Focus labs ‘ll boost development of infrastructures –Udoma

 

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sent. Udoma Udo Udoma, has said that the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) Focus Laboratories will help develop the country’s infrastructures.
The Minister, who was speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, also said that the Labs will endeavour to bring in private sector capital to finance projects across the country.
According to the Minister, it will lead to a spin-off that will create employment opportunities and boost small businesses.
Sent. Udoma explained that the Focus Labs will concentrate on three key areas of; Agriculture and Transportation, Power and Gas, and Manufacturing and Processing, even as he added that the labs will be conducted by the relevant Ministries responsible for the sectors such as Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments; Mines and Steel; Power, Works and Housing; Agriculture; Transportation; and the Ministry of Petroleum.
While saying that the Budget Ministry with support by Malaysian consultants will organise and facilitate the Labs, Sent. Udoma added that the Labs will raise the level of productivity in the country.
“We want more things to be made in Nigeria. We want more opportunities created for Nigerians to be able to work,” he insisted.
He said that officials of some state governments will be invited to participate as most of the projects will be located in the states noting that the support of the states will be critical for the take-off of many of the projects.
The Labs will not only identify new opportunities for investors to exploit, it will also identify projects that will drive growth, develop clear implementation plans for each EPP, and breakdown silos to harness private-public partnership among others.
He stressed that the present administration will not be distracted by the coming elections saying that it is committed to Nigerians. “The involvement of cabinet Ministers and their team as well as all key agencies of government that interface with investors and businesses, is a demonstration of the resolve and commitment that the government has to generate a massive increase in investment,” he further said.

 

Leave a Reply