Nigeria’s Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has commended the government and people of Kano State, North-West Nigeria on their commitment towards road infrastructure development in the State.
The Minister gave the commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, in Kano State during the 28th National Council Meeting on Works.
He appreciated the State government saying they have made huge investment in road infrastructure development stressing how difficult it was to get to Kano during his first trip as a minister.
“When the new government of Kano State came on board in 2015, it was at the peak of construction but the result has become manifest and travel time within the metropolis has drastically reduced,” he added.
The Minister revealed that Kano State has been at the forefront when it comes to issues relating to compensation on “Right of Way” during road construction by the Federal Government in the state, adding that the state government usually takes it upon itself and resolves compensation issues despite the fact that the law allows that the acquiring authority is the one obliged to pay compensation.
“When we have issues relating to compensation for “Right of Way”, Kano State Government has stepped forward to say that land is a state matter. Kano State Government will solve the compensation matter within Kano State and resolve it. It is a good example which other states are expected to commend and emulate because by law land is a sub national and state matter. The Law describes that the acquiring authority is the one obliged to pay compensation,” Fashola said.
He acknowledged the partnership of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing working with Kano State Government, which he said has been very strategic and helpful to the mandate of the Ministry as directed by the Nigerian President.
He further said that the Federal Government is not competing with any State government, stating that it is the responsibility of federal government to support every State government to achieve its developmental objectives as conceived by the State government.
“We are not competing with any State, after all we are the federal government. Our responsibility is to support every State to achieve its developmental objectives as conceived by the state government.”
Fashola thanked Kano State Governor for responding quickly when requested to acquire land to build a housing Estate in the State.
He also disclosed that coincidentally Kano State has the highest number of the Ministry’s projects in the country that it is not only by distance but also by budget and cost.
He mentioned the Kano –Maiduguri road that ends in kano, the Abuja – kaduna – Kano road, the Kano- Katsina road among others that the state is blessed with and it is strategic for the development of our country.
The Minister also expressed his heart felt gratitude to Kano State Government for accepting to play host to this year’s 28th National Council on Works.
While responding to the Honourable Minister, The Governor of Kano State, Dr, Abudulahi Ganduje thanked the Federal Government for investing heavily on road infrastructure and housing development in the State.
He noted that before the coming of the present administration, many road projects in the State were abandoned, but now they are receiving commendable attention from the Federal Government.
Governor Ganduje, acknowledged the good working relationship between the Kano State Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure and the Federal Controller of Works Kano State Yahaya Ali, adding that it has helped to improve infrastructural development in the State.
He thanked the Minister for accepting to host the 2022 National Council on Works Meeting in Kano State.
