Umahi Invites Directors of Ferma Engineers in Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, And Akwa Ibom Over Failures on East West Road  .....Minister passes vote of no confidence on the construction of East West Road The Honourable Minister of Works H.E Sen (Engr) David Nweze Umahi in his continuous assessment of the Nigerian roads has travelled by road from Abuja, through Kogi, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa up to Port Harcourt in Rivers State through the famous much talked about East West Road to inspect the progress of work on the highway by himself on Tuesday the 19th of September,2023.   The Minister said  “ I have invited  all the Directors of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) with their engineers from Edo , Delta , Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom , they should be able to attend to the small failures  and redeem all the places that  failed on the road  and  I will hold a meeting with Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC ) Managing Director  this evening  to find out  how we can collaborate on this road”.   On the East West road he said  he had discussed with the Edo State  Governor that the  East West road passed through his state and that was what is causing the traffic jams and hold up, he said they have to design a bye pass, so that the heavy trucks can stop ,moving through the town , it is by so doing that the gridlock can be  stopped and business activity in the state can improve.   Umahi said “We have to look at our constituency projects to see how our constituency projects can be meaningful and impactful and I will be discussing this with the leadership of the House of Representative and the Senate“.   While berating SETRACO construction company working on the East West Road the Minister said “the gimmicks the contractors are using is excuse of overloading.   I am passing A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE on the construction of this road, I won’t certify anything on this road, the road has failed, and it is not acceptable to us.  the road  is full of pot holes , we have paid over N71b and the road has completely gone down, and the road has been further  reviewed from N44b to 144b billion , apart from the beautiful bridge you have built , the road has completely gone down , project manager tell your team to meet me in Abuja on Monday to tell me  what has caused the failure on the road, I do not accept it is overloading truck, our roads are not properly being constructed and I demand that these roads must be properly constructed , it is a fight that Nigerians must win and Mr. President must win this fight for the sake of the Nigerian people to truly enjoy the dividends of a democratic Government. ...

Dangiwa Advocates Rapid Implementation of Housing Reforms by State Governments The Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has called for the rapid implementation of housing reforms by State Governments to create an enabling environment for increased private sector investment and improve access to affordable housing.   The Minister said this during a courtesy visit by the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Mal. Dikko Umaru Radda Phd, on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.   He mentioned that as part of the Ministry’s stakeholder engagement drive, it will work closely with sub-national governments and provide the necessary policy and institutional support towards implementing housing reform initiatives in line with the Renewed Hope Vision of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for housing and urban development.   This includes the review of the Land Use Act of 1978 and the establishment of mortgage registries. He also emphasized the importance of adoption and passage of mortgage foreclosure laws by State Houses of Assemblies as key to creating an enabling environment for private sector investment in housing, stimulating economic growth, and providing our citizens with access to affordable housing.   Arc. Dangiwa urged the Katsina State Government to embrace the initiatives and deepen collaboration with key housing agencies, including the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Housing Authority, and the Family Homes Funds, to increase access to affordable housing for Katsina indigenes.   “As a Ministry, we will provide all the necessary support to make this collaboration a success. Together, we can work towards increasing the stock of affordable housing ensuring that our people have access to quality homes that are well within their reach.”   The Minister also expressed readiness of the Ministry to partner with the Katsina State Government towards building new cities by leveraging Public Private Partnerships with local and international players and innovative housing finance mechanisms to improve the housing landscape in the state.   Also speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijani Gwarzo, said the Ministry is ready to explore areas of collaboration that would help Katsina State meet its affordable housing goals.   Earlier in his remarks, the Katsina State Governor, Mal. Dikko, described Dangiwa, as a thorough professional deeply committed to nation-building.   While congratulating the Ministers on their well-deserved appointments, the Governor noted that Arc Dangiwa has distinguished himself in service and has remained committed to the national project of socioeconomic development. "He is a gentleman to the core. He is very professional, and I'm confident that, together with the Minister of State, Alhaji Gwarzo, he will steer the ministry to great heights. If not for this important national assignment, we wouldn't have let him leave Katsina state," he said.   Speaking further, Governor Radda said the state is open to meaningful collaboration with the ministry in the areas of affordable housing and urban renewal, which are critical focuses of his administration. "We want to collaborate, and we want to learn from you. Subsequently, members of our staff will be coming to you to learn from the ministry's experience and expertise so that we can key into the transformation that the Minister is set to bring to the sector," he noted.   He urged the management and staff of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to provide the ministers with all the support and cooperation they need to deliver on their mandate, stressing that they should be proud that the President deemed it fit to send one of Nigeria's best brains to head the affairs of the ministry. "I can assure you that you're in good hands. Just cooperate with him, and you will definitely be proud of what will be achieved in the sector," he added. ...

