President Muhammadu Buhari said his administration grew Nigeria’s stock of infrastructure from 20 to over 40 per cent during his eight-year tenure.
Spokesman for the president, Mr. Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as making the remark during the virtual commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge, the Ikom Bridge, the Loko-Oweto Bridge, and other projects, yesterday.
The president who described his achievement in the provision of infrastructure as “no small undertaking” stressed that his administration focused on infrastructure “as a tool to fight poverty, to create economic growth and employment, and to open the path of prosperity for our people”.
“As we look at the debt profile, I urge us to also look at the assets and investment profiles, some of which were paid for by debt and some by investment income.
“In eight years, I am proud to say that we have doubled Nigeria’s stock of infrastructure to GDP from about 20 percent to over 40 percent, and that is no small undertaking.
“The projects that we hand over today, apart from others, such as rail, sea and airports, gas pipeline projects, that have been previously completed, symbolise our country’s sharp focus on delivering prosperity.
Highlighting the significance of the projects, which he described as frontal efforts to address multi-dimensional poverty as well as improve business efficiency and service delivery time, Buhari said: “The Ikom Bridge is meant to boost trade in and around the Calabar port and free zone and facilitate transport connectivity from the south-south, through the north-central to the north-east. This is a bridge across the Cross River itself
“The Second Niger Bridge, which has been long in the making, and is certainly now a reality, is a bridge of choice across the River Niger to bring relief to those crossing from the south-east to the south-west.
“The Loko-Oweto Bridge, across the River Benue, will provide shorter connectivity for those traversing from Benue to Nasarawa and the federal capital territory (FCT). It cuts off travel through Lafia and provides connectivity to Keffi and Abuja.”
The president also commissioned 200 kilometres out of the 365- kilometre Abuja-Kano highway.
He said the road, Second Niger Bridge, and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were all funded partly from dividend income earned from investment in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), repatriated funds from overseas, and recoveries from proceeds of crime successfully prosecuted at home.
“This is an example of the change that we promised; to invest dividend income in visible assets that last for generations and to put proceeds of crime to public and enduring use for the country.
“Our anti-corruption approach does not end in courts. Stolen and recovered assets are utilised for the common good.”
Buhari also inaugurated three federal secretariats in Anambra, Bayelsa, and Zamfara states saying they would the cost of governance by bringing federal civil servants under one roof for efficient service delivery thereby reducing expenditure on rent for office spaces.
He named the secretariats after distinguished Nigerians as follows: Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Federal Secretariat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State; Ebele Okeke Federal Secretariat in Awka, Anambra State; and Malam Yahaya Gusau Federal Secretariat in Gusau, Zamfara State.
