Kabir was emphasized. He highlighted that the occasion promotes values of sacrifice, unity, and tolerance among the Muslim community.

    The Chief Imam emphasized that religion does not support selfishness, intolerance, or sectionalism. He urged attendees to reflect on the challenges facing the country and seek rectification through prayer and unity.

    Prayers were offered for Nigeria’s continued peace, progress, and stability, and the Chief Imam called upon all Nigerians to embrace the values of Prophet Ibrahim.

    Mr Femi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, urged Nigerians to pray for the well-being of the country. He emphasized the importance of sacrifice and love as citizens’ duties, which contribute to the greatness of the nation.

    In his address, Gbajabiamila affirmed that the president would continue to implement people-oriented policies, instilling hope in Nigerians. He emphasized the need for prayers and support as the president works towards fulfilling the dreams of Nigeria’s founding fathers.

    Gbajabiamila expressed confidence that with the prayers and support of all Nigerians, the president would overcome the challenges ahead, acknowledging the weight of the tasks at hand.

  • 2023: Without A Doubt, Peter Obi Surprised Us In Lagos, Says Fashola

    2023: Without A Doubt, Peter Obi Surprised Us In Lagos, Says Fashola

    Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said that the victory of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi in Lagos State during the February 25, 2023 poll surprised the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The former Lagos State governor, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, said the Labour Party turned its voters on in Lagos and decimated the chances of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The strong ally of the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu also said his party, the APC conducted pre-election internal polls but never released it, describing polls that predicted victory for Obi and Atiku as “badly conducted”.

    The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who headed the Election Planning Directorate of the Tinubu-Shettima campaign, said his party knew states where it had high chances of winning and had concentrated its energy in those states.

    However, Fashola said his party was blindsided in some cases. “In some cases, you get blindsided. We were blindsided in Lagos because the opposition turned out their voters there,” he said.

    “And you also saw that a party that has been competitive for 24 years, the umbrella party, suddenly disappeared. It showed that their support base has shifted.”

    Asked whether LP’s victory in Lagos at the presidential poll surprised the APC, he said, “Yeah, blindsided us, without a doubt. They turned out their voters and in the subsequent gubernatorial election, we turned out our voters.”

    At the February 25 poll, Obi polled 582,454 votes to trounce Tinubu, also a former Lagos State governor who scored 572,606 votes. However, Tinubu won the highest total votes in the election and was declared winner by the electoral umpire.

    Tinubu won in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, and secured significant numbers in several other states to claim the highest number of votes — 8,794,726, almost two million votes more than his closest rival — former Vice President Atiku, who got 6,984,520 votes, while Obi polled 6,101,533.

    Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, won the polls in 11 states, including the home state of the APC candidate — Lagos. He also came out tops in the nation’s capital Abuja. Abubakar, like Tinubu, was victorious in 12 states.

  • Sit-At-Home Delayed Completion Of Second Niger Bridge – Fashola

    Sit-At-Home Delayed Completion Of Second Niger Bridge – Fashola

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on Wednesday stated that the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) contributed immensely to the seeming delay in completion of the Second Niger Bridge project.

    Fashola made this disclosure when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

    He said, “These dates keep shifting and people must remember that on the eastern side, our contractors have not been able to work on Mondays for almost two years and that has affected the completion date.”

    According to him, while construction workers work on Saturdays, a 52-day loss cannot easily be made up for in construction work.

    The minister further asserted that certain other challenges liken relocating transmission lines connecting the East to the West across the Niger River, contributed to days lost and added to the snag that affected the early completion of the bridge within the time earlier stipulated.

    Speaking on finishing the last 4km stretch of the road in four months, Mr Fashola said the construction is taking place in a marshland and as such, there is great need for dredging and sand filling, process which he says cannot be rushed.

    He emphasized that the reason the ministry and its contractors have made great progress on the road so far, is because they have employed the use of Prefabricated Vertical Drains which accelerate settlement and drainage and as such, workers can start building quicker than would ordinarily have been expected.

    The minister however promised that the new target date to deliver a perfectly completed Second-Niger Bridge will be April/May 2023, adding that inevitably the bridge will be tolled to ensure that it is maintained to serve Nigerians for many years.

  • You Are Economical with the Truth, Oyo State Government Tells Fashola

    You Are Economical with the Truth, Oyo State Government Tells Fashola

    The Oyo State Government has reacted to a claim by the Federal Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), that it is responsible for the non-completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, saying he is economical with the truth.

    In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, on Monday, the Oyo State Government said it is imperative to set records straight as a government committed to ensuring that the good people of Oyo State enjoy the dividends of good governance.

    The statement reads:

    Firstly, we need to clarify that two major projects, the dualization of the 8.2km Agodi – Gate – Old Ife – Adegbayi Junction Road and a few projects under the World Bank assisted Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) interface with the 127.6 km Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project at CH 115-117, CH 117 and CH 125. In real terms, this stretch is less than 3 kilometers.

