Federal Government Takes Over the Completed 2nd Niger Bridge Project with Ancillary Facilities from Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) PLC   …..Assures of Its Commitment to Delivery Of Enduring Road Infrastructure in Nigeria …..As Sen. Umahi Harps on Prompt Supervision of Projects Of The Federal Ministry of Works Says Day and Night and Even Weekends Shall Not Be Spared   The Federal Government of Nigeria has restated its commitment to the delivery of enduring road infrastructure that will conform with the world best standard and add value to the economic recovery action plan of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR This  was contained in the message of the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON when he received the handover of the completed 2nd Niger Bridge project and ancillary facilities from the contractor that handled the project, Messrs. Julius Berger  Nigeria (JBN) Plc this  Sunday, the 3rd day of December 2023 at the 2nd Niger Bridge toll station "We are here to take over the completed works of Julius Berger  Nigeria Plc on the 2nd Niger Bridge and some access roads. We are satisfied with the works done  and which project circle was completed under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We thank the immediate past administration of President Mohammadu Buhari for doing quite a lot to bring this project to fruition and of course my predecessor, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, CON, SAN who was the Hon. Minister of Works that handled this project. The job is impeccably beautiful and well completed".   The Hon. Minister stated that  in line with the new innovations of Mr. President on road infrastructure, his Ministry would work to ensure the installation of solar powered light on the length of the completed project, ensure that the two interchanges of the bridges are completed, acquire more land through the State Government so as to have service stations and  ensure security on the road through the installation of CCTV cameras. And the Ministry also plans to concession the project through the HDMI programme.   "We have the light issue, and we shall put our heads together on how to have light permanently along the completed road especially at night and we have agreed on solar solution. The road project will be fully completed when we have completed the two interchanges. One is taking road users off from Asaba town so that if you are coming to this bridge, you don't have to go through Asaba town to encounter vehicular traffic  while the other one is to take road users off  Onitsha town to avoid traffic, and it is when this is done that the entire job will be said to have been fully completed. Julius Berger and RCC have been respectively proposed to handle the jobs." "However, If we get an investor who is prepared to fund the two interchanges, we shall concession the two projects to such investor  under our HDMI programme, and we are going to acquire more land here so we can establish service stations and we get the private sector to build hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, fillings stations and other facilities for public use as we see in Western world" "And  of course we are going to ensure security surveillance along the road through the installation of CCTV cameras and deployment of security personnel so that within this axis you can have access to security within the shortest possible time".   The Hon. Minister also said that although Federal Government is taking over the completed 2nd Niger Bridge, the contractor shall still be liable within the defect liability period and so if anything goes wrong in the completed job, the contractor will be called upon to fix it. He added that the toll would be activated the moment the two interchanges are fixed.   Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Director Bridge Design and Construction, Federal Ministry of Works Engr. Obioha thanked the Federal Government for working assiduously to ensure that the project was completed. He noted that the Ministry worked well with the contractor to ensure the project was completed on record time and hoped that the public would complement this Federal Government's efforts by abiding by the rules of the road and helping to ensure the safety and protection of the installations along the road.   On his own part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc, Dr. Las Ritcher said the bridge was commissioned by the immediate past administration but there was need for a technical handover to the Federal Ministry of Works, hence the handover ceremony. He expressed hope that the Federal Ministry of Works under Sen. Umahi who is known for his penchant for quality delivery of jobs would be satisfied with the quality of job done "He has seen what Julius Berger had delivered to the highest quality. I think he is satisfied and from tomorrow we can say it is not our project; it is now the project of the Federal Ministry of Works. I am delighted to hand it over to the client and that he can run that road, including the toll station".   It is to be noted that the contract awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc is for the construction of 2nd Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta States, Contract No. 6475 and construction of access road from existing Benin- Asaba Expressway to approach link road to 2nd Niger Bridge, Contract No 7919.   Meanwhile the Hon. Minister of Works had on the same Sunday, 3rd December 2023 paid an inspection visit to the project site of CGG Nig. Ltd on the contract for the Rehabilitation of Enugu- Port Harcourt Expressway Section 111: Enugu- Lokpanta 61.15 km road. The Hon. Minister also visited the collapsed New Artisan bridge along NNPC Mega Filling Station Enugu- PH  Expressway, Enugu State. Works in those locations are ongoing and are expected to be delivered on record time. ...

