Former Governor of Anambra State and running mate to Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi, flew into the eye of the storm some days ago, when he said on the breakfast show of a television station that the Nigerian economy couldn’t be driven on infrastructure development.

Mr Obi, my friend of many years, and member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) simply carried opposition politics too far, and got himself into a jumble. What did he spend eight years doing as Governor of Anambra State? Building and developing infrastructure to boost the economy of the state. If not infrastructure, then what? Why then did he say this? “You can’t use infrastructure to drive economic growth. You invest in education and the SME (Small, Medium Enterprises) sector instead to deal with poverty.”

I think the successful businessman and former Governor got completely flummoxed, perplexed, bewildered and bemused, all in the process of trying to run down the Muhammadu Buhari administration, which has been doing great things in infrastructural development in the past six years.

Obi said the thing was to invest in education and the SME. By Jove, where would education or SME be, without infrastructure? And by the way, what is infrastructure? The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities like buildings, roads, power supply, bridges, airports, and others, needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. How does education function without all these? And how do SMEs succeed without them? Our dear friend, Peter Obi got trapped in a labyrinth, became confused and confounded, all in the name of opposition politics.

President Buhari had always lamented the decay and collapse of infrastructure this administration inherited in 2015. No roads, no rail, no power (where is the power?), rickety airports, no bridges, nothing. And he said there couldn’t be development without infrastructure. So he set his sights on reversing the trend. Today, only cynics, skeptics and naysayers would deny the strides made in infrastructure: roads, bridges, rail, airports, pipelines, and many others. By 2022, when most of the massive infrastructural projects are commissioned, even the blind would see it, and the deaf would hear.

While Peter Obi tries in vain to run down infrastructure (we forgive him; he got confused by petty politics), the American government under President Joe Biden has enunciated what it calls The American Jobs Plan. And what is it anchored upon? Fix highways, rebuild bridges, upgrade ports, airports, and transit systems. In fact, Kamala Harris, the American Vice President says; “Infrastructure is the foundation of a good economy. And when we invest in infrastructure, we create good jobs. That’s exactly what the American Jobs Plan will do.”

Heck! I say heck again! What then was our Peter talking about? The Okute missed it, and missed it big time. That is what unbridled and virulent opposition does to an otherwise good man.

Let’s look at the shape of things to come, particularly in 2022 and 2023 in terms of infrastructure development in our country.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway had been under one form of rehabilitation or the other in the 16 years of the PDP. No rhythm, no rhyme. No progress. Just the macabre dance of one step forward, and two steps backwards. Now, the estimated completion date of that road is July 2022, and it is being jointly handled by Julius Berger and Reynolds Construction Company. The multi-billion naira project is being heavily financed by the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF). It takes a government committed to the welfare of the people to undertake such. If it was merely interested in stealing, it would simply pocket the funds, as many past administrations had done.

The Second Niger Bridge. Built by PDP with mouth for 16 years. The Buhari administration has pumped in N133.7 billion so far, out of the N206.2 billion contract sum. The bridge is about 70% per cent completed, and estimated commissioning time is last quarter of 2022.

The Abuja-Kano road. Original contract sum was N155.72 billion, out of which N111.1 billion has been disbursed. Work is going on at frenetic pace, and the original 92.5km of the dual carriage way was almost ready, before the scope of the project was changed to total reconstruction of 375km. Estimated time of completion is 2025, and commissioning will be done by the successor to the Buhari administration. A good government transcends its time.

What of the Bodo-Bonny road, in Rivers State? Built under special contractual arrangement with the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Project (NLNG), the 39km project over muddy and swampy soil conditions, cross culverts and 17 large and mini bridges, is due for completion next year. And the people of Bonny will for the first time ever commute on road to the mainland, and not over water. Give me more infrastructure, please.

What of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project? Massive. Colossal. Mammoth. And estimated completion date is 2023. Yet, those who institutionalized corruption in this country, and those who perpetuated it for 16 years, are trying to tell us stories about the current level of graft. They should tell it to the marines. Corruption is being robustly fought, and we see remarkable things being done. What did they do in their time, despite huge earnings from oil? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. They only ran the country into a hole.

Monumental rail projects have been awarded, to run round the country. Some are up and running already. Roads neglected for upward of four decades are being rebuilt. Airports have been commissioned. Infrastructure everywhere. And somebody says it should rather be education and SMEs. I hear. Where would those end up without infrastructure?

