July 2012

[Daily Trust]Bauchi -The Federal Government has approved N700million for the construction of the Katagum/Gamawa road in Bauchi. The road is expected link the state to Potiskum in Yobe State. The senator representing Bauchi North, Babayo Garba Gamawa, who disclosed this to newsmen in Bauchi, said the road when completed will also link Jigawa State to Yobe and Borno States. Gamawa said the work on the road was abandoned after the contract was awarded during the second republic, a situation which according to him led to loss of m

[Ghanaian Chronicle]The Norwegian Government has released 1.3 million dollars to Water Resources Commission (WRC) to support the establishment of a National Dam Safety Unit to regulate and ensure the proper utilization of water.

[Vanguard]Building materials constitute a key element in housing construction. In fact, building materials account for between 60 - 80 percent of the entire cost of housing construction. This means that access to decent accommodation in Nigeria will continue to be elusive until the scarcity and prohibitive cost of conventional building materials and components are checked.

[This Day]Regardless of the increasing agitation for the completion of the 33-kilometre East-West Road criss-crossing the Niger Delta region, the project may not be delivered until December 2014 due to paucity of funds.

[Daily News]LOCAL government authorities are in a position to secure funds for executing various social and economic development projects such as construction of roads, bridges, water supply, schools and power generation once the initiative to issue municipal bonds becomes effective.

[ANGOP]Luanda -The Luena/Luau railway section is currently under construction, with 180 kilometres still without rails, but the authorities pledge to finish the works by the end of the year, which will include the construction of two bridges.

[Leadership]The Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment in Benue State, Mr. John Ngbede, in this interview with SOLOMON AYADO, speaks on the alleged politicisation of water distribution in the state, the public outcry against flooding in parts of the state, and the efforts made by the state governor, Gabriel Suswam-led administration to resolve these challenges.

[Daily News]FINANCIALLY crippled local contractors that were for many years alienated from the lucrative construction business can now execute huge multibillion-shilling projects through unity.

[ANGOP]Huambo -The Vice-minister for Youth, Job Castelo Capapinha, announced on Friday the construction in 2013 of social and cultural houses for young people in the capital city of the central Huambo province.

[Daily News]WORD from Parliament has it that the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development is planning to engage its Finance counterpart in a discussion aimed at reducing the prices of building materials.

[Independent]Joint project with Tanzania faces stiff resistance from community, other stakeholders

[New Times]The decision of the Genocide Survivors Fund (FARG) to sue 26 companies contracted to build houses for vulnerable survivors but instead did sloppy work or abandoning the projects altogether, is indeed disturbing. While the figures involved may appear to be mind-boggling, what is spiteful is the fact that the project aimed at reaching out to a people that have had a dreadfully painful past.

[The Star]MORE than 49 families will be evicted from their farms once the government starts the construction of Gaitu airstrip in Meru County. The move is part of the government's initiative to construct airstrips in every county. Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Cyrus Njiru said the evictees will be compensated by the government.

[Times of Zambia]THESE articles are relevant to our building methods in Zambia using materials that are commonly available; the purpose being to advise and warn of mistakes that can easily be made by the inexperienced or people in a hurry to make profits, at the expense of good practice.