Govs to FG: Include funding in infrastructure master-plan

State governors have called on the National Planning Commission to include the required funding in the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan. The governors made the call at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo. The council; which has state governors, Ministers of […]

State governors have called on the National Planning Commission to include the required funding in the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan.

The governors made the call at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo.

The council; which has state governors, Ministers of Justice, National Planning, Finance and Federal Capital Territory as well as the Central Bank governor as members; reviewed the draft infrastructure master-plan and directed the National Planning Commission to reflect the actual required funding in lieu of the value of the re-based economy.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo said the council resolved that the master plan be critically considered, particularly at state and regional levels.

He said it was also decided that each state government should set up technical units within two weeks on the issue.

Also speaking, Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam said the council lauded the master plan and resolved that the inputs of governors be incorporated into it.

Supervising Minister of National Planning Bashir Yuguda described the master plan as a blueprint that would accelerate the country’s infrastructure development in the next 30 years to raise infrastructure stock as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product from the current 35 percent to a minimum of 70 percent.

Describing Nigeria’s core infrastructure level as below the target bench mark level, Yugudasaid the master-plan identified the required investments to improve infrastructure in line with the nation’s growth aspirations,

According to the minister,  the mater-plan also provides for short term and medium term priorities to guide project selection with the first term covering five years.

He listed projects to be incorporated in annual budgets as including rehabilitation of major cross national transport links ( road and rail); improvement of cross modal connectivity links; upgrading of major airports; improvement of urban transportation; continued privatisation and upgrading of power assets; execution of key gas pipeline infrastructure projects; development of stable crop processing zone; expansion of broadband connectivity; development of public health facilities and diagnostic centres; development of priority minerals including iron ore and coal; upgrading of primary secondary and tertiary education facilities; rehabilitation of security facilities and infrastructure, among others.

Yuguda said the council directed the National Planning Commission as well as state ministries of planning and finance to review the document in line with the comments and observations from the governors.