By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has revealed that it is has received procurement orders from three African countries, Uganda, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire to produce and supply laboratory equipment for secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NASENI, Professor Mohammad Haruna, disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Friday shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said he is on a routine visit to the President to brief him about the agency’s activities and finances for the third quarter of 2022, pointing out that Friday’s briefing would have held on an earlier date but for the President’s tight schedule.
Giving an insight of the revenue-generating efforts for the 2023 fiscal year, Haruna revealed that NASENI has been implementing various local and international contracts to manufacture and supply laboratory equipment.
He also noted that the Agency received N44.56bn from the federal coffers. This is 20 per cent less than the N56bn earlier appropriated for the 2022 fiscal year.
“Between July and September 2022, NASENI received N35.61bn as first line charges. N28.77bn of that amount has been spent, leaving a balance of N6.84bn”, said the Executive Vice Chairman.
Haruna also explained that the funds went for the acquisition and domestication of technologies for the laboratory equipment for secondary and tertiary institution from Delorenzo, Italy. This includes training and local production of equipment.
According to him, the infrastructure agency utilised part of the appropriated funds for aircraft development and some defense related equipment.
“Part of our collaboration with the defense sector and development of three out of the 12 new Institutes that the federal government has approved and the development of three out of 24 skill development centers that Mr. president has approved.
“And of course, completion and equipping NASENI technology complex that Mr. President has commissioned recently. And production of food processing equipment and provision of laboratory equipment, and of course, upgrading NASENI institutes across the nation. These are the major areas,” he continued.
Said he: “The Federal Government will complete payment of the 15 per cent counterpart funding of the China Great Wall Corporation by Q2 2023”, Prof. Haruna disclosed.
Fielding questions to reporters,
the NASENI boss revealed that three out of 24 skill development centres will be commissioned by March 2023.
“The ones that are near completion are the Agricultural Equipment and Machinery Development Institute in Mbutu, Aboh-Mbaise near Owerri in Imo state. This has been delayed by some security challenges.
“However, through the intervention of the state governor, work is taking place at the site 24 hours. God willing, in March, after the elections, the President will commission that.
“So also, the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute in Lafia Nasarawa state. Work has reached advanced stage.
“That one also will be due for commissioning. There is skill developments centre in Gwantu, Kaduna state. That one will be ready for commissioning in March too”.