    Secondly, we would have expected that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing would have reached out to us to find out how long we would need to complete the aforementioned projects being that Oyo State has been in communication with the Ministry. In fact, just about a year ago, we had requested permission from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (through the Director of Federal Highways) to dualize the underpass at CH 115 -117. We were advised to make sure that the diversion routes are completed before embarking on the diversion. We complied 100%.

    Also, it is on record that the majority of the 22km stretch of the Lagos -Ibadan Express Road between the old Tollgate Ibadan – Ojoo is still work in progress. Earthwork between Iwo Road Interchange and Ojoo has only just commenced. While work between the Old Ibadan Tollgate and Onipepeye is still in progress and characterized by road diversions. With all this work yet to be done, why is the Federal Minister blaming the Oyo State Government for delaying the project?

    Had the Federal Minister reached out to the Oyo State Government, we would have told him that although the contract for work on the dualization of Agodi-Gate- Old-Ife Road – Adegbayi Junction which includes an underpass interface with the Lagos Ibadan Expressway at Onipepeye had to be terminated at 60% in September 2022 due to slow pace of work by the contractor, whose contract was awarded under the previous administration, the Oyo State Government is in the process of re-awarding the remaining 40% with a February 2023 delivery date. We have also provided 500m diversions of the main expressway lanes from the impacted site to allow traffic flow on both sides. Similarly, the IUFMP projects also have 4-month completion schedules.

    Given that the pace of work on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been at 10/km per year (it has taken almost 10 years since 2013 for work so far done on the 127.6km stretch of road to be completed), it could take about 2 years to finish the work and get to CH 127.6. Why then will our projects with 4-month remaining be the source of delay of completion of the project?

    One would also wonder why it was okay to skip the Lagos end of this project between Berger and Old Lagos Tollgate and the about 2 km stretch between Shagamu and Ogere, but it suddenly becomes impossible to skip the less than 3km CH 115-117 and 125 and continue work on the remainder 22km.

    From all of the above, it is clear that the Federal Minister did not have the right facts right in ascribing blame for non-completion of the Lagos Ibadan Express Road to the Oyo State Government. Even after the less than 3km CH 115-117 and 125 is completed in February 2023, we doubt if the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project would be anywhere near completion to CH127.6.

  • Second Niger Bridge Fully Completed – FG

    Second Niger Bridge Fully Completed – FG

    The Federal Government says the Second Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta states will soon be open for public use.

    Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this at a ministerial press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He said the Second Niger bridge itself has been “finished” and “people can walk through the bridge now unimpeded”.

    According to him, what remains to be completed is the four-kilometer link road on the Asaba side.

    More to follow…

  • Right-thinking Nigerians will vote for APC in 2023 — Fashola

    Right-thinking Nigerians will vote for APC in 2023 — Fashola

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said that right-thinking Nigerians will vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election.

    Fashola said this when he appeared on Channels TV today July 24.

    Responding to a question on the possibility of the ruling party winning the 2023 Presidential election, Fashola said

    “Nigerians have had the opportunity of two governments. On a very deep reflection, right-thinking and well-meaning Nigerians will re-elect our party into governance, I am optimistic about that.

    I think we have served this country as efficiently as we can, in the most difficult of times.

    No government has faced COVID; we did. No government has faced a global scarcity of resources caused by a war in which we are not involved; we did and we are still managing that economy, providing hope and sustainability. I’m optimistic that we will win.”

  • Lagos-Ibadan Expressway To Be Completed This Year – Fashola

    Lagos-Ibadan Expressway To Be Completed This Year – Fashola

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering infrastructural projects to Nigerians, saying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project will be delivered before December 25, 2022.

    Fashola stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts in delivering the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

    When asked when the project will be completed, the Minister said the Federal Government plans to deliver the project before Christmas.

    “People used to do a one-week trip for a whole day so that is progress. We plan to finish this year,” the minister said.

    Fashola however said that the government is waiting for the Oyo State Government to play its role to aid the speedy completion of the project.

    “It is less than two hours now to go to Ibadan, you can do Ibadan and come back twice a day now and we haven’t finished. We don’t want to finish and the road is open again.

    If you see, the lane marking is already going on, the road furniture is simultaneously being installed road marking is going on and we are waiting for Oyo State. Governor Makinde and I will resolve that pretty soon,” he stated.

    The Minister also unveiled the government’s plan toward ending the Second Niger Bridge project in the South-Eastern part of the country.

    Fashola said the current administration also plans to open the bridge before Christmas, despite the challenges facing the project.

    According to Fashola, he has directed the contractor to see that the project is delivered before the deadline, adding that the main bridge deck has been completed.

