FG to concession Niger Bridge, 2nd Niger Bridge, MMIA road

By Emeka Mamah

Federal Government has said that it would soon concession two bridges and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Approach Road, Lagos, in the road sector.

This was made known by the Minister of Works, Chief Mike Onolememen, during the Africa Public Private Partnership Network, APPPN, dinner organised by the Infrastructure and Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, weekend, in Abuja.

According to the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, Mr. Tony Ikpasaja, the bridges include the Second Niger Bridge between Anambra and Delta State, and River Niger Bridge in Nupeko, Niger State, which he said would form the pilot schemes for the develop-ment of a larger PPP programme in the road sector.

Those who attended included officials from over nine African countries, the World Bank, NEPAD and other stakeholders.

According to the Minister, the Federal Ministry of Works had already commenced the process to concession the three road projects as ‘first mover projects’ in the PPP programme.

While urging African nations to emulate other countries of the world in infrastructural development using the PPP model, the Minister said: “It is clear to me that the success story of the Indian experience is also possible in Africa.

Meeting Africa’s infrastructure needs is, therefore, a priority for the continent which the Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to tackling using the PPP and a variety of other means.

“It is clear to me that the success story of the Indian experience is also possible here in Africa.’’

He added that political support and policy continuity are some of the critical factors needed for the implementation of a successful PPP programme in Africa, even as he drew attention to the African Development Bank’s revelation that the continent requires USD93 billion annually until 2020 to close its infrastructure deficit.

He said: “However, despite relatively larger infrastructure deficits in Africa, the concept of PPP is only beginning to gain attention as more African nations are embracing this approach for the procure-ment of infrastructural development.”

On his part, Director-General of Infrastructure Concession, noted that the development of any country depended on the availability of infrastructure which cannot be relied upon through public funding.

Ahmed said the Federal Ministry of Works under Onolememen has welcomed the PPP initiative “much more than any other agency” in the country.

Onolememen urged the private sector in Nigeria to emulate other countries of the world, especially India.

…seeks integrated solution to challenges of refineries

Determined to ensure that the perennial challenges facing the nation’s traditional refineries of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, are resolved once and for all, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has advocated an integrated approach to tackling the challenge in such ways as to ensure maximum output within the shortest possible period.

The minister had recently constituted a task force to review the operation of the refineries with a view to establishing efficiency and commercial viability, among other functions.

Pushing the refinery rehabilitation drive a notch higher, Mrs. Alison-Madueke, during an inspection tour of the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company, WRPC, charged the managers and workers of the 34-year old plant to join forces with all stakeholders as the Federal Government seeks to address the problems plaguing the nation’s refineries in a holistic manner.

She said: “While we pursue the challenge of improving refining capacity, we must understand the various components of what we need to do to ensure that our drive to making our refineries efficient and profitable comes to fruition.”

Describing WRPC as one of the nation’s most important oil and gas facility, the Minister saluted the courage and commitment of workers who through the years have defied the odds to keep the plant running.

Alison-Madueke noted that the revitalisation plan would not only target the equipment but will also focus on improved manpower development through sustainable skill and professional upgrade exercise both at home and abroad for the operators of the plant.

_______

Source: Vanguard 

Get more trends like this

Subscribe to our mailing list and get latest Nigeria trends in your inbox.

Get more trends like this
in your inbox

Subscribe to our mailing list and get latest Nigeria trends in your inbox.