TALKING POINTS OF THE HON. MINISTER OF INFORMATION, MR.
LABARAN MAKU, AT A WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON
TUESDAY 31ST DECEMBER, 2013, AT THE NATIONAL PRESS
CENTRE, RADIO HOUSE, ABUJA
INTRODUCTION:
 As part of the ongoing monthly World Press Conference Series
introduced by the Federal Ministry of Information, today we will
look at the key achievements of the Federal Government in 2013
in this special edition of the World Press Conference.
FINANCE
*
Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is one of the fastest
growing in the world. GDP growth rate in 2013 put at 7.2% by
International Monetary Fund (IMF).
*
Stable Exchange rate- The dollar exchange has remained stable in
the last two years (between N155 and N160).
*
Inflation Rate is declining and has been in single digits all year.
Current inflation rate is 8% in September, down from 9.0%
recorded in January 2013.
*
Rising External Reserves- As at May 2013, Nigeria’s foreign
reserve was $48.4 billion up from $32.08 billion in May 2011.
*
Excess Crude Account (ECA) rose from $4 billion in 2011 to $9
billion at the end of 2012. The ECA is now helping the country to
cushion the effects of current low earnings from oil.
*
National Debt Burden is low- Nigeria’s debt to GDP is 21%
compared with the following countries; South Africa - 42.7%, USA
– 106%, UK – 90%, Japan – 225%.
*
Government has put in place the following financial management
systems to check leakages, improve efficiency and check
corruption.
(i) Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS).
1
(ii) Government Integrated Financial Management and Information
System (GIFMIS).
*
Nigeria’s credit rating has improved. Ratings by international rating
agencies like Fitch, Standard and Poors, and Moody’s have
improved BB- or equivalent.
According to Fitch, Nigeria economic outlook is stable, with very
strong macro-economic index as the Gross Domestic Product,
GDP, growth rate has remained in the region of 6 and 7 per cent,
and single digit inflation rate.
This improved rating is now attracting foreign direct investment
(FDI) to Nigeria.
*
According to international rating agencies, the non-oil economy
has slowed but still grew by 7.9 per cent in 2012 and 7.6 per cent
in the first half of 2013.
*
The Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin)
programme has created over 12,000 new entrepreneurs and over
50,000 jobs. On 25th November, 2013, the 3rd phase of the
YouWin Programme was launched by the President, Dr. Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan. This third phase is expected to empower over
2000 young entrepreneurs.
*
A successful Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS). The scheme has
so far placed over 2,000 unemployed graduates in private sector
organisations where they can receive mentoring and acquire work
experience. The plan is to place 50,000 graduates in establishments
every year till 2015.
*
Mortgage Refinancing Scheme
The Federal Ministry of Finance recently introduced mortgage
refinancing into the housing sector. This new scheme which is
aimed at addressing the over 16 million housing deficit in Nigeria,
will attract foreign capital into the housing industry. With the
mortgage refinancing scheme, primary mortgage institutions and
estate developers will be assured of access to funds for housing
development.
2
*
Development of the Film Industry and Creative Arts
The Federal Ministry of Finance has launched an initiative aimed
at providing funds for the development of the film industry and the
creative arts in general. The funds would be available for
procurement of equipment for film producers to improve the quality
of their productions and also for human resource development in
the sector.
Already, a component of the project called “Film Production Fund
(FPF) has been advertised for film producers to apply for grants of
up to N10 million with which to improve the quality of their
productions and also improve their professionalism.
• Capital Market: The Capital Market has now rebounded;
Stock market index has risen by 71% since May 2012; Stock
market capitalization (value of listed companies) has
increase by 66.2% since May 2012 to ₦11.8 trillion.
• Eight out of the fourteen broad sectors surpassed their
growth targets in the Transformation Agenda.
•
Solid minerals
•
Financial Institution & Insurance
•
Building & Construction
•
Transport
•
Education
•
Roads, Estate
•
Public Administration
•
Other Services
•
Growth driven largely by the non-oil sector of the economy
•
Agriculture - 27.64%
•
Wholesale and retail trade – 28.4%
•
Telecommunications - 24.38%
3
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
 The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
commenced an Investment Climate Reform Programme, which
has helped to attract over N6.8 trillion Foreign and Local Direct
Investment commitments to date.
 Strengthened the One-Stop Investment Centre in the Nigerian
Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) to achieve efficient
coordination of investment facilitation between all relevant
government agencies and achieve 48-hour response target for all
enquiries.
 Achieved a 24-hour timeline for registering of new businesses. A
total of 6, 838 companies were registered within the second
quarter of 2012.

