Bagudu Seeks UK Support For Identification, Packaging Bankable Projects

Minister of budget and economic planning Atiku Bagudu has appealed to the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNiAF) for technical assistance to improve the capacity of ministries, departments and agencies in the identification and packaging of bankable projects, particularly on how to plan, finance, deliver and maintain infrastructure.

“The limited capacity of the MDAs in the identification and packaging of bankable projects still remains an obstacle to infrastructure delivery in Nigeria as it has limited private sector investment in infrastructure development,” the planning and economic minister said yesterday when he received a delegation from UKNiAF in his office in Abuja.

UKNiAF is a four-year technical assistance programme (2019 – 2023) that aims to transform Nigeria’s capacity to plan, finance, deliver and maintain climate-smart, critical infrastructure. The focus is to achieve transformation through technical support in two component areas: power and infrastructure finance.

Leader of the delegation Frank Edozie said the visit was to brief the new minister about the programme, the level of progress and to “know your priority sectors,” so that the programme managers can key into his agender.

Mr Bagudu asked for the provision of technical and financial support to develop 2023-2027 national integrated infrastructure master plan implementation plan.

He also urged UKNiAF to provide capacity and other form of assistance to states’ and FCT to develop the states’ integrated infrastructure master plan in line with their priorities and align it with the national objectives in other to ensure seamless effort in Infrastructure planning; and

“Support the Ministry to develop the National Infrastructure Register to keep track of national infrastructure stock,” he said.

The minister requested UKNiAF to assist in providing support to his ministry to host national and sub-national awareness and sensitisation workshops on the reviewed national integrated infrastructure master plan (2020-2043) as the FG-approved vehicle to deliver infrastructure projects in Nigeria.

“This is very important and urgent given the new political dispensation and to avoid duplication of effort;

“There is also a need for awareness creation by the minister at the Federal Executive Council and at the National Economic Council on the existence of NIIMP which is the vehicle for infrastructure project delivery in Nigeria,” the minister stated.

Bagudu said UKNiAF should assist in strengthening institutional capacity of the Ministry and other relevant MDAs to achieve that purpose.