Infrastructure Renewal: Nigeria Will Sing A New Song Soon – Fashola * Says with the massive renewal of roads, bridges, rails, airports and seaports  “in the shortest possible time Nigerians will sing a new song” * Better experience in movement of goods and services will translate to industrial growth and development - Minister * Notes that with increase in food production, Nigeria now supplies not only to local but also international markets * Advocated reforms of UN rules and regulations to meet current global challenges The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has said that with the Federal Government’s commitment to renewal of infrastructure across the country, Nigeria would sing a new song soon in terms of ease of movement and doing business. Fashola, who made the declaration while playing host to a United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) delegation led by the Representative to ECOWAS and Regional Director, Nigeria Regional Hub, Mr. Jean Bakole, who paid a courtesy visit to him, said the massive renewal of the nation’s roads, bridges, rails, airports and seaports meant that “in the shortest possible Nigerians will sing a new song”. The Minister, who noted that work has already started in those areas across the country, pointed out that most of the infrastructure have already been upgraded while some roads have been either completed or nearing completion in most areas adding that in those sections where work has been completed, movement of goods and services have become easier as being testified to by commuters. According to the Minister, although some of the road projects are yet to start those already completed have brought with them better travel experience in terms of the ease of doing business adding that better experience in movement of goods and services would translate to industrial growth and development. He said the Government was also focusing on  Science, Education as critical purveyors of development adding that already the seeds were being sown under the nation’s broad Educational policy and its Social Investment programme that empowers the youth to go and teach in those areas. Fashola said Government’s commitment to Agriculture was also yielding results in terms of increase in food production such as rice, cereal and others adding that although the price of food was still high, it was expected to come down significantly as supply increased. The Minister said, with the increase in food production, Nigeria was now supplying not only to local markets but to international markets such as the North and Central African sub-regions, adding that as supply increased the Government would want to see more value added. “We want to see more projects in manufacturing and all of that. Those are at the heart of helping the economy grow in Small and Medium businesses”, the Minister said adding that because of the understanding of their capacities and their contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the Small and Medium businesses were   being supported by clear government policies through institutions like the Bank of Industries and Ministry of Trade and Investments. Also, according to the Minister, the Ministry of Finance is also developing Fiscal policies to give relief to them in terms of the way they pay their taxes adding that such relief could be seen in the way the current increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) was structured by the President in favour of the small businesses whom, he said, “are clearly under the protective custody of Mr. President”. Assuring that all the projects would soon come to fruition to give Nigerians a better future, Fashola said in terms of building an industrial base in this country, President Muhammadu Buhari was very clear where his priorities lay adding that those were the priorities that formed the basis of his Campaign promises to the electorates. He listed the priorities to include tackling corruption which, he noted, “is inimical to prosperity, improving the economy to deliver prosperity and to improve security, the lack of which, he also noted, “is inimical to industrial development”. Also embedded in the promises, he said, is to develop and renew the country’s infrastructure “which is very important for business efficiency, growth and productivity”. “The truth is that the rate at which our household has grown has not been matched by the rate at which our infrastructure is growing and this administration understands that. The Nigerian household has grown and we need to build a new infrastructure not only to accommodate those who are currently in the house but those who are on their way”, the Minister said. Fashola, who expressed the hope that with the ongoing massive infrastructure renewal the nation would emerge from its present economic situation to a better and prosperous nation, however, added that there is always a distance between policy articulation, policy implementation and the results. “But policy has been articulated, implementation is being undertaken and results lie at the horizon and the end”, he said. Thanking the UNIDO delegation for the courtesy of the visit, Fashola said Nigeria has clearly embraced partnerships with the United Nations Organization and its affiliates adding that  recent proof of such collaboration was demonstrated by the President’s  personal attendance at the just concluded United Nations General Assembly as well as  embracing other collaborative programmes of the world body. The Minister, however, advocated a reform in the United Nations rules and regulations pointing out that the existing rules and regulations have become obsolete and could no longer meet the present challenges. “Everybody knows that the UN has come a long way and many of its foundational rules and regulations and development programmes clearly need an upgrade”, the Minister said noting that the world is moving faster and changing much more rapidly.  “The UN Charter for example needs reforms to bring them in conformity with today’s global challenges if it must continue to fulfill the obligations for which it was created”, he said. Responding to the introductory remarks of the leader of the delegation, Fashola expressed delight at the amount ($60million USD) which the UNIDO has mapped out for investment in about nine sectors in the country. He, however, advised that instead of spreading the amount on so many areas it would be more beneficial to invest it in two or three critical areas that would be more impactful to the needs of the people. “Sixty million USD is a huge amount of money. But it is not the money that is the issue but how it is being used. My thoughts are that instead of spreading this money thin over a large area, as you said, why not use it on one or two projects that could be impactful to the people”, he said suggesting that the money could be invested in a massive industrial complex “that becomes an example in Africa”. Earlier in his remarks, the leaders of the delegation and Representative to ECOWAS and Regional Director, Nigeria Regional Hub, Mr. Jean Bakole, had informed the Minister that UNIDO planned to invest about $60 Million in Nigeria in nine critical areas including Agriculture and Agro-based businesses, Trade and Capacity Building, Housing and Construction, Infrastructure Development, Energy and the Environment, among others. Also present at the occasion were the Minister of State, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mohammed Bukar, Directors, Special Advisers and other top Ministry Official while the ECOWAS Representative was accompanied by top officials of UNIDO. ...