Inaugurated the Investor Care Committee; the Doing Business
and Competitiveness Committee; and established the
Competitiveness Council.
 Transforming the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone: $6 billion invested
– 150 companies now operating and 30,000 jobs created to date.
 $4.4 billion invested in other Free Trade Zones under Nigerian
Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), including Calabar –
nearly half a million jobs created to date.
 Completed the review of the trade regime and produced a draft of
Nigeria’s Trade Policy for the first time in 10 years.
 Kicked off a National Industrial Revolution Plan to reposition
Nigeria’s industries as the bedrock of sustainable economic growth
and development. This is based on areas where Nigeria has
comparative and competitive advantage. The plan links industries
to innovation and skills development.

Implementing a National Industrial Skills Development
Programme, targeting 500,000 youths annually from 2013.
4
 Rigorously implementing the Backward Integration Policy in the
cement industry. This has resulted in a total combined installed
capacity of over 28 million metric tonnes per annum currently (as
against local demand of 20 million metric tonnes) and has
produced the largest cement plant in the world today. The cement
success story is being replicated in the automobile, textile and
garment, palm oil as well as sugar sub-sectors.
 Commenced the transformation of the Abuja Securities and
Commodity Exchange into a first-class Commodity Exchange.
 Completed the development of the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan
(NSMP), which provides the roadmap for 100% local production of
sugar. (Today, Nigeria produces only 2% of the sugar it
consumes).
 Created special windows of financing Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) in collaboration with SME desks of commercial
banks. Today, small scale industrialists can access funding, under
special conditions, at single digit interest rate and there are special
funding schemes for women, mechanics, etc.

Repositioned the Weights and Measures Department of the
ministry to entrench fair-trading, both domestically and
internationally, and give consumers value for their spending.
 Reduced volume of sub-standard goods from 85% to 60%.
Targeting is 30% by year-end. Volume of substandard electric
bulbs reduced from 80% to 50%; reinforced steel bars (45% to
30%); and tyres (60% to 50%).

Developing a robust Item-Level Tagging to enable easy tracking
and identification of fake products.
 Create enabling environment for existing business to expand their
operation such as Dangote cement with expansion of line in
Obajana and new cement plant in Ibeche , Ogun state. Lafarge
Wamco expanded its cement plant.
Ground breaking ceremony
by P&G for expansion of its industry in Ota last year was
performed.
5
 Stallion Group investment in Volkswagen of Nigeria (VWON) plant
led to successful resuscitation of VON buses, Innoson group
manufacturing of made in Nigeria cars was facilitated through
Bank of Industry (BOI) loan, Made in Nigeria Armoured Vehicles
by Proforce Nigeria Limited, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State benefitted from
BOI loan for expansion, and inauguration of WEMCO Steel Mill
state-of-the-art 5-stand Tandem Cold Rolled Steel Plant in Ibafo,
Ogun state.
 Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Limited EPL” and “Indorama” are
embarking on mega sized Fertilizer project through Project
Company, “Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemicals Limited
(“IEFCL”), comprising of 1.4 M MTPA Nitrogenous Fertilizer, Gas
Pipeline and Jetty Projects, targeted to be completed in the year
2015.

