FG receives 8,000 interests for renewed hope housing scheme

By Angela Atabo

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, says the ministry has received about  8,925 expressions of interest for the Renewed Hope Estates and Cities housing scheme.

Dangiwa, said this on Friday in Abuja, at the ministerial briefing on the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the last one year.

According to him, the 8,925 expression of interest comprises 1,294 for outright purchase, 2,408 for mortgage, 2,184 for rent-to-own and 3,039 for instalment payment.

”Since the inception of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Housing programme, we have taken pragmatic steps to fast track the sale and occupation of the housing units across the country.

”We advertised expression of interest forms with four windows of subscription to give room for all income segments of Nigerians, which include outright payment, mortgage, Rent-to-own and instalment.

”We received a total of 8,925 Expression of Interest. This comprises 1,294 for Outright Purchase, 2,408 for Mortgage, 2,184 for Rent-To-Own and 3,039 for Instalment payment.’’

Dangiwa recalled that in April, the ministry released the first batch of offer of new provisional allocation letters for outright payment to successful applicants.

He said that under phase one of the renewed hope housing scheme, 50,000 housing units would be delivered across Nigeria adding that the cities would have 1,000 housing units per site in one location in each of the six geo-political zones and the FCT.

He said that the estates would have 500 housing units per site in the remaining 30 states.

He said that the ministry recently launched an online housing portal to ease the process of acquiring homes being built under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme.

According to Dangiwa, the target is to strengthen the federal government’s urban and slum upgrading programs aimed at improving living conditions, infrastructure, and basic services in informal settlements.

He said that under the phase one of the slum upgrading programme, the ministry planned 26 sites nationwide.

”This includes four sites in each of the six regions of the country totaling 24 and two in the FCT.

”The key services to be provided at the identified sites will include water supply, solar streetlights, rehabilitation of access roads, construction of drainages and waste management and sanitation services among others,’’ he said. (NAN)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Rotimi Ijikanmi

Construction companies fault FG on new contracts’ terms

By Angela Atabo

The Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), has expressed dissatisfaction with the recent standard conditions of contract and directives by the Federal Ministry of Works on road construction.

FOCI is the umbrella body for organised companies and stakeholders in the construction industry in Nigeria, responsible for the regulation of industrial harmony in the construction Industry.

The President of FOCI, Mr Vincent Barrah, stated this at  a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, to address the issues between its members and the Ministry of Works .

Barrah said that the FOCI, as the largest employer of labour in Nigeria after the Government, was also worried about the slow pace of work by members within the last one year.

He said that this had resulted in significant loss of employment across the country, thereby increasing the unemployment rate in the country.

He said that the situation if left unchecked would cause disruption in the country’s socio-economic challenges and insecurity.

“We are aware of the recent directives by the Minister of Works, David Umahi.

“A new onerous contract conditions that invalidates the already agreed Standard Conditions of Contract (SCC), are being unilaterally introduced on new and existing projects without due consultation with  concerned parties.

“The action of any Ministry or parastatal changing the Standard Conditions of Contract after receiving the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Certificate of No Objection with a different Standard of Conditions of Contract is not in accordance with due process and international best practices.

“If it becomes necessary to change the Standard Conditions of Contract, a collaboration of the relevant Stakeholders is needed.”

Barrah said the stakeholders should include the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Nigerian Society of Engineers, (NSE) among others.

According to him, this is in order to formulate new standard conditions of contract as has always been the practice.

He, however, said that the Ministry has unilaterally decided to treat augmentation of contracts for existing projects as new contracts and insisted that contractors should sign new agreements.

Barah said that the new agreements contained extremely onerous terms developed by the Ministry that if not adhered to would terminate the contracts.

He said that this contravened the prescribed bidding process under the Public Procurement Act, the Certificate of No Objection issued by BPP and the Federal Executive Council’s approval obtained for augmentation of such existing projects.

He said that the determination of contract prices is a function of many factors and every project is unique, so either in augmentation or review of rates, the consideration should be based on its uniqueness and reflect the current realities for it to be effectively implemented.

Barrah said that termination of contract by the Ministry due to inability to fund projects contradicted the provisions of Clause 68 of the Ministry’s Standard Conditions of Contract (SCC) .

He explained that the imposition of at least 15 years road durability warranty obligation on contractors was a deviation completely from the 12 months warranty period agreed for all projects.

He,therefore, said this imposed a huge financial risk and exposure for contractors because it was not in the initial contract signed.

Barrah said that FOCI members had constructed asphalt road projects that have lasted for more than 30 years which were built according to design like road networks in Abuja.

He said that the group was glad that the Ministry was awarding new contracts. However, the continuation of existing contracts should be given the desired attention and urgency it deserves.

