PMB reiterates commitment to build economy through infrastructure dev’t
President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) has reiterated the commitment of his administration to build a vibrant economy through investment in infrastructure development.
The President made this known while receiving the Babacar Ndiaye Africa Super Prize Great Builder Award at the 7th edition of the Africa Road Builders – Trophee Babacar Ndiaye Inaugural Conference 2022 themed: “Building Roads, Building Economies” held in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Abuja on Thursday for which he had earlier been announced as the winner for 2021.
According to the Nigerian president who was represented by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, “It is an African day of Pride, where the story of Africa’s long-awaited Renaissance begins to unfold inside her largest country by population and GDP”.
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He expressed the delight that the dreams of the African Union (AU) for the continent were beginning to manifest, noting that its policies and programmes that were inaugurated over the years are beginning to bear fruits and results.
The President revealed that Nigeria is playing her membership and leadership roles in all the programmes and institutions of the AU including the Trans African Highway programme, launched in 1971 which sought to connect the whole of Africa through a major system of nine (9) highways, covering an aggregate distance of 56,683km; the African Development Bank; the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement set up to create a unified, borderless market of over one billion people to facilitate intra-African Trade among others towards achieving their objectives.
“Our collaboration with the African Development Bank has been productive and results are now manifest in projects like the Mfum-Bamenda Bridge that connects Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon. I also acknowledge the support of the Bank in financing feasibility, consultancies and pre-construction work on the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor comprising Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire which is part of Trans African Highway No. 7 from Dakar in Senegal to Lagos in Nigeria.
“I am happy to report that the Nigerian sections of this highway are now under construction on the Lagos-Badagry corridor through our local financing institution such as the Tax Credit Scheme introduced by Executive Order No. 7, and in collaboration with the Lagos State Government.
“I am able to report that apart from Trans African Highway No. 7, Nigeria is also connected by Trans African Highways No. 2, Algiers to Lagos and Trans African Highway No. 8, Lagos – Mombasa.
“The East to West crossing of Nigeria across the Second River Niger Bridge which will be finished this year is a major investment by Nigeria on the Lagos-Mombasa Trans African Highway, as is the Enugu – Abakaliki to Mfum Highway,” Buhari said.
He said the construction, expansion and rehabilitation nationwide “have been a major boost for the growth of our economy, keeping people at work; driving a supply value chain, stimulating productivity at quarries, cement factories, steel factories, and the petroleum sectors for lubricants, fuel and bitumen”.
Speaking further, the President said, “Our most recent GDP results of 3.40%, the biggest in the last 7 years clearly show that the construction su-sectors and related sub-sectors of the economy were among the big performers of the growth surge.”
Speaking to journalists in his personal capacity after the morning section of the programme, Fashola, explained that the award is by the former President of the African Development Bank, Babacar Ndiaye meant to be recognising what African nations are doing in terms of infrastructure, “and I am here to receive it on his behalf at a dinner that will hold this evening.
“It is on the theme: Building roads, Building economies, and you heard all the stakeholders in the industry from NARTO, FRSC, NNPC who are now investing tax credit, NLNG who also investing in tax credit and building roads; the contractors, acknowledging how roads built in the last few years are impacting the people’s journey time and the economy in general.”
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the award to President Muhammadu Buhari which was done by the award committee spokesman, Mr George Orido of Kenya.
The session which began with a brief welcome speech by the General Commissioner and CEO of ACTUROUTES, Mr Bathélemy Kouame, had all international and local stakeholders including institutions and contractors represented.
A goodwill message was also heard virtually from President Babacar Ndiaye’s family at the event.
