The Nation Newspaper

Tag: infrastructure

  • Taking African infrastructure to the future

    One of the top developmental challenges in sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the shortage of infrastructure. Public sources alone cannot meet the funding needs and African countries are seeking strategies to increase private sector investment in infrastructure. Inadequate physical infrastructure covering transportation, power and communication is inhibiting growth and productivity while inadequate social infrastructure including water supply, sanitation, sewage disposal, education and health are adversely affecting the quality of life.

    Energy, water, transport, information technology services and other infrastructure require extensive renewal or installation in order to support the projected growth over the coming years.

    In a report issued in 2010, the World Bank found that the poor state of infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa reduced national economic growth by two percentage points every year and cut business productivity by as much as 40%. The growth in infrastructure needs to be transformational in order to have an impact. African development institutions and African governments have recognised that adequate infrastructure is critical to achieving the growth levels expected and required.

    According to the World Bank Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (2009), the infrastructure needs of sub-Saharan Africa exceed US $93 billion annually over the next 10 years. It is reported by the African Development Bank that less than half of this amount is being provided which leaves a financing gap of more than US $50 billion per annum to fill.

    It is widely recognised that the funding required to develop the required infrastructure cannot be met from public sources alone. African governments are implementing initiatives that are designed to increase the participation of private sector investors in infrastructure. The challenge is to speed up the process of reforms so as to hasten the availability of the much needed private sector investment.

    Public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements have emerged as one of the major avenues for channelling the participation of private capital and expertise in delivering infrastructure projects in recent years. A description of a PPP arrangement as captured in an OECD definition is:

    … an agreement between the government and one or more private partners (which may include the operators and the financers) according to which the private partners deliver the service in such a manner that the service delivery objectives of the government are aligned with the profit objectives of the private partners and where the effectiveness of the alignment depends on a sufficient transfer of risk to the private partners.

    PPPs have been hailed in many countries for providing the public sector with access to much needed private sector capital or construction expertise and efficiency.

    Is PPP the way for Africa?

    PPP arrangements could generate much needed funding for infrastructure projects that are appropriate for private investment. Some projects may be socially desirable but not economically viable as an investment by the private sector. PPP arrangements could be used to provide funding for projects that are bankable while allowing the government to apply public funds on non-bankable but socially desirable infrastructure projects.

    The Canadian and UK PPP models provide examples of PPP frameworks that ought to be considered in devising a unique model for an African country. Several other countries including Australia, France and Korea have PPP models that have produced infrastructure projects on schedule. Each model has its advantages and disadvantages.

    The Canadian model has been much celebrated due to the high level of standardisation in the procurement process thereby making the procurement process more efficient and cost-effective for bidders, reducing the period to financial close and increasing the number of pipeline projects. There may be lessons to learn from the Canadian experience. However, without diminishing the attractiveness of the Canadian example, the Canadian context must be borne in mind.

    Canada follows the ‘negotiated’ PPP path and does not have to, for example, follow the “competitive dialogue” procedure which all countries in Europe have to follow in compliance with a directive of the European Union. In Canada, bidders are given a design on which to give a price. The “competitive dialogue” procedure is meant to allow a public entity which knows what outcome it wants to achieve in awarding a public contract but does not know how best to achieve it to discuss, in confidence, possible solutions in the dialogue phase of the tender process with short-listed bidders before calling for final bids. This can be expensive but may be appropriate in the case of complex and high value infrastructure projects. Some may question whether the absence of a dialogue among the private and public participants as to the optimum design for a project (which obtains in the Canadian model) may result in the public getting less value for money from the project.

    Prospects for private sector investment in African infrastructure

    Investing in African infrastructure is challenging and the challenges are varied given that Africa is a continent with 55 countries of which sub-Saharan Africa has 48, each with a separate legal and regulatory system and all at different stages of development. The typical risks for investors are no different from those that would be experienced in other emerging markets.