I remember a meeting we held early last year, at the outset of COVID-19, when it had become apparent that the economy would be shut down, and the country would suffer immensely. President Buhari had told Mrs Zaynab Usman, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning: “No matter what happens, ensure that salaries of government workers do not fail. Pensions must be paid. And funding of infrastructure projects must not stop.”

Now, we are at the threshold of reaping the benefits. Yet, some people want to downplay infrastructure, and play up insecurity, all in an attempt to vitiate the achievements of the Buhari administration. Will they succeed? Never! Insecurity will end, and soon too, and infrastructure will hugely decorate the landscape.

I am glad Buhari came our way when he did, otherwise, what would we be talking about today? Hard to contemplate.

*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

This people still dey campaign after election..

This "surrender your land or you die" crooner should shut up. How much has the Junta borrowed to compare with what is on ground. Buhari's inglorious regime has borrowed more than what all the past administrations combined has borrowed yet with a meager substandard projects to show for it. Nigeria is now a debtor country under the lifeless. We never had it this bad

Borrowing unsustainable loans will never ever drive this nation forward, invest in education and SMEs is the way forward...


Stopping using biden infrastructural policy, US is already an educated nation.. Compare ourselves with China , Bangladesh, India and Indonesia, these countries are seriously funding their SMEs and intellectual base..

Once the investment in SME matures with intelligent human resources, money will flow and infrastructure will naturally come..

All great infrastructures in China today was not from loans....

Instead of calling Peter Obi to help you in building the nation, you're turning it into politics..

The same goes for the broke ass Nigerians in this forum supporting a useless set of leaders, put hate aside and learn from men like Peter obi, you will certainly make it in life.

To bring his macro economic view down to micro economics, you can't borrow unrealistic loans to build houses or buy cars instead focus the investment on your little hustle and education, trust me if it means educating yourself in IT, health or even going abroad to study a good course ,you will certainly reap from it..

This man is a full blown retard.

The truth is Nigeria is a complex mix
..yorubas won't get obi because they are naturally social capitalist like the Norway , Denmark and their brothers

Obi is talking from a capitalist point of view like Germans , Japanese

Infrastructure are good , but are only feel good projects

Lagos ibadan rail can't break even in 100 years ..I'm not saying make profit ...yet u spent $1.5b ok it ...that's 750 billion ...what does that add to our GDP every year nothing

Imagine u take same 750 billion ...call the 10 biggest glass importers ...what would it take to move to manufacturing here ....how much do u want ....work with banks the form partnership establishing 3 glass factory ...that would cost not more than $600m ...u give them $400 million ask them to fund the other $200 million as loan without interest and payment break of 5 years from when they start operations ... payment in the next 10 years

Each factory would employ over 3000 people direct that's 9000 direct over 15000 I direct job

Nigeria glass import is around $1.5 billion a year ...with another $2 billion in west Africa and central African market ,

This would grow our GDP by 3.5 billion dollars minimum , generate a tax of over 50 million dollars per year

Now u still have $1.1 billion

U can do the same for ceramics plates and bathroom equipments ...that's would be less 200 million dollars as loan to the importers can set up 5 factories

U are left with $800 million

Garment factories in aba can cloth Nigeria with $400 million invest ...link the leather producers in kano the shoe markers in aba

Make it easy to transport with police harassment

We can commercialize the rice species we have developed ...$100 million to rice importers can do the magic

$1.5 billion if invested well can generate 5 to 10 billion GDP growth per year

Zetra7:
Borrowing unsustainable loans will never ever drive this nation forward, invest in education and SMEs is the way forward...


Stopping using biden infrastructural policy, US is already an educated nation.. Compare ourselves with China , Bangladesh, India and Indonesia, these countries are seriously funding their SMEs and intellectual base..

Once the investment in SME matures with intelligent human resources, money will flow and infrastructure will naturally come..

All great infrastructures in China today was not from loans....

Instead of calling Peter Obi to help you in building the nation, you're turning it into politics..

The same goes for the broke ass Nigerians in this forum supporting a useless set of leaders, put hate aside and learn from men like Peter obi, you will certainly make it in life.

To bring his macro economic view down to micro economics, you can't borrow unrealistic loans to build houses or buy cars instead focus the investment on your little hustle and education, trust me if it means educating yourself in IT, health or even going abroad to study a good course ,you will certainly reap from it..

