President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday inaugurated the Governing Board of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), with a charge to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure fruitful partnership with the private sector to address infrastructural deficit.
Vice President Namadi Sambo who conducted the ceremony on behalf of the President at the State House, Abuja, also inaugurated the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to support Nigerian businesses by producing made in Nigeria aircraft components, heavy duty trucks, tanks and tropicalised electric cars.
The President said “as a nation, we must in every respect, manifest our capability for the practical transformation of our country, through mutually beneficial partnerships. MDAs must now show a greater commitment to creative productive and fruitful partnerships with the private sector.”
He tasked the board under the chairmanship of former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani to build on the achievements of the pioneer board, headed by former head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.
President Jonathan further urged them to accelerate on the delivery of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, particularly the 19 recently identified by the Commission, which included the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, the development of deep sea ports and concession of the railway lines, stressing the need to “achieve seamless financial closure as soon as possible”, adding that “That is what the people expect and this is what the Government must deliver.”
In his remarks the Chairman of the Board, Senator Ken Namadi observed that the relevance of the Commission to addressing the infrastructural deficit in the country could not be over emphasised, the pledged on behalf of other members of the board that they would not let the country down.
The reconstituted board of ICRC has Ken Nnamani as the Chairman while, other members are: Anyin Pius Anyim, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Confort Saro Wiwa, (South-South), Janet Fabisola Adeyemi (South-West), Yabawa Wabi (North-East), Musa Elayo (North-Central), A.U. Kanu (South-East) and Aminu Dikko, DG ICRC (North-West).
On NASENI he said, “We are inaugurating this Board today with great hope and expectation that the agency will facilitate and support Nigerian businesses so that they can deliver new ideas and technologies to our waiting market.”
“In pursuit of this objective and in line with our transformation agenda, I expect that within the next few years, NASENI as an agency of technological advancement, will achieve the following: Made in Nigeria aircraft components in collaboration with the private sector; Manufacture heavy duty trucks, tanks and tropicalised electric cars; and the production of multi-purpose electric motors and generators, all here in our country,” he stated.
Members of the Governing Board, which is chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, include the Ministers of Science and Technology, National Planning, Minister Of Works, Agriculture and Health, while the Director General of NASENI Dr. Muhammad S Haruna, serves as the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency.
Others members are Sanusi Lamido Sanusi the CBN Governor; Prof Oyewale Tomori, President, Nigeria Academy Of Science and Eng. Mustapha Shehu, President Nigerian Society Of Engineers. Prof Placid Njoku, Femi Okurounmu, K.A. Ali President, COREN; Kola Jamodu, President Manufacturers Association Of Nigeria and Michael Adesina, National Vice President NACCIMA are to serve as members of the Board.
Other members of the Board are the National President, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Chuku Wachuku. Established in 1992, NASENI has the primary task of closing the missing link in the nation economic and technological development.