Minister of Works, State Governments in Joint Inspection of Edo and Delta Federal Roads. ....."I have just directed that every project must have a COREN registered engineer”- Umahi. .....Community Group, Driver express hope of having a good road soon. The Honourable Minister of Works H.E. Sen (Engr) David Nweze Umahi, the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Chief (Sir) Monday John Onyeme and the Commissioner for Roads and Bridges in Edo State Osazemen Ethan Uzamere with some stakeholders toured some ongoing road construction works in Edo and Delta States respectively on Monday.   During the joint inspection, Levant Construction Company that is handling some of the Federal Government Road projects linking Edo and Delta States in Benin were directed by the Minister of Works to do the maintenance work of the construction of Benin – Sapele road at night and that work should start immediately, while the bad spots should be made motorable within 30days.   Umahi said “we have directed them to immediately maintain the road , we are redesigning  the road irrespective of the fact that they have gotten advance payment , we are redesigning the road on concrete , We have agreed with the commissioner of Works and Bridges in Edo State that  the drains should be opened so  that the water can go out  in order for  the contractor to maintain the road, I am giving the contractor  7days to come up with the new design so that we all look at it together”.   The Minister said “ I have looked at the road projects from Abuja to Benin City  , the intention of the past administration all the way from Abuja to Benin City , very wonderful intention I commend the initiative but Nigerians do not have value for all money spent on the roads, I was on the  road for 14hours with all the securities attached to me and if I could be on the road for 14hours imagine what ordinary Nigerians are passing through without security , this is not acceptable ".   "Unless we change our procurement process, this country cannot move forward. I am very happy that Mr President is a man of infrastructure, he is a man that knows how every aspect of this country will be reset, I am very happy about that, and I will do everything within my power to support him” Umahi told the states stakeholders.   He said , “On the side of the contractors there are no good intentions , they don’t have enough personnel that are qualified , I have just directed that every project must have a Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN )registered engineer  to be the project manager for all  contracts for every company on the road and the person must not have less than 15years on road construction and I have also directed that we shall no more do surface dressing on our road shoulders , I have directed that all projects must stop and be redesigned on concrete , the truth is that non of these roads that are built from Abuja to Benin will last more than 5years and that is very unfortunate , roads are failing because most of the contractors don’t do what is  called penetration test , we also have adulterated bitumen , the bitumen imported into this country are adulterated , they should go to Ondo and Ogun State and develop our abundant bitumen there “.   “We don’t want to put anybody out of business but we must develop our economy, they should employ our engineers; material engineers, geo technical engineers, surveyors, structural engineers and road engineers , every project should not have less than seven professionals supervising it for Ministry of Works, we are going to reset our road construction so that the people can smile again under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu” the Minister reiterated.   The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Chief (Sir) Monday John Onyeme after touring  Benin –Sapele –Warri road , Sapele Roundabout , ongoing dualization of  Sapele –Ewu road , Sapele – Agbor road and  Nigerian Port Authority roads in Delta State with the  Minister at a press briefing said to the Minister “ Thank you for coming to see for yourself  the importance of caring to do these roads , I do know that you have been tested , we have no fear that you will do it . We assure you of Delta State support and we will give you 100% cooperation”.   Earlier in Benin, a community group known as Sapele Road Bypass Axis Group (SARBAR), through its Association General Secretary Pastor Moses Omo- Osagiede said “We are happy with the visit of the Honourable Minister to Edo State on road inspection and we do hope that the maintenance work will be done quickly”.   Similarly, a bus driver Mr Emmanuel Felix who volunteered to speak on behalf of other drivers who ply Sapele Road Bypass Axis and the Benin –Sapele –Warri Road regularly said, “we hope with the inspection of the road by the Minister and this team, the contractor will do a good job and not their usual fake road works”. ...