    Notwithstanding the current challenges for private investment, there are investment opportunities at present for private investors in infrastructure. McKinsey reported in 2010 that African infrastructure will be worth US $200 billion in annual revenue to the private companies by 2020 and PEI (2011) “Infrastructure Investor Africa – An Intelligence Report” noted that that African independent power projects have earned investors internal rates of return of up to 25 percent, compared with 15 percent in Latin America and 12 percent in Eastern Europe.

    Investors wishing to take advantage of the current investment opportunities may be able to employ structured solutions to mitigate risks and ease the adoption of investment opportunities. The structured finance markets have a history of designing structured solutions to address the funding, credit and risk management challenges of western financial institutions and structured products that balance the needs of the originator against the risk appetite of the target investor. Examples of solutions that could be employed in Africa include:

    •Credit risk mitigation techniques (such as financial guarantees or partial guarantees from institutions better able to manage the credit risk) may be employed to deal with insufficient credit history and enable more entities to access the markets;

    •Structured finance techniques could be used to isolate risk into more manageable forms;

    •Derivatives and other hedging techniques may be used to better manage default, currency, market and other risks; and

    •Credit derivatives techniques (including risk sharing arrangements) may be used to align the interests of investors with other stakeholders and mitigate credit and other risks.

    The techniques mentioned above have been used in the more mature western markets to better manage a variety of risks. Such techniques can be adapted to the African context to devise creative solutions that address the unique concerns of the relevant transaction.

     

    The way forward It is critical that African governments double efforts to provide a policy and regulatory environment that promotes investor confidence and facilitates the growth of the debt capital markets and alternative investment markets. In addition, international financial institutions should be engaged to facilitate private sector participation and investors and other transaction participants should consider employing structured solutions to enhance investment opportunities.

    There is no “one size fits all” solution, and the road map to sustainable infrastructure development must be unique for each African country.

    Uwaifo is a Director, Africa Agribusiness Knowledge Centres Inc.

  • Group hails Fashola on improved infrastructure

    Group hails Fashola on improved infrastructure

    The spate of infrastructural development in the education sector in Lagos State has been described as the right step towards better and qualitative education in the state.

    The Project Coordinator of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI), Mushin/Oshodi Zone, Mr Wasiu Balogun, stated this during the grand finale of quiz competition in Oshodi Lagos.

    The competition according to Balogun, is meant to help government improve the standard of education in the state and the country at large.

    “Part of our own humble contribution to the development of scholarship in the state is this competition that we are organising today among other efforts,” he said.

    “The essence of this competition is to strengthen the spirit of academic competition among secondary students; redirect their enthusiasm and energy towards the pursuance of academic excellence and instill in them the belief and conviction that academic excellence pays.”

    The quiz competition was keenly contested among 45 secondary schools cutting across Surulere, Isolo, Mushin and Oshodi. Only 12 schools qualified for the final stage. Among the 12 finalists, Isolo Comprehensive Senior High School came first while Ansarudeen Senior High School came second and Oshodi Comprehensive Senior High School came third.

    Teacher in charge of Isolo Comprehensive Senior High School, Miss Nwakaudu Nkeiruka said the group through the competition has set the pace for improving learning in schools.

    Miss Olusola Jinadu from the Education District IV urged the group to continue in helping government to improve the standard of education in the state.

     

  • ‘$2.9tn needed to build infrastructure’

    FROM the Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr. Foluso Philips has come a damning verdict: “Nigeria needs a total of $2.9tn to close its infrastructure gap in the next few years.”

    He said this during the investiture of Dr. Temilola Kehinde as the 15th President of the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria in Lagos recently.

    “A total of $2.9tn is required to close Nigeria’s infrastructure gap over the next 30 years, with $2.3tn on transport, energy, ICT and water, and $600bn on agriculture, mining, social infrastructure, housing and regional development,” Philips said.

