FG committed to PPP on improve roads infrastructure -Fashola

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Minister of Works an Housing, Babatunde Fashola has stated that the Nigerian government was committed to entrench the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to improve roads infrastructure in Nigeria.
The Minister spoke at a workshop on Nigeria – South Africa Road Transport Infrastructure and PPP Collaboration Initiative which was held in Abuja,recently.
Fashola was represented by the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr Abubakar Aliyu.
A statement signed by Salisu B. Haiba Asst Director Press For: Deputy Director Press, said the workshop was organised under the auspices of the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) in partnership with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and South African National Roads Authority (SANRAL).
While commending the ICRC for it’s committment to increasing infrastructure investment in Nigeria, Fashola also appreciated other partners for organising the workshop, adding that his ministry is in alignement with the objectives of the initiative
He explained that the workshop would provide an opportunity to expand West African roads and rail infrastructure thereby improving the socio-economic well being of the people.
Accordingly, the minister assured that the government of Nigeria will continually support the PPP and improve private sector participation, pointing out that government is already engaged in many PPP investments in the country
Earlier the DG ICRC, Engr Chidi Izuwah, had listed the benefits derivable from the provision of roads infrastructure which he said smong others include; creation of jobs, boosting production,, creation of industrial parks, springing of new residential areas and township Engr Chidi explained that the ICRC and FERMA in Collaboration with the DBSA and various South African entities intend to produce and support a West African focused regional transport and logistics infrastructure development program.
In a good will message, the South African Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Bobby Moore expressed gratitude to the government of Nigeria for the initiative, stating that the swiftness in the take off of this event after the visit of the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to South Africa where the matter was discussed, signalled the committment of Nigeria in the collaboration with South Africa on Road infrastructure
The Senate President who was represented by Chairman of Senate Committee on Works , Senator Adamu Aliero, stated that National Assembly is ready to work with ICRC to clear all bottlenecks for it to ddeliver. He explained that National Assembly will look at ICRC Act with the view to amending it to accommodate more of private sector participation in infrastructure investment.