Ekwueme wants Buhari’s govt to develop infrastructure master plan

Alex Ekwueme, a former vice president, has advised president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari and his government to develop a comprehensive infrastructure master plan and execute it meticulously in line with the urgent infrastructure needs of the country.

he former vice president said the incoming administration should not create further crisis by approaching infrastructure development haphazardly.

Ekwueme, who is one of the frontline architects in the country, spoke on Thursday in Abuja as guest speaker at the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA)/Lafarge Africa Plc 1st Distinguished Lecture Series 2015.

He warned against the danger of trying to embark on development of all spheres of national infrastructure at the same time without definite plan, saying this has largely been responsible for failure of successive governments in achieving concrete infrastructure development in the country.
He said: “My advice is that the incoming government should develop a comprehensive master plan on infrastructure development. It could be five years or 10 years development master plan based on the budget constraints.

“There is also the need to have a yearly plan on implementation. But when you try to build roads, railways, waterways, and so on at the same time without definite plan, then you have issues DAYof abandoned projects and failure to achieve desired development needs of the people.” Also speaking, Guillaume Toux, group managing director of Lafarge Africa Plc, said that the company was partnering with the Federal Government to find lasting solutions to over 17 million housing deficit in the country, adding that Lafarge Africa has partnered the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to construct mass affordable housing in Abuja.

The group managing director, who was represented by Michael Abhulimen, country marketing director, said, “As you are all probably aware, Nigeria estimates a housing deficit of 17 million and at Lafarge, we believe we can contribute to reducing this number.”