By Oluwaseun Sonde
Nigerian Minister of State for Works and Housing, Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub has visited the completed National Housing Programme (NHP) Phase I & II, construction of Kano (Dawakin Tofa ) –Gwarzo– Dayi Road and construction of Kano Western By- Pass Road projects under the Ministry, all in Kano State on a familiarization tour.
The Minister expressed happiness and satisfaction with the Kano NHP during his visit, which he called familiarization visit to the completed NHP Phase I and II projects of 132 housing units of different configurations.
This was contained in statement released by the Ministry Director, Press and Public Relations, Blessing Lere-Adams in Abuja on Saturday.
According to the Minister, "I am indeed happy with the quality of work, landscaping and infrastructure put up in these phases of NHP, the third phase of Kano NHP will kick off soon at Dawakin Tofa Local Govt in Kano State’’.
El–Yakub said the location of the NHP I & II is a good choice in a decent environment with serenity, he continued, “the choice of this site, we owe it to the Government of Kano State for giving us the opportunity to site this project on this very piece of land.
"I appreciate many policies and programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari, unprecedented level of infrastructure has been delivered during this administration", El-Yakub added.
The Minister said NHP was not only beneficial to the people of the State but to the people around the vicinity of the site, over 70,000 direct and in-direct jobs were created, lives were impacted, people’s economy were improved because people have income due to NHP project.
Federal Controller of Works in Kano State, Engr Yahaya Ali conducted the Minister round the project of the construction of Kano (Dawakin Tofa) –Gwarzo –Dayi Road, he said "It is a major route in the Northern part of the Country which links Kano with many States in the Northwest and North Central geopolitical zones”.
The Minister while responding to the challenges of compensation for structures and land settlement along the Kano –Kastina road faced by the project contractor Messrs CGC Nigeria Ltd which was explained by Commercial Manager, Engr Mei Shou.
The Minister said “We shall continue to engage the Kano and Katsina State Governments so as to enhance the delivery period of our projects as the issue of compensation is been handled by the Ministry headed by Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and it shall be resolved sooner than later".
El–Yakub said the importance of the project cannot be over emphasized, it is an interstate road that needs to be reconstructed, it's one way carriage way would be dualized after the completion of the project, and the benefit of the road are enormous; it reduces the traffic on the street, it shortens the travel time which has an invaluable economic and social effect on the people.
The Minister of State, Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub however, expressed his dissatisfaction with the contractor handling the construction of the Kano Western By-Pass Road during his visit to the construction site.
He said government, stakeholders and the people of Kano are not happy with the slow pace of work on the road, urging the Contractor handling the project, Dantata & Sawoe Construction Co. Nigeria Ltd, whose Project Manager, Engr Roy Nguishi that the company has to redouble their pace of work while reassuring them that their payments have been resolved.
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