For once I agree with Femi.
Without infrastructure no nation can move forward.
All this Health, Power, IT its also infrastructure you'll use to
The machines and equipments are also infrastructures

About the loans, you can actually use loan to build an economy provided it has a reasonable return.

That's why people take loan to fund a project you can't have the capitals
In fact a reasonable business man won't use his capital and personal Money to fund a long term business, instead he obtains a loan.

He is 100 right. With the infrastructure in Northern Nigeria what did it produce? Terrorism, crippling the nations economy.

Why? Because the north did not invest in the people.


If the US government did not give grants to the likes of Bill gates during their startup, would Microsoft be generating such revenue for US today? Same goes with steve jobs, mark Zuckerberg, etc.

These individuals are worth more than Nigerias GDP, and national assets.


They ar3 generating more money in US than any infrastructure.

Have all the wonderful infrastructure and having people begging and rubbing on them is not wise.


Dont forget that in developed countries private sector even build and maintain infrastructure.

So who says government cant fund a small startup construction company ?

While startups grow to become world brands in developed countries, only government contractors and politicians become great in Nigeria.

Thats why our billionaires dont write books to inspire the youths. Because somewhere is the hiden corrupt hands of government in thier rise .

You must invest in education and SME. China generates so much from Export by SME's. Government then builds infrastructure from tax generated from the companies.

I thought Femi is a journalist, Now I know where Buhari gets those bad advices. He was the one that advised Buhari to allow herdsmen to continue their rampages until the Southern Nigeria surrenders.

Femi Ade, Mr "Surrender your Land or get killed"

Mediocre government

Lies.

I create professional ANIMATIONS to advertise your business. Check out my profile for contact details

Talk less and listen more







Guys wey no get girlfriend get peace of mind

Good

Infrastructure that make $1 to be ₦500+
Infrastructure that make food prices to get skyrocketed.

Enabling environment is paramount to Economic development.

Femi Femiooo. You're tenure will soon be over... you'll soon be in lagos...

K

water

PDP and wailers are now in comatose
Insecurity is no longer selling for them

mrvitalis:
The truth is Nigeria is a complex mix
..yorubas won't get obi because they are naturally social capitalist like the Norway , Denmark and their brothers

Obi is talking from a capitalist point of view like Germans , Japanese

Infrastructure are good , but are only feel good projects

Lagos ibadan rail can't break even in 100 years ..I'm not saying make profit ...yet u spent $1.5b ok it ...that's 750 billion ...what does that add to our GDP every year nothing

Imagine u take same 750 billion ...call the 10 biggest glass importers ...what would it take to move to manufacturing here ....how much do u want ....work with banks the form partnership establishing 3 glass factory ...that would cost not more than $600m ...u give them $400 million ask them to fund the other $200 million as loan without interest and payment break of 5 years from when they start operations ... payment in the next 10 years

Each factory would employ over 3000 people direct that's 9000 direct over 15000 I direct job

Nigeria glass import is around $1.5 billion a year ...with another $2 billion in west Africa and central African market ,

This would grow our GDP by 3.5 billion dollars minimum , generate a tax of over 50 million dollars per year

Now u still have $1.1 billion

U can do the same for ceramics plates and bathroom equipments ...that's would be less 200 million dollars as loan to the importers can set up 5 factories

U are left with $800 million

Garment factories in aba can cloth Nigeria with $400 million invest ...link the leather producers in kano the shoe markers in aba

Make it easy to transport with police harassment

We can commercialize the rice species we have developed ...$100 million to rice importers can do the magic

$1.5 billion if invested well can generate 5 to 10 billion GDP growth per year

Well thought out analysis from a good business point of view. The government of the day are not business men, they are common criminals with only the mindset to steal!

Who him dey ask?go ask buhari

Come 2023 they'll all look back and see they ended up achieving absolutely nothing.

presidency:
Former Governor of Anambra State and running mate to Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi, flew into the eye of the storm some days ago, when he said on the breakfast show of a television station that the Nigerian economy couldn’t be driven on infrastructure development.


*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

How has your infrastructure benefited the lives of the common man?

I swear Boda Femi madness is just waxing stronger on daily basis






SMH




Boda Femi is never an omoluabi with this fvucking statement