The Acting Director General,
Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Ghaji Bello, at
the weekend stated that the Federal Government would commit $400 million into
the Trans-Africa Gas Pipeline project.
He said the project which would run
from Nigeria to Algeria, is expected to be completed in 2018,
from Nigeria to Algeria, is expected to be completed in 2018,
Bello made the disclosure in Abuja at
a two- day Technical Workshop on Presidential Infrastructure Champion
Initiative (PICI) organised by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development,
(NEPAD) with the theme: “PICI: A Panacea for Sustainable Growth and
Development in Africa.’
a two- day Technical Workshop on Presidential Infrastructure Champion
Initiative (PICI) organised by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development,
(NEPAD) with the theme: “PICI: A Panacea for Sustainable Growth and
Development in Africa.’
The Acting DG said: “As a sign
of commitment, the Nigerian government has made a commitment of $400 million in
the 2013 budget in order to finance the project up to the next stage. And I
think that is why all of us as Nigerians should be proud of that.
of commitment, the Nigerian government has made a commitment of $400 million in
the 2013 budget in order to finance the project up to the next stage. And I
think that is why all of us as Nigerians should be proud of that.
“Really, there would be
transformation of the economy and once this is done, you will find that the
issue of infrastructure will to a high extent be solved.”
transformation of the economy and once this is done, you will find that the
issue of infrastructure will to a high extent be solved.”
He said President Goodluck Jonathan
had given his pledge to support the initiative as part of the country’s
contribution to Africa’s infrastructure growth.
had given his pledge to support the initiative as part of the country’s
contribution to Africa’s infrastructure growth.
He said: “Let us also bear in
mind that with our population which is put at above 150 million, the
Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) of which I’m the
Acting Director General has been directed to try and set up funding to move the
project forward.
mind that with our population which is put at above 150 million, the
Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) of which I’m the
Acting Director General has been directed to try and set up funding to move the
project forward.
The project, according to Bello, runs
through several African countries and is expected to boost the economic
activities of the areas and increase intra-Africa regional trade.
through several African countries and is expected to boost the economic
activities of the areas and increase intra-Africa regional trade.
In his remark, the Special Adviser to
the President on NEPAD, Tunji Olagunju, said his agency is Africa’s strategy
for continental economic integration and sustainable development.
the President on NEPAD, Tunji Olagunju, said his agency is Africa’s strategy
for continental economic integration and sustainable development.
“As a framework, it is anchored
on a tripod of principles: African ownership of its development trajectories,
partnership between people and governments and between government and private
or corporate sector of the economy and the need to use the resources and
expertise of Africa’s natural capital for its sustainable development,” he
said.
on a tripod of principles: African ownership of its development trajectories,
partnership between people and governments and between government and private
or corporate sector of the economy and the need to use the resources and
expertise of Africa’s natural capital for its sustainable development,” he
said.
Olagunju added that PICI sought
promote a network of regional infrastructure projects in support of economic
and market integration which is led by heads of state of African countries.
promote a network of regional infrastructure projects in support of economic
and market integration which is led by heads of state of African countries.
“Today there is no doubt that
infrastructure is critical to economic transformation especially in eliminating
poverty in our continent.
infrastructure is critical to economic transformation especially in eliminating
poverty in our continent.
“This position has been
confirmed in an independent study conducted by the Infrastructure Consortium
for Africa (ICA),” he disclosed. However, Olagunju, noted that there are
some challenges affecting the pace of infrastructure implementation in Africa,
adding: “Firstly, there is the issue of effective coordination, whether
within a country or among states, as a result of which stakeholders are
effectively prevented from knowing the true status of projects implementation.
confirmed in an independent study conducted by the Infrastructure Consortium
for Africa (ICA),” he disclosed. However, Olagunju, noted that there are
some challenges affecting the pace of infrastructure implementation in Africa,
adding: “Firstly, there is the issue of effective coordination, whether
within a country or among states, as a result of which stakeholders are
effectively prevented from knowing the true status of projects implementation.
“The inability to perform
monitoring role apart; there is also the need for greater transparency and
accountability in the implementation of such projects, more so, because funding
is typically sourced from the traditional budgetary allocations and donors
financed loans or grants.”
monitoring role apart; there is also the need for greater transparency and
accountability in the implementation of such projects, more so, because funding
is typically sourced from the traditional budgetary allocations and donors
financed loans or grants.”
