FG Rolls Out 30-Year National Integrated Infrastructure Blueprint

Federal Government said it has mapped out a 30-year National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) for the country, in  realisation of the enormous need for infrastructure improvement in all the sectors of the economy, the

Paramount issues to be addressed through the master plan include broadband availability and penetration, power generation and distribution, among others.

Dr. Shamsudden Usman, minister, National Planning, made the remark at Nigeria Internet Group Annual Conference and Exhibition which commenced in Lagos on Thursday, noting that the plan will be implemented over a period of thirty years from 2014 – 2043. 

“The NIIMP adopts a coordinated approach to its development and will among others, address lack of linkages in the infrastructure sector,” he said.

According to the minister who was represented by Jimmy Adeyemi-Offor, assistant director, ICT (NPC), NIIMP is in line with global trends in infrastructure development. He said, “Various countries including Malaysia, India, Singapore and China have adopted NIIMP. 

Apart from generally supporting the growth of the national economy, the adoption of NIIMP in those countries has been accompanied by a remarkable private sector inflow of investment for infrastructure development.

“The NIIMP also enhances competitiveness of the countries, and as part of expected benefits, a prioritized projects and programmes whose implementation will address the current deficit in infrastructure in the country would emerge from the plan, hence, Broadband will definitely feature prominently in the plan.

Usman disclosed that the Commission in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has developed a Framework for the NIIMP and currently consulting with the key stakeholders in the infrastructure sector with a view to harvesting ideas to enrich the framework.

“Working groups on various thematic areas of infrastructure including ICT was inaugurated by Namadi Sambo, vice president, on January 31, and has since commenced activities. The preparation of the NIIMP is to be finalized by July.

Highlighting how the strategy will help develop broadband development in the country, he said, “it has been a focus of attention for quite a while and the Government having realised the relevance of broadband in Nigeria economic development deemed it fit to inaugurate the National Broadband Committee to develop a National Broadband Strategy and Roadmap by Mr. President to bring expanded broadband initiatives to one national initiative.

“The committee is making considerable progress in fashioning out a roadmap for broadband. Therefore, this is an opportune theme for deliberation. It is hoped that the resolutions at this conference will be very instructive for the committee as well. NIG is well advised to transmit such to the Committee for consideration.

Research shows “that broadband is a key element to the economic development to creating positive social, micro-economic and macro-economic impacts. The social impact makes possible an improvement in social links, creation of social capital and empowerment. The micro-economic impacts include improved market information flow, increase in business productivity and job creation. At the macro-economic level, it can boost GDP.”

It has been established that the number of submarine cables landing on the shores of the country carries a huge capacity of broadband but “we cannot fully optimize the benefits of such Internet availability because the country lacks the requisite infrastructure with which to transport the Broadband Internet from the shore to the hinterland for the end-users.”

He said, all hands are on deck in government endeavor to improve infrastructure of which Telecommunication is key.