Keys to Nigerias Infrastructural development

My Naija peoples, in this post I am talking about Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), a sustainable effort between the public and private sectors, in which each contributes planning and needed resources to accomplish mutual shared objectives. It is plain as the nose on my face that dynamic partnerships between the public and private sector have become the cradle of economic growth and development across the globe. All over the world, PPPs have continued to drive infrastructure development.

Since the 1960s, major capital projects in the developed world have been executed through PPP arrangements. In the past few decades, developed economies such as the United Kingdom have showcased a variety of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) for the delivery of infrastructure, public utilities and large-scale projects. Emerging markets such as India and South Africa are also recording successes using tried and tested partnerships to create, expand and modernize infrastructure.

Overwhelming evidence indicate that PPPs are relatively cost efficient, foster best practices for sharing and transfer of risk, assure superior value for money, save time, streamline contracts and simplify procurements, facilitate innovation through public-private cohesion, eradicate bureaucratic and political processes, encourage technology transfer all the while delivering infrastructure and services. The World Bank estimates that every 1% of (government) funds invested in infrastructure leads to an equivalent 1% increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

No one can deny the fact that Nigeria’s infrastructure challenge is enormous. The Managing Director of Urban Development Bank of Nigeria (UDBN), Mr. Kunle Oyinloye, last year, said that the nation requires about N32 Trillion for infrastructural development in the next ten years to meet the federal Government’s vision 20-20-20 economic targets.

Unfortunately, Nigeria has not had an encouraging record of investment in infrastructure. Lately however, attention to infrastructure development is gaining momentum. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently called for the establishment of a Nigeria Infrastructure Fund where funds could be mobilized and developed to address Nigeria’s huge infrastructural deficit. It also stated that in terms of estimated funding gaps in infrastructure, Nigeria needs to invest $100billion (about N15 trillion) over the next 10 years.

Evidently, the government alone cannot gather together the resources (finance and expertise) to meet this need and the involvement of the private sector is not just desirable, but indispensable. It is no wonder therefore that the majority of infrastructure projects currently underway at both state and federal levels are powered by PPPs.

And opportunities for these types of partnerships abound. The Cross River state (CRS) government for example is seeking investors to develop the agricultural sector as it aims to see the region become a major food producer and exporter. Advantages of investing in Cross Rivers Agribusiness? Export promotion zones, a port, accessibility to Lagos and Abuja. These provide easy links to large markets and encourage faster clearance of goods.

Incentives?

The World Bank Sub-National Doing Business Report for Nigeria ranks CRS as one of the top four states for ease of doing business in Nigeria. The state’s One-stop Investment Center (OSIC) provides investment information, services and advice to potential investors. In addition, the state government is working to provide adequate infrastructure to meet growing consumer and business demands. These include:

• $150-million project to expand and upgrade Margaret Ekpo International Airport.
• Calabar Monorail
• $36-million investment on 19.8km rail connecting international airport, Calabar and TINAPA resort.
• Calabar Energy City, which is designed to develop an energy sector cluster with residential, commercial and industrial areas.
• Power Generation – there is an ongoing project to connect all communities to the national grid. There is also increased focus is also on renewable energy sources.

Akwa Ibom State has large deposits of a number of mineral resources that can be commercially exploited. And in Katsina state, preliminary results of a survey conducted indicates the presence of a large quantity of diamonds in the state.

All I am trying to point out is that opportunities abound for both the government and the private sector to take advantage of, for mutual benefits and for the development of the Nigerian society as a whole. Our slow national development is easily tied to the deficiency of  quality and functional infrastructure. In so many countries around the world including Africa, PPP strategies have been successfully utilized and exploited. Nigeria should not be an exception.

Election time (Revolution!)

Fellow Nigerians

Let us re-strategize

We surely can’t continue

To listen to their lies

They promise us the world

Before they get elected

But after all is said and done

It’s we who are rejected

For greed and lack of vision

We waste our potential

They feast on our resources

They have no good intentions

The common man and woman

Must rise up from the dust

Vote with your conscience

Revolution is a must

A new Nigerian nation

Sunshine after the rain

We all must play our parts

Victory is ours to gain

Don’t leave it all to chance

Insist on what is right

Oppose corrupt officials

Resist with all our might

Shawn Asala © 2011

ARISE O COMPATRIOTS!

A palpable darkness seeks to engulf the entire nation of Nigeria. This is evident in the reign of fear and pessimism that pervades the land. The spate of ethno-religious violence, ritualistic and occultic carnage and armed robbery that assails the country gives credence to the fact that Nigeria as a nation is on the verge of calamity. Corruption and injustice are twin evils that clog our wheels on the ride to economic revival and social transformation. The foundation of politics in Nigeria is for the most part occultic and opposed to righteousness. How then can our political leaders lead us out of the quagmire in to the bright light of national prosperity?

