By Dele Ogbodo
President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his administration’s commitment to massive infrastructural development,
assuring that the Executive Order No 5 will ensure that Nigerians benefit from the various completed and on-going investments in infrastructure across the country.
The President, who was represented by the Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babtunde Fashola SAN, stated this at the 60th Anniversary Colloquium of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) with the theme: “Re- Engineering the Engineers for Optimum National Economic Growth and Development”, held in Abuja.
According to the Deputy Director of Information, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed in a statement on behalf of the minister disclosed that the policy of infrastructural development embarked upon by the Buhari administration will bring about a total diversification of the economy away from oil dependence and open new opportunities for prosperity to Nigerians.
He further explained that the Executive Order No 5 on local content is a step towards ensuring that, in the short term, the economic benefits of these investments in infrastructure are maximized for the benefits of Nigerians.
Fashola noted that massive projects like the Kano-Maiduguri dualisation, the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, the East – West road, Lagos- Ibadan expressway, the Benin- Okene- Lokoja dualisation, the 2nd Niger Bridge, the Bodo- Bonny highway, and the Mambilla Hydro Power will form the foundation for building the country’s prosperity.
He said: “These projects and many others like our rail projects from Lagos – Kano, Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and Air and Sea Ports at various stages of completion will form the foundation for building our household of prosperity.”
The Minister revealed that a snap audit of 77 works construction sites and 50 housing sites was conducted to ascertain the number of foreigners employed on those sites which showed that more Nigerians are employed on these sites.
In a remark, the President of NSE, Engr. Adekunle Olumuyiwa Mokuolu, said the body has become “a veritable platform for true professional development of Engineers and the vehicle for driving the technological advancement of our country”.
Presentations of ‘diamond jubilee awards’, an appreciation award, were presented by the Minister, on behalf of the NSE, to some past presidents of the Society for their commitment to the upliftment of the body.