FG Partners UNIDO For Economic Diversification The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde RAjib Fashola SAN  stated that Nigeria would continue to partner with the United Nations International Development Organisation, (UNIDO) and its affiliates for its socio-economic development Fashola disclosed this today in Abuja when he received in audience the Representative of ECOWAS and Regional Director, Nigeria Regional Hub, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Jean Bakole and members of his team during a courtesy visit. The Minister reaffirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was committed to developing and renewing the infrastructural deficit of the country for efficiency, growth and development. However He also said that Mr. President was always ready to embrace any policy geared towards improving the nation’s infrastructure. Fashola however reiterated the commitment of the present administration to securing lives and properties growing  the economy and tackling  corruption all geared towards improving infrastructure and industrial development. The Minister charged UNIDO to assist Nigeria towards her match for industrialization either in the area of manufacturing, or Agro production, stressing that Federal Government’s commitment towards that direction was already yielding result as most of her agro- products were  being exported to both Northern and Central African region.  He also disclosed  that there were  existing fiscal policies in Nigeria  to give relief  to producers. Earlier, the leader of the UNIDO delegation, Jean Bakole stated that UNIDO had  come to work with Nigeria and add value to its economy, pledging that UNIDO would  give support in innovation, science and technology, research and development, agro business ,small and medium enterprises, minerals and metals and eco friendly environment.   He also stated that UNIDO was  ready to partner with investors in the area of building, construction trade and capacity development in Nigeria. ...

Inadequate Funding, Responsible For Non Completion of Roads- FASHOLA The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN has stated that thenumber of roads seeking government’s attention for completion and rehabilitation keeps increasing on daily basis while the resources required to fix them remained grossly inadequate. Fashola disclosed this in Abuja during an interactive session of the Senate Committee on Works with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and  its agencies. The Minister maintained that it was the responsibility of his Ministry and its agencies to ensure that the roads in Nigeria were in good condition. He also noted that the inability to complete the various road projects across the country was as a result of inadequate budget and release of funds. While describing roads as national assets of any nation, Fashola called on all stakeholders in the Works Sector to come up with a hard decision on prioritization of  roads for completion and rehabilitationon the basis of social and economic importanceto Nigerians. The Minister recommended the prioritization ofmajor link roads across the states and the roads to the various sea and airports across the country. The minister who was enthusiastic with the calibre of the Senators that constituted the Committee on Works whom he described ascapable and tested men of proven integrity, added that with their support, the challenges on Nigerian roads would be overcome. Earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero stated that members of his Committee would collaborate with the Executiveto do the needful in addressing the challenges in the works sector. As an option to address the funding challenge in the works sector, Senator Aliero, suggested sourcing for fund through local and foreign investors by concessioning some of our major roads.” I believe if we concession some major roads and get the contractors to construct those roads to international standards, they can recoup their investments within reasonable time by tolling the roads. This will gradually reduce government involvement in road construction and allow the ministry focus on being the regulator in line with what is obtainable in many countries in the world.” “I am very optimistic that the government of President Mohammadu Buhari and the 9th Senate will deliver roads of international standard to the people of Nigeria and in no distant time, they will notice qualitative transformation in the works industry,” the chairman added. Other members of the committee in attendance at the interactive session amongst others include, Senators Abdullahi Adamu, Ike Ekweremadu, Orji UzorKalu, Kashim Shetima, Kabiru Gaya and Danjuma Goje. On the minister’s entourage was: the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Bukar and directors of the Ministry. ...