Infrastructure master plan, key to vision 20:2020 –Usman

The Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, says integration of infrastructure master plan is critical to Nigeria’s bid to be among the top 20 economies  by 2020. The minister said this at the presidential dinner and fellows’ night of the Nigerian Institution of Architects (NIA). He presented a paper entitled: “Imperatives for the development of a National Integrated Infrastructure Master plan (NIIMP).’’ “Experience has shown that the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects in the country have suffered from what l call the lack of coherence, consistency, coordination and continuity over the years. “The responsibility for the planning of various infrastructure projects in the country currently is entrusted in the different agencies of government, without effective coordination. “This approach, apart from not being integrative, has failed to ensure the realisation of maximum benefits from infrastructure development such as sustainable economic growth and wealth creation, among others,’’ he said. To achieve the nation’s economic growth, he said, the constraints posed by the inadequacy of infrastructure must be addressed through effective planning, financing and implementation of infrastructure projects.

 He said that international experience had shown that developing an integrated infrastructure master plan had created an enabling environment for investment in infrastructure, by both the public and private sectors. “In recognition of this, countries such as China, India, Singapore and Malaysia, are now embracing the development and implementation of integrated infrastructure master plans.  “In India, for example, the development of long-term integrated infrastructure master plan, increased private investment in Indian infrastructure from 203 billion dollars in the 6th National Development Plan (NDP) to over one trillion by the 10th of NDP, ‘’ he said. He expressed regret that Nigeria lacked an integrated master plan, adding that at sectoral levels, a number of infrastructure plans existed with limited linkages with other sectors of the economy and were formulated with little or no collaboration with the states. “The framework we are putting in place for the development of the National Integrated Infrastructure master plan will use a participatory approach, involving collaboration with public and private sectors, labour unions, professional bodies among others. “We have, therefore, crafted a framework for the development of 30 years NIIMP (2014-2043). “It is expected that the delivery of the plan will ginger the physical development of the country as well as address the challenges of security, urbanisation, poverty, housing, health and education,’’ he said.

In his speech, Malam Ibrahim Haruna, the President of the Nigerian Institution of Architects (NIA), attributed the current flooding in some states to global warming. “As you all know, this is consequent to global warming, a recent universal phenomenon, which responsive governments and all professionals in the built environment are facing as a new challenge; it is an area that is dear to Federal Government’s transformation agenda.’’ 13 members were inducted as the institution’s College of Fellows, among who are Prof. Williams Qurix, the Vice-Chancellor of Kaduna State University