Super Minister in charge of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, today addressed Nigerians and set out his plan for the key critical infrastructure ministries under his charge. This comes after Mr. fashola’s assessment of the ministries. The minister also acknowledge the various projects of the President Jonathan’s administration in Roads, Power and promises to make his utmost priority, the completion of the projects that are already at various levels of completion.
On Roads, Mr. Fashola said he will complete several road projects nearing completion and look into 200 pending road contracts as revitalizing them will bring about 20,000 Jobs. “Government priority is on refinancing the outstanding 200 road contracts before we bring in new contracts.”
“Our short term strategy will be to start with roads that have made some progress and can be quickly completed to facilitate connectivity. We will prioritize within this strategy by choosing first the roads that connect states together and from that grouping start with those that bear the heaviest traffic.
While speaking on Power he also said that all Government Agencies must pay up their power bills for sustainability. He also acknowledged that the TCN has about 142 ongoing Power Transmission projects which will be delivered in 2016. He promises to see to the execution of these projects. Fashola said: “We have more power generation than is been transmitted. The Transmission Company of Nigeria says it has 142 transmission projects on-going; 45 of them at 50% completion, 22 of them can be completed within a year. This will improve power.
He also said he will work closely with the Ministry of Petroleum, which he said was constructing new pipes to transport gas to power generation companies already. “This construction could be concluded in 15 months and would potentially add 2,000 megawatts to the current power situation.” He added that government would support local manufacturing of meters as an opportunity for entrepreneurship.
Fashola said his ministry will consider Solar Panels in its bid to provide power to Nigerian homes, he however said that the building designs need to be guided to embrace solar panels. He said: “We need to reconfigure our roots for us to be able to install solar panels.” He said this will also be consistent with Nigeria’s renewed commitment to cleaner energy in Paris; “Nigeria made pledges at the climate change conference COP 21 and we pledge to fulfil these agreements. However, it will be in accordance with national priorities,” he said.
In Housing, Fashola promises that his super ministry will construct 40 blocks of 12 flats per block, in each state of the federation. “This will give 480 flats per states. States will however, have to provide 5 to 10 hectares of land for the project.” he remarked.
Fashola also spoke on the massive Job loss that followed the elections of his Principal, President Buhari “As at May 2015, many contractors have stopped work because of payment, and many fathers and wives employed by them have been laid off as a result.”
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