    While congratulating Kehinde, he said the National Integrated Infrastructure Plan provided a huge opportunity for ACEN and the Nigerian Society of Engineers to emerge.

    Kehinde, in his speech, noted that engineering was at the core of development and that any nation that aspired to greatness must treasure and value engineering.

    He observed that through the National Content Development Act, 2010, the government had opened a new vista of opportunities for consulting engineers and other professionals to participate actively in the oil and gas sector.

    “Perhaps, this new opening will offer future tremendous business opportunities for Nigerian consulting engineers. We are gearing up and reviving our tools to be active participants in this new endeavour,” he said.

    The ACEN president said that nobody could become a member of the association without ascertainable relevant skills and a reputation for high quality work.

    With a current membership of 250, he said the association was aware of the existence of over 1,000 consulting engineering firms currently operating in the country.

    “While still maintaining our lofty standard, we shall continue to encourage more member firms to join our fold,” he said.

  • Fed Govt raises alarm over poor water infrastructure

    Fed Govt raises alarm over poor water infrastructure

    The Federal Government has raised the alarm over the deterioration of water infrastructure in the country due to poor management and neglect.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe who spoke in Abuja at the launch of the Water Operators Partnership (WOP) – Nigeria, said the performances of the water agencies in the country were below expectations.

    She noted that the growth in the water sector was slow despite some achievements.

    According to her, Africa loses $28.4 billion yearly due to lack of access to safe water and basic sanitation, adding that Nigeria has a large chunk from the figure.

    She noted that the continuous delay in developing the sector will only make the figures bigger, adding that WOP – Nigeria will help to tackle some of the challenges in the sector.

    She said: “Performances of the water agencies are not as good as customers would want them to be. Cost recovery is still a distant dream for virtually all the agencies. As at today, there is hardly any city in our country where there is water 24/7.

    “Recent report from the United Nations World Water Development puts the overall economic loss in Africa alone due to lack of access to safe water and basic sanitation at an estimated $28.4 billion a year which is around five per cent of GDP. Nigeria has a larger per cent of that figure.

    “It is our hope that WOP – Nigeria will greatly contribute to addressing these noticeable challenges in the sector.”

     

  • Infrastructure

    Infrastructure

    It is certainly no exaggeration to assert that the quality of public infrastructure is as crucial to the virility, sustenance and growth of any economy as air is essential to the existence of human beings. The state of physical and social infrastructure – power, water, public transportation, telecommunication, roads, schools and medical facilities – in a country is a measure, not just of the health of the economy but also the well-being of the vast majority of her people.

    In Nigeria, public infrastructure in virtually all sectors was allowed to decay abysmally, particularly during the years of predatory military rule. Yet, it is unfortunate that about 15 years after the democratic restoration of 1999, the infrastructure deficit has only gone wider. Even if many of the state governments are also remiss in this respect, the larger blame lies with the Federal Government, which is allocated more than half of the country’s national revenues but has little or nothing to show for it.

    With the next presidential election coming up in the first quarter of 2015, there is a tendency at all levels for partisan politicking to shove any meaningful governance aside. But President Goodluck Jonathan in particular has a duty to face his oft-repeated determination to transform Nigeria. Right now, the effects of the ‘Transformation Agenda’ are hardly felt in any sector of the economy. This is particularly so in the all-important provision of physical and social infrastructure, which is so vital to Nigeria’s development.

    Given the lethargic implementation of past budgets, it is only natural for Nigerians to be sceptical about the rosy promises in the 2014 budgetary proposals. Tagged ‘Budget of Job Creation and Growth’, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who presented the budget to the National Assembly on behalf of the President, enthused later to journalists that “The budget is going to support the push in agriculture; it would kick-start the housing sector where it can create more jobs; it is designed to support manufacturing because jobs could be created there. Industries will also be created in solid minerals … Job creation is the key to really solve the problems of the Nigerian economy”.

