6 November 2008
The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) revenue base rose from N900 million to N5 billion under the former Minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Halima Alao. The FHA Managing Director, Mr Felix Koyenikan, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the handing over ceremony.
Alao handed over to the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Otaki Oyigbenu, who stood in for the Minister of State, Chief Chuka Odom, who was said to be away on official assignment.
Alao was among the 20 ministers dropped by President Umar Yar'adua a week ago in a major cabinet shake-up. Koyenikan, who described Alao as a committed leader, noted that most of the projects abandoned for the past five years, were completed during her tenure.
"In the past two years, nobody knew about us; the authority was almost collapsing; her coming to the ministry raised the authority to a higher level.
"She was able to create awareness about the sub-sector especially on climate change which is a global problem," he said.
Also commenting, the Director, Special Climate Change Unit, Dr Victor Fodeke, described Alao as a "leader with magnet in her heart and compass in her head".
Fodeke said Alao was able to bring all the officials of the ministry together with her brilliance, humility and hardwork.
"She has taken the issue of climate change beyond our expectation," he said.
In her remarks, Mrs Ngeri Benebo, the Director-General, National Environmental Standards Regulatory and Enforcement Agency (NESREA), said Alao was a "gold getter" who made sure that things were done in the right way.
Benebo promised that NESREA would continue with the good works of the former minister.
Other ministry officials who spoke, described her as a "technocrat and politician who understood the job and did it well" and as a "good negotiator who had saved lots of money through her negotiating skills".
"If it is possible to make her the ministry's patron, we would have done so because of her dedication and generous skills," said Mr Baworu Yahaya, Director, Flood and Erosion Department.
(NAN)
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