Dangiwa Charges Mortgage Bankers on Innovation, Says Nigeria's Housing Crisis Requires Creative Solutions   …Sues for affordable mortgage products to match current economic realities   Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has called on heads of mortgage banks to be creative in developing mortgage products for Nigerians. The Minister said Nigeria's current economic challenges call for innovative solutions that will make housing finance more easily accessible to Nigerians, and at affordable rates.   Speaking during the 20th edition of the Mortgage Banking CEOs Annual Retreat at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Saturday 2nd December 2023, Arc. Dangiwa said CEOs of mortgage banks must find new ways to navigate the harsh macroeconomic environment and ensure that ordinary Nigerians- especially those in the low-and-medium-income bracket- can access the finance they need for homeownership.   "While the government works to fix this macro-economic challenge, I still believe that as CEOs of mortgage banks, you can find creative ways to develop innovative mortgage products that are responsive to Nigeria's current economic situation. This includes adopting rent to own mortgage options, flexible monthly mortgage loan repayments to make commercial loans more affordable.   "I note with concern that the Capital Market has not been maximally tapped to raise long term funds to refinance mortgage loans and to explore more creative ways to make mortgages more affordable even as we work to fix the larger macro-economic problems. As leaders, we must not only see provision of housing and home loans from a business and profit perspective, but also see expanding access to affordable mortgages as a moral imperative. So, we must do all we can even in these difficult times to ensure that not only the elites, but Nigerians within the low- and medium-income segments have access to affordable mortgages," he said.   While he acknowledged the presence of legacy challenges and barriers that hamper development in the sector, he charged the mortgage bankers to see themselves as leaders with a moral imperative to make housing more affordable and easily accessible to Nigerians.   The Minister noted that the theme for this year's retreat, "Advancing Sustainable and Affordable Housing in Nigeria: Navigating Macro-Economic, Legislative, and Policy Frontiers”, clearly captures the need of the hour. "The theme emphasizes the need for all players to find ways to navigate the macro, legal and policy bottlenecks. This speaks to the need for innovation. It speaks to the need for creativity. And it speaks to the need for effective leadership at every point in the value chain. This is because leaders are supposed to make progress despite challenges. Leaders are supposed to navigate the complexities of situations to make progress," he added.   Aware of the cost of funding and its impact on lending rate, which is a reflection of the broader economic reality, the Minister expressed confidence at the ability and willingness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to drive economic growth and create a more friendly environment for mortgage banking to thrive in Nigeria. He assured them that the jinx of macro-economic, legislative and policy issues that have held down the growth of effective housing delivery in the country will be broken under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.   Speaking earlier, President of the Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN), Ebilate Mac-Yoroki noted that the retreat provided a platform for deliberation in order to harness policies and partnerships to create products that would enhance the extension of access to affordable housing finance to a larger segment of the Nigerian populace.   Also speaking at the event were Managing Director and Chief Executive of Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), Kehinde Ogundimu, who observed that despite efforts by mortgage bankers in the past years, the industry has performed below expectation. "We must find ways to make affordable housing delivery work, starting with lowering the cost of lending. There's no where in the world that mortgage thrives with double-digit interest rates," he said.   Other attendees include Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Madu Hamman, the leadership of Family Homes Fund Limited, the leadership of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), heads of mortgage banks and institutions, and representayives of regulatory bodies. ...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Commissions TETFund Sponsored Projects- Faculty of Education Building, University Library, ICT/ Research University Library, ICT/Research Centre in Ebonyi State University   ....Describes Education as a Bedrock to National Development   The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has described education as one of the most critical sectors of our national development that would be given priority by his Renewed Hope administration The President disclosed this during the commissioning of the TETFund sponsored education projects in Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The President who was represented by the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON commended TETFund for the roles it has been playing in advancing educational development in Nigeria noting that education has a pride of place in the 2024 proposed project which is now before the National Assembly for consideration.   "TETFund is playing vital roles in our educational system. TETFund has over the years played the role of bridging the gap of infrastructure and research in our tertiary institutions."   The President commended the Governor for the environment provided by State which saw to the successful completion of the TETFund sponsored projects." I want to thank you very much our dear Governor. You are well suited for this position". He also commended the TETFund management for the sense of prudence and value for money exhibited in the course of the execution of the TETFund projects in the University and  gave assurances that education and road infrastructure among other critical sectors of the economy shall attract unprecedented commitment  of the  Renewed Hope administration as they are among the precursors for the  rejigging of the national economy.   In his earlier address, the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt Hon. Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB, GGCEHF described as laudable the TETFund sponsored projects in the University and commended the Federal Government for finding the State worthy of benefiting from such funding from TETFund. "I have analyzed the project of TETFund, I have looked at it and found out that the value of and the reason for the project is enormous. This is the Agency of government that is not given to any story. If you are a contractor to TETFund, you must know they don't take story. “There is no provision for revaluation of job, no variation” And this he said is the way to go for us to show effectiveness and efficiency in the use of the taxpayers’ resources. The Governor expressed hope that TETFund would give more interventions to the State, noting that a lot of interventions had eluded the State especially infrastructural interventions from Federal Government and so the State is hoping to benefit more from the Federal Government.   He thanked the representative of Mr. President for his roles in the Federal Government's interventions in the State so far and hoped that more would be attracted to the State.   In their earlier remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Chigozie N  Ogbu, OFR and the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S T Echono, OON, FNIA took their turns to commend the President of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his manifest commitment in raising the bar in educational development in Nigeria, particularly his interest in the development of tertiary education.   The Vice Chancellor noted that it was the first time in the history of the University that TETFund sponsored projects were being commissioned at the University and they are grateful to the President. "I am very happy to report that all our infrastructural and supply projects from TETFund are completed except for one pending installation of the solar panels for the lecture podia already supplied. "We are grateful to TETFund for these impactful input into the development of Ebonyi State University".   The Executive Secretary of TETFund on his own part said he was optimistic that the TETFund sponsored projects in the University would strengthen the University's efforts in becoming a global player in the tertiary education sub- sector and significantly contribute to educational research and development. "Our resolve as a Fund is to ensure that our interventions are sustained and improved upon as much as possible to enable our institutions undertake bigger and more laudable and impactful projects that will make them become globally competitive and situate them in enviable positions among their peers both nationally and globally. We shall continually engage with our beneficiary institutions towards ensuring the delivery of iconic and impactful intervention projects in subsequent intervention years."   It is noteworthy to mention that the Projects commissioned by Mr. President were attracted by the representative of the President when he was the Governor of Ebonyi State. The Projects commissioned are: [1] Faculty of Education This is a Four-Floor structure containing 27 classrooms, 3 major teaching laboratories, 66 offices, Faculty Library and 2 lecture theaters. The classrooms, offices, laboratories, and lecture theaters are furnished.   [2] University Library This is a three-floor structure housing e-Library, Library Sections for each Faculty; Sections for bindery, references and cataloging. There is a section for bookshop. There are twelve offices and a Board Room.   [3] Information Communication Technology/Research Center This is a 2-Floor building containing 500 seating capacity furnished auditorium, four ICT Halls with 582 desktop computers for CBT Exams and training. MacArthur Foundation Advertising Practitioners Laboratory and offices. ...