    We agree that this is good talk from the Minister of Finance. However, we have had so much of promises in the past but nothing has changed; the living standard of the majority has rather steadily deteriorated. This newspaper has little confidence that the 2014 budgetary estimates will have any positive impact on our current deplorable infrastructure. For instance, recurrent expenditure still gets the highest allocation of N2.43 trillion relative to capital expenditure which was allocated only N1.1 trillion. Yet, experts point out that there is a correlation between capital spending and job creation. Capital spending is the key to the expansion and modernisation of physical and social infrastructure.

    It is so sad that while humongous amounts are allocated to various sectors on an annual basis, social services remain anaemic and physical infrastructure abysmal. The question therefore is, where does the money go? The finance minister said during the budget presentation to the National Assembly that “Thus far, about 48.1% of the capital expenditure has been released but unutilised as at 30th September 2012”. It is incredible that a country like Nigeria in dire need of massive investment into the provision of physical and social infrastructure could still have surplus, unutilised funds in the various ministries and agencies. Something is definitely amiss somewhere.

    We urge Dr Jonathan to personally and decisively look into this issue. After all, the buck stops at his table. The President should pay attention to the problems of public physical and social infrastructure this year and personally drive the effort to transform Nigeria into a habitable space that is secure, peaceful, efficient and attractive for investment.

  • Lagos partners firm on infrastructure development

    Lagos partners firm on infrastructure development

    Lagos State Government has hinted of plans to partner with Richbon Nigeria Limited, which recently launched a new range of construction equipment, manufactured in China into Nigerian market.

    The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, who was represented by a staff of the ministry at the event, last week in Lagos, noted that the equipment are suitable for infrastructure development in the state.

    At the event, Richbon was handed a certificate of dealership by the management of the Chinese company, XGMA.

     

  • Infrastructure key to education, says Fashola

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has stressed the importance of infrastructure in promoting quality education.

    Fashola, who spoke in Lagos over the weekend at the inauguration of two blocks of classrooms at Adesonwon Junior Grammar School Ilara, Epe and Odogunyan Secondary School, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, said the event was part of his administration’s effort in providing quality education.

    In a satatement by the Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Education, Jide Lawal, the governor said: “Lagos state government recognizes the importance of infrastructure in the overall quality of education needed by a child to realize his or her full potential and that it is why we are keeping faith with our promise to provide quality education by putting in place the requisite facilities such as the one being commissioned today.”

    Commissioner for Education Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, who represented Fashola said the commissioning was informed by the need to keep up with the tempo of sustained provision of quality infrastructure of international standards for schools in the state.

    She said the result of government’s investment in education was already yelding results as demonstrated in the increased schools’ enrollment and attendance.

    “I am happy to report that already, we have started to see the results of the turnaround in the education sector because schools’ enrollment and attendance have increased and this, in my opinion, is a testimony to the renewed confidence that the people now have in public schools,” Fashola opined.

     

  • Bayelsa’s infrastructure revolution

    At inauguration, Governor Seriake Dickson clearly spelt out the strategic value of the Restoration Agenda of his administration. His swift proclamation of this template of renewal definitely wasn’t a cheap move to join the bandwagon of political sloganeering. Rather the Restoration Agenda was in response to the people’s cry for urgent development and progress.

    The governor actually had a personal experience of the deplorable situation during his campaigns. Everywhere he went, he had to deal with emotional calls for the building and upgrading of infrastructure, meandered through bad roads and saw other dilapidated infrastructure in need of urgent rehabilitation.

    Understandably, accelerated development of infrastructure was made the core of the Restoration Agenda. And quickly Governor Dickson rallied his team to action, underscoring the sense of urgency to change the state of infrastructure throughout Bayelsa and in particular the state capital, Yenagoa.

