By ABAH SUNDAY, Abuja
Arrangements have reached advanced stage for the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to secure a €25 million grant With investors from Netherlands for the construction of priority bridges in the country.
According to a statement issued at the weekend by Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations to the Minister of Works, Sen. Nweze David Umahi, the Minister had “finalised discussions with investors from Netherland to attract a grant of 25 million Euros for the construction of priority bridges in Nigeria”.
This disclosure, according to the statement, was made after a meeting of the Minister with a team of the investors led by the Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Oluremi Oliyide.
Umahi assured the team of the positive disposition of the federal government towards accessing international interventions from donor agencies and other development partners to address the infrastructural deficits inhibiting economic development in Nigeria.
He said that an increase in partnerships and collaborations was necessary to support the funding of the critical sector of the economy for the promotion of robust and equitable economic growth.
He assured the investors that once due diligence was carried out, he would present the proposal to Mr President for approval.
“We have a number of projects that we can do together. But I think the best thing to do is to conclude this one, which is a grant, then get the process started, and at the point of agreement and project selection, we shal refer to Mr President for his approval,” the Minister said.
In his remarks earlier, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherland said the team was in his (the Minister’s) office to discuss the offer of a grant of 25 million Euros by Janson Bridging International for investment in road infrastructure in Nigeria.
According to him, “Janson Bridging is the largest modular bridge manufacturing and bridging company in continental Europe and the largest bridge rental company in the world.
He promised to assist in fast-tracking the agreement implementation process on the side of the company as soon as all formalisations were concluded.
On his own part, a member of the team and International Business Consultant, Eric Okunde, said the investors were ready with the proposal and that they were technically prepared to work with the Federal Ministry of Works in the mapping and design of the projects as well as the formulation of the template for the execution of the project.