FAMILIARIZATION TOUR OF KEY HOUSING AND ROAD PROJECTS IN KANO. .... NHP Phase III, Kano Project to begin Soon, Says El-Yakub Minister of State, Works and Housing

The Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing (HMSW&H ) Hon.  Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub on Saturday 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 his 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, "I am indeed happy with the quality of work, landscaping and the infrastructure put up in these phases of NHP, the third phase of Kano NHP  will kick off soon at Dawakin Tofa Local Government in Kano State," he said. 

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."

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.

The 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 as explained by its 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 Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and it shall be resolved sooner than later. 

In a statement issued and signed by Blessing Lere-Adams, Director Press and Public Relations Department of the Ministry, El–Yakub said the importance of the project cannot be over emphasized; it is an interstate road that needs to be reconstructed, it is one-way carriage way which would be dualized after the completion of the project, and the benefits 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 Hon. Minister of State 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 disclosed that government, stakeholders and the people of Kano are not happy with the slow pace of work on the road, but however, urged 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 also reassuring them that their payments are been resolved.