The president said that the FOCI had approached the Minister of Works, David Umahi to create an opportunity for a forum to resolve these issues in order to move the construction industry forward.

He, however, said they were yet to receive feedback from the Ministry.

He said that FOCI is patriotic and desires the best for the country and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present Administration and called on all stakeholders to intervene urgently in the current situation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that the Minister of Works, David Umahi earlier this year revealed new parameters for road construction to include, design of the project to be in line with the Ministry’s specification.

Others included agreement on reasonable construction period, there shall be no variation on the project, 100 per cent of one carriage way must be completed before tolling by concessionaires.

“Effective design of road infrastructure anchored on a detailed report of environmental site conditions and geotechnical report among others,“he said, “(NAN)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

Tinubu approves free 2-month ride on Abuja Rail Mass Transit – Wike

By Philip Yatai

President Bola Tinubu has approved a two-month free ride on the Abuja Rail Mass Transit, also known as Metro Line, Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has said.

Wike made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday, during the Ministerial Sectoral Update on the performance of Tinubu’s administration in the last one year.

He said that the metro line would be inaugurated May 27, by Tinubu, and thereafter, opened for public use for free in the first two months.

He explained that although the building of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system was commissioned by the immediate past administration, the services were not rendered to the public.

The minister said that the current administration had rehabilitated the system and would be inaugurated for commercial operations.

“So many people have said that the government has commissioned it before. We are not talking about commissioning of buildings; we are commissioning the commercial operations.

“We have commissioned it before, but was it in use? Why was it not in use? he asked.

“So, those of you saying it was commissioned, please don’t make a mistake, what was commissioned was the building, and we are not commissioning the building.

“What we want to commission is the commercial operation and we are going to allow free rides for two months. That is a renewed hope agenda,” he said.

The minister also said that there was no access road to all the train stations, a development he said had impeded the commercial operation of the metro line.

He added that rejuvenating the rail transport system was in line with the directive of President Tinubu, who said he wanted to ride on the metro line.

“To the glory of God, on Monday May 27, Mr President will ride on that metro line.

“So, when Mr President rides on Monday, you will take your turn on Tuesday. It is for you and not for Mr president,” he said.

He said that all access roads to all the stations have been constructed, including car parks where passengers would comfortably park their cars, travel, come back and carry their cars home.

Wike added that the Tinubu administration had equally reduced the contract for the training of the manpower for the operation of the train from 128 million dollars to 75 million dollars.

This, he said, had saved the government 53 million dollars. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

FCT: 120km rural roads will be ready before December – Wike

By Philip Yatai

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says 120km roads across the six Area Councils of the capital will be completed and inaugurated before December.

Wike stated this in Abuja on Thursday, during the Ministerial Sectoral Update on the performance of Tinubu’s administration in the last one year.

He said, “As I speak to you today, before December this year, we are going to commission not less than 120 kilometres of road in the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Wike described the feat as simply taking governance to the doorsteps of the people, particularly those in rural areas.

He added that taking governance to the people was also a demonstration of good governance in line with the “Renewed Hope” agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“People say government, what is government when people don’t have impact?

“People only hear about the government on radio, people only hear about the government on television.

“Now they are seeing the government and saying oh! You mean this is what government is all about?

“The government can come to our areas, speak to us, ask us of our problems and the government tells us that we are going to this, and they are doing it?

“That is what is called government,” he said.

The minister said that the government goes beyond merely announcing the minister of FCT on radio when the people do not know him.

He said that to address such, he had visited all the area councils, sat with the community people, and asked them about their challenges for the government to address.

“This is the first time a minister can go to the Area Councils and sit down with the people, talk to them, and let them know what the government is doing,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Wike pledges to end harassment of motorists by touts

By Philip Yatai

Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has pledged the commitment of the FCT Administration to end harassment of motorists by touts in the name of revenue collection.

Wike gave the assurance in Abuja on Thursday, during the Ministerial Sectoral briefing on the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the last one year.

He said that the FCT Administration had reached an agreement with all the Area Council Chairmen to empower FCT Internal Revenue Service to collect all revenues.

He explained that after the collection, the area councils would be given their share, stressing “that is the only way we can have decency in revenue collection in the territory.

“That way, we will reduce touting, harassment and double taxation. After all, the law allows the area councils to take 10 per cent of FCT IGR.

“One of the things in a city is that, everybody wants to survive. So, you find some of these elements from time to time.

“But bear it in mind that, it is part of our responsibility. We are going to rid them off, but it cannot be done immediately,” the minister said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that motorists in the FCT were being harassed by touts who claimed to be working for a ministerial taskforce against illegal parking.

Others claimed to be revenue collectors from AMAC.

The touts usually force themselves into private vehicles and forcefully remove the car keys from ignition in the name of illegal parking or other purported  infractions.

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi