We’ve Delivered On Our Mandates In Power, Works, Housing Sectors ― Fashola

THE Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on Monday, said his Ministry has delivered on its mandate in the Power, Works and Housing sectors.

This is even as he announced the completion of the Zik Mausoleum in Onitsha.

Fashola stated this in Abuja when he addressed newsmen on his progress report in three years.

The Minister who spoke on the changes he has effected in the power, works and housing sectors said there were visible improvements compared to previous administrations.

“I am proud and happy to report that we have walked our talk, and we have delivered visible results and recorded qualitative progress,” he maintained.

In the power sector, he said the Ministry has been able to effect increase in generation, transmission and distribution chains of the power supply adding that it has delivered on incremental power.

“With regard to power, we have improved on what we met, by increasing generation from 4000 MW to 7000 MW, transmission from 5000 MW to 7000 MW and distribution from 2690 MW to 5,222 MW,” he said.

“Transmission from 90 projects nationwide with Apo, Mayo Belwa, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Odogunyan and Ejigbo being recently completed ones.

“Distribution through over 100 injection sub-stations and a distribution expansion programme to be funded by the Federal Government now in an advanced state of procurement.

“Although there are still people we have not reached, although there are still disruptions from time to time, and although there are still people who also need meters, and we are working to reach them, it is indisputable that we have delivered on incremental power.”

In terms of infrastructure, he disclosed that the budgetary allocation grew from N18.132billion in 2015 to N394billion in 2018.

According to the Minister, the increase in budget led to massive improvement in the construction of roads and infrastructure in the country.

He said;“The outcome is that there is not one state in Nigeria today where the Federal Government is not executing at least one road project and construction workers are engaged on these sites.

“Difficult or abandoned projects like the 2nd Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Bodo-Bonny Bridge have been brought back to life.”

In the housing sector, he said under the pilot scheme of the National Housing Programme, construction is ongoing in 34 states.

“…No less than 1,000 people are employed on each site apart from the staff of the successful contractors.

“These sites are an ecosystem of human enterprise, where artisans, vendors, suppliers and craftsmen converge to partake of opportunities and contribute to nation building,” he added.

The Minister also disclosed that a total of 1300 Certificates of Occupany (CofOs) have been approved with 1,216 Application for Consent to transfer interests in Land application as at October 2018.

He said this was borne out of its resolve to tackle the backlog of issuance of consent and Certificates of Occupany to Federal Government land.

“Some of these transactions started over a decade ago and those just getting certificates acquired their properties years back but never got title,” he stated.

To this end, he reiterated the FG’s commitment to ensuring that it delivers on all its promises.

Source: Trubune