FG requires N464trn to implement master plan on infrastructure

Mr Fidelis Ugbo, the Secretary of the National Planning Commission, says N464 trillion will be required to implement the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP).

The master plan is a 30-year plan expected to be funded by the federal and state governments as well as the private sector.

Ugbo made the disclosure on Tuesday at the opening of the 10th Joint Planning Board (JPB) and National Council on Development Planning (NCDP) meetings in Uyo.

The theme of the meeting is “Imperative of Strategic Planning as a Framework for Effective Policy Formation and Implementation for Nigeria’s Transformation’’.

“The scope of the NIIMP coverage is 2014 to 2043. The investment size is approximately N464 trillion and is to be implemented through five-year operational plan and 10-year strategic plan for 30 years.

“The NIIMP has been developed, concluded and is currently being validated to complement the Transformation Agenda and Vision 20:2020,’’ Ugbo said.

He urged the permanent secretaries of states planning commissions, who were actively involved in the plan, to be involved in the implementation of the plan.

Ugbo also urged state governments to ensure that their annual budgets and medium term plans were aligned with the priorities of the NIIMP with effect from the 2014 budget.

However, Mrs Arit Ibanga, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development, Akwa Ibom, said dwindling revenue due to oil theft in the Niger Delta had severe implications on the nation’s development planning processes.

“The outcome of the current review of the revenue formula, the national dialogue and the ongoing constitution review will severely impact on our planning processes.

“We must therefore be able to develop a more robust framework and response capability that will be easily amendable to the possible distortions these changes may bring,’’ Ibanga said.

The three-day meeting will review the extent of implementation of key recommendations on development planning processes arising from the last JPB meeting held in Benue. (NAN)