FG Spent N1.3 trn on Capital Projects in 2016 – Osinbajo

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, has said that the federal government spent N1.3 billion on capital projects in 2016.

Osinbajo, who spoke yesterday in Benin during the foundation laying ceremony of the N200 billion Benin Industrial Park located at Iyanomo, said despite the 60 per cent drop in revenue earnings, the federal government was able to achieve a lot.

He stressed that the industrial park, when completed would produce a network of 600,000 industrial outputs as well as provide jobs for 170,000 direct and indirect workers.

The vice president said the project is in line with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the industrial park and other parks that would be established would bridge the infrastructure deficit in the country.

“We have unveiled our economic recovery and growth plan. We clearly spelt out the adoption of industrial park and special economic zone as policy tool to generate growth and diversify the Nigerian economy. The industrial park would help us bridge the infrastructural gap, develop targeted sector and can be used as testing ground for broader economic reform initiative,” he said.

Osibanjo noted that Nigeria’s growth and prosperity would be driven by the private sector, with the government devoting its resources and political will to enabling and amplifying the potentials of private capital and removing the obstacles that continually test the resolve of the private sector.

On his part, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki said the project was in line with his campaign promise of creating 200,000 jobs. He said the industrial park designed by Mehindra Engineering would be run under the Public Private Partnership and that the state government’s share in it will not be more than 26 per cent.