    “We are planning also before Christmas to open that to the public for use because that is when there is a large movement.

    “Hopefully, by Christmas, it will be opened. That was the last meeting I had with the contractor about three weeks ago.”

  • FG To Begin Sale Of Houses From N7.2m – Fashola

    FG To Begin Sale Of Houses From N7.2m – Fashola

    The Federal Government is set to commence sale of houses under the National Mass Housing Programme from N7.2 million naira.

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, stated this on Friday during the unveiling of an online portal for the housing scheme in Abuja.

    “This is the first time we have a platform that every Nigerian has access to. This provides an opportunity for all Nigerians to apply and ensure a fair process of allocation,” the minister said.

    Also speaking later on Channels TV’s Hard Copy, he explained that “the conventional way was to print forms and tell people to come and buy the forms but we have had some experiences we don’t want to go back to, with that.

    “I also have experience from my work at the sub-national level where we sold houses on an online platform; open, transparent, competitive, nothing to hide and it’s a similar platform we are replicating at the national level. It’s taking a little more time than before but as minister, I don’t want to be bogged down with petitions.

    “I get petitions every day. And I don’t want to be bogged down with all those things, so, we want to open the system, get online and if you can pay, pay”.

    Fashola added that projects are spread across the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, adding that the highest selling price is N16.19 million.

    According to him, over 5,000 units of houses are at different stages of completion under the programme.

  • FG Set To Commence Rehabilitation Of Lagos/Sango-Ota Expressway

    FG Set To Commence Rehabilitation Of Lagos/Sango-Ota Expressway

    The Federal Government says it is set to immediately commence the rehabilitation of failed portions of the Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta federal highway.

    The Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, announced this on Tuesday during a teleconference between the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun and the minister’s team.

    This followed an intervention by Governor Abiodun over the deplorable state of federal roads in that corridor.

    In an earlier statement, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, had said areas of immediate attention are the failed portions around Sango-Ota on the Lagos – Abeokuta express road and the Otta – Idiroko road.

    According to him, those portions of the federal roads have become a nightmare to motorists and commuters.

    A team of engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works is now expected on Thursday for preparatory assessment ahead of the rehabilitation works.

    Present at the meeting called at the instance of Governor Abiodun was the Minister; Managing Director, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Nurudeen Rafindadi; Director of Federal Highway (Construction and Rehabilitation), Engr Folorunso Esan; among others.

    Governor Abiodun assured residents of the state that his administration will leave no stone unturned in his commitment to building and upgrading public infrastructure across the state.

  • Buhari government executing 800 contracts, 13,000 klm roads – Fashola

    Buhari government executing 800 contracts, 13,000 klm roads – Fashola

    By Danzumi Ishaku, Jalingo.

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on Friday said that the current administration was executing 800 contracts and 13,000 Klm roads and Bridges across Nigeria.

    Fashola made the declaration while inspecting work on the Chanchanji bridge in Takum local government area of Taraba.

    He gave assurance that in no distance time most of the jobs under construction would be completed to enhance security, economy and entrepreneurship for Nigerians.

    He also expressed the determination of the present administration to link Nigerians from all parts of the country through roads and bridges.

    Fashola, however, appealed to Nigerians to be patient as all hands were on deck to complete most projects located in each of the 36 states.

    The minister also announced that the Federal government would consider the taking over of the execution of the 30 klm Takum Chanchangi road rehabilitation from the Taraba government.

    Daybreak reports that the Taraba government had awarded the said congrat to the SCC Nigeria Ltd but the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic had affected the funding of the project.

    Fashola said that the enormous importance of the road that linked Taraba and many other parts of the country necessitated the consideration by the Federal government to take over the project.

    He said that the ministry was in the process of designing and costing the project before it’s award, adding that he would sought for funding of the project from Mr President.

    The minister expressed satisfaction with the work done on the bridge by the SCC Nigeria Ltd, the contractor handling the Chanchangi bridge project.

    He assured residents that the work would be completed in the next three months.

    He also directed the ministry officials to redesign the ancient Chanchanji bridge constructed by the military as an alternative bridge to be used by motorcyclists and pedestrians.

    Earlier, Mr Abubakar Yakubu, Controller of Works, Taraba Field Headquarters, Federal ministry of Works and Housing Jalingo commended the contractor for the good Job.

    Yakubu said that the contract execution has reached 80 per cent completion, maintaining that its execution was in line with the original design.

    Also speaking, Shiban Tikari, Chairman of Takum Local government council commended the Federal government for the gigantic project under construction.

    Tikari also thanked the federal government for the planned take over of the Takum Chanchagi road project which was highly deplorable.

    He said that the two projects, when completed, would boost socio economic activities in Takum and it’s environs.

    He assured the contractors of maximum cooperation of the residents and security in the area.