No section of our nation has functioned optimally in the last twenty years, be it economy, education, politics etc. Just take some time to peruse the newspapers, there you’ll get the full gist of what I’m trying to pass across. Yes, there have been some good and positive changes in the area of telecommunications, information technology etc. but there still remains a lot of decay that should not even be because Nigeria is one of the most endowed nations on the face of the earth. Other countries can only envy the variety of resources that God has deposited within our geographical borders. Yet we have not yielded the commensurate fruit. We have not shown gratitude and loyalty to God. Rather we have squandered our resources and opportunities.

In the light of the above, we cannot continue with business as usual, or think the responsibility to pray for and change Nigeria belongs to any special groups. If this country disintegrates into anarchy and chaos, we are the ones who stand to lose, not the Americans or the Japanese. We! Us! Even if you are a Nigerian abroad, you will not be able to raise your head with pride if our nation succumbs to the destructive forces operating within it today.
We all have a collective stake in the peace and well-being of our nation. This message is addressed to the youth of this present generation. Among us are the future presidents and ministers of Nigeria. We are the PHCN (formerly NEPA) officials and state governors of tomorrow. We are the future of this nation.

Let us not be overwhelmed by the present state of affairs in this country. Only let us not be partakers of the evil going on. Let us stand firmly in the belief that Nigeria can be all that she has the potential to be. PHCN can work, our roads can be better. Our police force can be agents of justice and order, poverty can be reduced, unemployment can be limited and the general standard of living can be improved. However, this can only be if we decide to make it happen.
Indeed, those of us who believe in a better and brighter Nigeria may only be a minority. But look through history and you will see that great change and invention has never been the offspring of the majority. If the majority had always had its way in time past, there would be no aeroplanes, telephones or space travel today. Helen Keller said once, “I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
Ella Willer Wilcox said, “Upon the wreckage of thy yesterday, design thy structure of tomorrow...”
You can make a difference in your own small way. Do something about the poor in your neighborhood; help the helpless in the hospital wards. That huge sum of money you are about to spend on a luxury can save a life in need of medical help. If you have no money, you can pray. Pray for our leaders do not curse them. Choose to live up to high moral standards. Read this article once more, spread the message- Nigeria can, and will be great. You and I can make it happen. It is all for our own good.

A POLITICIAN FOR THE PEOPLE

Professor Pat Utomi is a man I have come to respect so much. A political economist, management lecturer, entrepreneur, societal role model and recently, Nigerian presidential aspirant. He represents a breed of Nigerians that, if permitted, will serve as much needed medicine for our present day ill-plagued society. Not that he needs our permission anyway. One look at his resume will tell you that.

He has served on various boards in government, private sector and in academia. He is a role model to young people like myself who have a burden to see a better and greater Nigeria (named Societal Role Model in pioneer awards by the Nigerian Tribune in 2001)

http://www.patutomi2007.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=27

In his article, POLITICS WITHOUT THE PEOPLE, (http://www.dawodu.com/utomi8.htm), he made the following observation:

Nigeria lies prostrate because in Nigerian politics people do not really matter. Just look at the things we assume about Nigerian politics. They all seem to discount the Nigerian people. Look at the undemocratic nature of the processes of our political parties; the assumption by most Nigerians that voting is pointless because elections are rigged by a political class that think nothing of the weight of the voice of the people; the mindless corruption that leaves the state treasury empty even as the Governors pour the fortune of the common wealth into their private quests for political bounty as aspirants for the presidency. How did we get it so wrong.

Indeed, how did we? I believe that the very definition of "Bad Governance" is governance that is not people-centered. At this point, I am reminded of the chorus in one of Micheal Jackson's popular songs- "all I wanna say is that they don't really care about us!" Our rulers don't really care about us. How else would you explain why they amass stupendous wealth while the people that voted them in live in abject poverty and disease?

What we need in Nigeria are compassionate leaders who give a damn about the common man; leaders who will deny themselves of even sleep; not to hatch evil plans on how to obtain and retain power and wealth, but rather staying up to devise strategies to reduce poverty and make life better for the masses.

We need leaders with a vision for our country.

"....my vision of a new Nigeria is a country of people of industry and integrity who live in harmony and prosperity with one another, inspiring an African renaissance in which the dignity of the human person is at the centre of all public choice..." Pat Utomi http://www.dawodu.com/utomi8.htm

What Nigeria needs are politicians who ARE FOR the people.