    He tasked members of his team to appreciate that for the state government to actualize the lofty goal of diversifying the state’s economy through tourism, agriculture and industrialization, the construction of new infrastructure, including a good network of roads and the expansion of other existing infrastructure must be a priority.

    At different forums, the governor emphasized the importance of opening up the state for easy accessibility across the three senatorial districts as it would go a long way in promoting trade and industry.  He also noted the implication for investors who will be able to navigate the entire state and opening businesses wherever suitable without worrying about basic infrastructure. With a good road network in Bayelsa, farmers and agro-allied businesses will easily transport their products to markets just as tourists could move around to locate and enjoy the natural beaches and visit the numerous tourist attractions in the state.

    To the joy and relief of Bayelsans, Governor Dickson hasn’t only been talking. Many will agree and rationally too, that his actions on infrastructural development in the last two years speak louder than words. It is akin to a revolution by any serious evaluation.  Despite the marshy nature of Bayesla State which makes infrastructural development relatively costly and cumbersome, the administration has a lot to show for its short period in office.

    So far, over 350 kilometres of roads across the state have been completed. Government has also constructed 15 bridges, over 50 public buildings and 2 flyovers. Dualisation of 18 roads and two outer ring roads are in progress while the secretariat for the Traditional Rulers Council in Yenagoa has been completed. The road linking the old and new campuses of the state-owned Niger Delta University at Amassom is also completed.

    Government is set to award contracts for the construction of 15 internal roads in Yenagoa which will also be replicated in all the eight local government headquarters in the first phase of total rehabilitation and transformation of roads in the state for easy accessibility.

    The expansion and upgrading of many of the roads particularly in Yenagoa would, however, inevitably lead to demolition of some houses, not because they offended any town planning regulation but as necessary price to pay for the greater good of a modern city. The expansion of Opolo-Imiringi road, for instance, has necessitated the demolition of the governor’s personal house which is a demonstration of commitment to this cause.

    Yet the ambitious new Yenagoa city is coming on stream soon, to further open up the state to investors, which when completed is targeted to be the new Dubai in Africa especially in terms of facilities and business opportunities.

    Among other on-going projects is the construction of the state archive, museum, language centre, new secretariat annexes, governor and deputy governors’ office complexes, modern police mess, the rehabilitation of the Gloryland Cultural Centre and construction of the Government House Clinic, now close to completion. And of course, work is ongoing at the pharmaceutical storage and distribution centre, which when completed will be the first of its kind in Africa.

    Allied to the provision of roads are the strategically located bridges in the three senatorial districts in addition to the equally strategic construction of an airport and the Agge Deep Seaport. In the estimation of Governor Dickson, the successful completion of these two projects will speed up the quest for a diversified and vibrant economy, thereby making oil just one of the sources of income for the state.

    The governor’s dream is that the Bayelsa airport will, among other benefits, create a direct link to Yenagoa, thereby consigning to the past the two- kilometre drive from Port-Harcourt airport. The seaport will also jump-start the state economy so much in terms of massive job creation, boom in trade, leading to a huge leap in income for the state and of course a greater lease of life for the people.

    The people of Bayelsa, visitors and experts alike have noted with satisfaction the quality of the jobs undertaken as they were awarded to reputable construction firms including Julius Berger, Setraco and CCECC. The unusual volume of construction has also created fresh opportunities for a legion of youths as well as qualified engineers, architects and quantity surveyors in the state.

    Many won’t dispute the fact that in the last two years, the Seriake Dickson-led Restoration Government has displayed its commitment and determination to make a difference in the lives of the people by providing such massive and strategic infrastructure throughout the state.

     

    • Iworiso-Markson writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

  • Infrastructure upgrade peaks in Anambra

    Infrastructure upgrade peaks in Anambra

    N6b for schools rehab
    5,000 teachers for hire

    It is only a matter of months before his administration eases out of office but that does not suggest any let-up in Governor Peter Obi’s infrastructural upgrade plan in Anambra State. If anything, things are building up to a crescendo.

