FasholaAssures States onPaymentofDebts IncurredoverFederalRoadsReconstruction

Tasks developers on new ideas for adequate housing

and in Gombe in Abuja

Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has disclosed that the Federal Government has begun the process of repayment of all debts owed State Governments as a result of reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads in various states of the federation.

The Minister stated this at the Government House, during a tour of federal government projects in Gombe State, adding that government had already sent people around the country to verify the said projects and ensure that the debts were paid off in an equitable way.

Fashola stated that the federal government has special interest in the North-east in ensuring that the zone is returned to its lost glory with enhancement of economic activities and the ease of goods and persons.

While commending the Gombe State government for undertaking the dualisation of the sections of the Bauchi-Gombe federal highway, he assured that the federal government would continue to assist and support it to realise its developmental objectives.

Earlier while taking the Minister round some of the roads, Gombe State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr. Abubakar Bappa, said the state government was yet to be reimbursed a sum of about N8 billion it used to rehabilitate some federal highways in the state.

He said if the debts were paid, the State government intends to undertake some federal government road projects that needed immediate attention, especially two federal highways from Gombe to Bauchi and from Gombe to Taraba States.

Speaking during the courtesy call, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who was represented by his Deputy Dr. Charles Iliya, called on the federal government to speed up efforts in the reconstruction of the ongoing projects on the Gombe-Yola road, because the rains were setting in and would pose a great challenge for those who use the road.

The Deputy Governor then pledged the state government’s commitment to work with the federal government to get the projects in the state carried out without any challenge. Federal road projects in Gombe State are seven in number, spanning 680 kilometres, with two of the roads currently being worked on.

Meanwhile, Fashola has also called on property developers to come up with new innovative ideas that would bring about adequate housing for Nigerians.

The Minister made the appeal while speaking at the recent Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) two-day intensive workshop for real estate developers in Abuja.

The Minister, who was represented by his special adviser on housing, Abiodun called on the developers to use the Memo- randum of Understanding (MoU) they signed between Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Shelter Afrique to make provisions that would provide more houses for all categories of Nigerians.

According to him, “developers just signed an MoU with FMBN and Shelter Afrique, so it’s high time to make use of the opportunity to provide housing for all”. He however called on other experts in the sector to made use of every available avenue that could support government commitment to ensuring people own their personal houses.

In a welcome address, President of REDAN, Rev. Chime Ugochukwu disclosed that the event was organised to chart more ways of developing the country’s building system.

Ugochukwu explained that the programme with the theme, ‘REDAN building expo 2017 investing in real estate for economic recovery and expansion’ would identify the basics that are needed to drive building