The federal government on Saturday said that the implementation of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan would create approximately 33 million jobs for Nigerians across the country.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, disclosed this during the 12th convocation ceremony of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.
The minister said that the 30-year NIIMP, which formed part of the transformation agenda initiated by the Jonathan administration, was a N485 trillion road map which would facilitate the provision of infrastructure in power, oil and gas, transportation, housing, water, agriculture, social infrastructure, information and communication technology and the federal capital territory.
“Nigeria as an emerging country is the next destination for investors.
“Our demographics, the re-basing of our economy, our GDP growth rate, which is between six and seven per cent over the last five years and one of the highest in the world, expected to continue positively in the years to come, and the huge untapped resources of our nation all point to a giant on the march.”
He said that over 10 districts in the federal capital territory were being developed with private funds while secondary investment in land swap districts are expected to rise to the tune of over N3 trillion and 250,000 new jobs would be created in the next five years.
He said that the private sector-led projects include the $2.7 billion Abuja Town Centre, the $18 billion Centenary City project and $1.2 billion World Trade Centre, among others.
While assuring the graduands of government’s commitment to integrate them in Nigeria’s quest to utilise its untapped resources, he, however, stressed the need for universities to build viable human capacities.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, explained that out of a total of 773 graduands, 549 received first degrees, 18 received masters degrees while 18 bagged doctorate degrees.
via nigerianeye
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