    Schools, for instance, are being rebuilt and made more comfortable for teachers and pupils. Huge sums of money are released to finance the upgrade and inject more vitality into the educational system.

    After returning schools to the missionaries, the Obi administration also provided cash to help run the institutions better.

    Meanwhile, the administration has not shifted focus on public primary and secondary schools.

    The governor has announced that libraries and laboratories in 420 secondary schools in the state are to be upgraded. Obi said this while presenting a N1b cheque to schools returned to the churches as well as public ones. The money is for the rehabilitation of their libraries and labs, he said.

    The governor did not stop there as he ordered the immediate employment of 5,000 teachers and other administrative staff into the state’s primary schools and secondary schools.

    He directed the Commissioner for Education, Dr.Uju Okeke to ensure that the rehab plan equitably covers the 21 local government areas of the state. He said his government will spend N15b on primary and secondary schools by end of the year.

    He recalled that his government has already provided N1.5b for the rehabilitation of primary schools returned to the churches; N2b for primary schools owned by government; N3b to selected missionary hospitals for various upgrade of facilities to enable them secure accreditation.

    He said that before the end of November, all the 410 schools in the state would receive brand new buses, generators and computer sets with full accessories.

    Obi equally recalled that his administration has provided buses, computers, generators, among other equipment, to schools, noting that the efforts brought tremendous improvement on education.

    He added that government would also provide them with functional libraries, science laboratories, Microsoft academy with internet connectivity and sports facilities as well as N10m intervention fund to rebuild schools.

    The governor explained that these were geared towards changing the learning process to equip the children properly for future challenges and restore the lost glory of education.

    He reiterated that education remained fundamental in the state’s drive to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

    Speaking further at the presentation at Women Development Centre Awka, Obi said that in the next six months his administration will commit N40b into various sectors of the state in order to achieve the MDGs. He explained that the money was not borrowed from any financial institution but his administration’s savings and prudent management of resources in addition to support from development partners.

    Giving an insight into the last push in education, the governor said that the state would promptly employ teachers in core subjects such as English, Maths, Physics, and Chemistry, among others, to be trained locally and overseas. This is in addition, according to him, to the ongoing recruitment of 5000 teachers in the state whose salaries for one year after his exit from government have been saved in the bank.

    He also said that the state has already procured 500 buses from local manufacturers, Coscharis and Innoson, to be shared to both public and private schools.

    Other things he said would be provided to Secondary Schools before the end of the year include 25,000 laptop computers, books, generators, sick bays and internet connectivity.

    On the returned schools, which has sometimes generated controversy, Obi said the ownership of such schools should not matter but rather the ability of their managers to produce better educated pupils.

    He said that he was encouraged because the massive support he gave to schools has manifested in their improved performance in the state. He appealed to the people of the state that the only way to sustain all this revolution going on is for them to vote in a credible and clear-headed candidate.

    Archbishop on the Niger and Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Archbishop Christian Efobi and Archbishop of Onitsha Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke lauded Obi for not only handing over schools to the missionaries but continuously giving them grants to recover lost grounds. They prayed that God will continue to guide Obi for thinking and dreaming Anambra, appealing that a better candidate be voted in who would do greater than Obi.

    National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh warned that the legacies APGA government is leaving behind should not be adjudged as playing politics, hence a good candidate in Chief Willie Obiano should be elected to continue the good work Obi started.

    Umeh reminded that the projects and infrastructure being put in place by Obi’s government is being done for the public good and that town unions and traditional rulers should monitor and supervise the projects effectively. He warned those handling the projects to be sincere.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Okeke said “the event of today was one of 13 series of events to fully implement the Anambra State package on accelerative progress in the attainment of education for all in the state tagged Final Push.”

