By Musa Adamu
Federal government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with African Infrastructure Group (AIG) for the effective implementation of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIM).
The Secretary to the National Planning Commission (NPC), Barr. Ntufam Fidel Ugbo, signed on behalf of the federal government while the Principal Consult Partner, AIG Limited, Dr. Onuoha Nnnachi, signed for the Group.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Secretary to the Commission, Fidel Ugbo, underscored the relevance of the partnership with the private sector, saying it would facilitate government’s desire to achieve result in the implementation of the infrastructure plan for the nation.
Describing the private sector as key to the implementation of the NIIMP and the development of the country, he stressed that government cannot fill the huge infrastructural gap identified in the country alone.
He said the MoU entered into would attract investors to the nation’s infrastructural development drive, even as they would enjoy the opportunity to identify areas of interest which would profits their investment.
“Partnering with the private sector will bring investors to infrastructure in the country and also sell the document. It will also make the private sector know what they can get when they invest,’’ he said.
Urging the group to move in to action by selling the document to the world, he also assured them of the commitment of NPC to stick to the rules of engagement.
Also speaking, the Principal Consultant Partner of the Group, Dr. Onuoha Nnnachi, said the NIIMP, designed by NPC, had already been presented to the private sector and it was now moving to the actualization level.
He said the step necessitated the anchoring partnership with NPC.
He said the private sector was bringing funding and mechanism for the development of the infrastructural sector, agreeing that government cannot fund it alone even if it shut every other thing for that purpose.
He also disclosed that the group’s summit this year was being designed to focus on the transportation sector which would attract “deep pocket” investors to bring about the needed infrastructural development.