    Speaking further, she said: “There is no doubt that our investment and efforts are yielding maximum results. Just recently the Basic Education Certificate Exam results released by our Exam Development Centre indicated that out of 46,741 candidates who sat for the exam, 45,196 (96.69%) passed at Credit Levels and only 1,545 (3.3%) failed. In the last NECO examination for entry into junior secondary schools, nationwide, Anambra State pupil took the overall first position. The Senior School Certificate Exam result analysis of WAEC recently released clearly shows that our schools are making significant improvement. In line with strengthening our institutional management of education for quality services delivery, our teachers and principals have been given orientation on Quality assurance and best practices in education, which we hope, will continue to manifest in our students’ performances. In the areas of morals, our decision on handover of schools to the Missions is being vindicated with the re-invigoration and re-positioning of the moral education operators in our schools.”

    Dr. Mrs Okeke disclosed that the governor has approved the employment of 5000 teachers and other staff of Post-Primary School Service Commission and State Universal Basic Education Board.

    She added that the state education system was being repositioned towards ICT while public and private schools would continue to benefit from the various state government interventions.

    Not too long ago, the Obi administration drew plaudits from many for its sensitivity to people living with challenges. Athletes with hearing and speech impediments received grants from the government and were encouraged to participate in competitions. Some of them with requisite job qualifications were assured of employment by the administration. The challenged athletes were seen heartily marching past state officials during a sports feast.

     

  • Infrastructure a priority in Rivers

    Infrastructure a priority in Rivers

    Roads to mop up traffic gridlock.

    TherE is a lift in infrastructure in Rivers State. Schools are wearing a bold new look, unrecognisable from what used to be.

    Yet, Governor Chibuike Amaechi says his administration still prioritises infrastructure and that the plan to transform the state is still on course.

    To help realise this vision, Amaechi has engaged GIBB, a renowned construction firm with its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Amaechi who spoke in Port Harcourt, recalled the poor state of infrastructure he met in 2007 when he assumed office. That is why his administration “is engaging a world-class firm like GIBB to deliver world-class projects,” he said.

    The governor spoke through the Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Mrs Aleruchi Cookey-Gam at a dinner organised by the construction giant to showcase the multi-disciplinary and mega-projects it has been executing across many African countries.

    One of the projects executed by GIBB in Rivers is the monorail.

    Amaechi added that six years down the road, he is happy that his vision is on track.

    While admitting that Port Harcourt is still facing traffic congestion, the governor said that parts of the state capital are “locked up because we did not plan for the future”.

    There is a way out. GIBB has advised that “one of the things that will unlock the city of Port Harcourt is to run a road from Woji River to Elelenwo to take away traffic from Aba Road.”

    To unlock the Diobu axis of the metropolis, he said that a road would be built to link the old city of Port Harcourt to the new city and this road would connect Eagle Island, Ada George Road, Obiri Ikwerre and join Port Harcourt International Airport.

    The governor also said that he is passionate about unlocking these roads to save people from “heart attack” occasioned by traffic congestion.

    While expressing the hope that GIBB would be able to deliver the first phase of the new city of Port Harcourt, the governor also commended the company for wanting to partner with Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt in skills development but urged it to also consider “partnering with government in project delivery and building capacity of the people.”

    On the mono-rail, a project his government started during his first tenure and which is now being handled by GIBB, the governor said that it “is real, the first of its kind in Nigeria.”

    He added that it is one of the visionary goals of his administration.

    The Chief Executive Officer of GIBB, Mr Richard Vries gave an insight into the company which he said was established in 1923 while the South African office opened in 1956.

    Vries also said that his company which opened its Nigerian office in 2008 is independently rated as a market leader in consulting engineering and it is in operation in many countries of Africa.

    The GIBB boss who described Nigeria as “one of the 10 fastest growing economies of the world”, also used the opportunity to disclose the kind of projects they would be executing in the state, one of which is to partner with RSUST on skills development.

    He stressed that “investment in infrastructure will lead to employment and eradication of poverty.”