Increase in capacity utilization of textile sector to 50% from
29.14%. Saved 8,070 jobs and created 5,000 additional jobs. This
was achieved through Bank of Industry facility.
 Investment of $1 billion over the period of 5 years by General
Electric (GE) Company of the United States for establishment of
a new manufacturing and assembly facility in Calabar, the Cross
River State capital.
 Ensured 18 hours uninterrupted power supply to 10 industrial cities
across the country.
 Federal Government policy on Automotive Industry.
has started yielding result with the commitment of NISSAN Motor
to partner with local auto manufacturer Volkswagen of Nigeria
(VWON) to roll out affordable cars in April 2014 and other major
car manufacturers will soon come on board.
6
AGRICULTURE
 Agricultural Transformation Agenda has added 9 million metric
tonnes of food in first year including Rainy Season and Dry
Season activity: 80% above 5 Million metric tonnes food target in
2012 and 45% of its total target of 20 Million metric tonnes for
2015.
 ATA stimulated 2.7 Million jobs in Rainy Season and Dry Season
of 2012 across the value chain: 77% of the 2015 target and
projected an additional 1.2 Million Jobs.
 ATA injected 591 Billion Naira into the economy due to its activity
In five Value Chains, Cassava, Rice (Dry Season and Rainy
Season), Sorghum, Maize and Cotton.
 ATA increased Nigerian Farmers’ Net Income by 174 Billion Naira
due to its activity in five Value Chains, Cassava, Rice (Dry Season
and Rainy Season), Sorghum, Maize and Cotton
 The Federal Government plans investments in priority value chains
including: aquaculture, cassava, dairy, livestock, maize, mango,
orange, palm oil, pineapple, rice, rubber, sesame, tomato, wheat.
 Teragro Fruits Juice Factory in Benue State has invested N1billion
($6.2 million) in Processing of Fruit Juice Concentrates
 Dansa Foods invested $45 million in planting and processing of
fruits to juice concentrate in Cross Rivers State
7
 Dansa Foods invested $30 million in Tomato Farming and
Processing in Kano State
 Expansion of Notore’s Fertilizer Plant with a joint investment of
$1.3 Billion by Notore and Mitsubishi Corporation
 Dangote Group is investing $ 3.5 Billion to put up largest urea
plant in Africa.
 Indorama investing $1.2 billion in new fertilizer plant in Port
Harcourt.
 Network of silos with 500,000 MT capacity completed in past 12
months. Government will concession to private sector to manage
and operate.
 First ever database of farmers developed
 4.2 million farmers registered in 2012
 10 million farmers registered in 2013
 N15 billion ($100 million) of fertilizers sold directly to farmers via ewallet system.

N1.5 billion ($10 million) of seeds sold directly to farmers via ewallet system.
 Commercial banks lent N3.7 billion to seed companies and agrodealers.
8
 0% rate of default on GES Loans.
 Federal Government, states and farmers did cost-sharing
 GES system saved the Federal Government N25 billion ($156
million) in 2012.
The Agricultural Transformation Agenda strategy is strengthening 10
Priority Value Chains across the country.
North West: Cotton, Onion, Tomato, Sorghum.
North Central: Maize & Soybean
South West: Oil Palm & Cocoa
South South: Oil Palm & Cocoa
North East: Cotton Onion, Tomato, Sorghum
South East: Oil Palm & Cocoa
National: Rice, Cassava, Livestock and Fisheries are a priority across
the Nation
Cassava Value Chain
• Developed Cassava value chains for new value-add products (high
quality cassava flour, cassava chips, ethanol, starch, sweeteners)
• Expanded production of high quality cassava flour to substitute
imported wheat in the baking industry.
•
Cassava bread development fund established.
• Secured financing of over $200 million for 18 private sector-owned
large scale cassava flour processing plants with 1.3 million MT
capacity.
9
 Secured 3.2 million Metric Tonnes contract orders from China for
export of dried cassava chips for Ethanol production.
•
The Federal Government provided 30 million bundles of cassava
cuttings free of charge to farmers around the country:
- Released 3 pro-vitamin cassava varieties.
*
Rice Value Chain:
 Nigeria is the largest importer of rice in the world, spending
N356bn ($2bn) per year.

Federal Government raised tariff on imported brown rice and
finished rice.
Achievements


In the last year, we produced 690,000 MT in the main season
We did 1.1 million MT during the dry season, the first time in
Nigeria’s history.

13 New Rice Mills with a total capacity of 240,000 MT have been
set up by the private sector.

$1.2 billion financing from the China Exim Bank for private sectorowned100 large scale rice processing plants (3 million MT
capacity), with a capacity to substitute imports.

Dominion Farms invested $40 million in commercial rice
production on 30,000 hectares in Taraba State.
10
 ATA Dry Season Rice Transformation supported 268,000 farmers
on 264,000 hectares of land in ten Northern States.
 ATA Dry Season Rice Transformation added over 1 Million MT of
Rice to domestic production
 ATA Dry Season Rice Transformation injected N77 Billion Naira
into the economy of 10 Northern States of Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa,
Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi.
 ATA Dry Season Rice Transformation increased the incomes of
farmers by 32 Billion Naira in 10 Northern States.
 ATA Dry Season Rice Transformation created 460,000 Jobs in 10
Northern States.
Sorghum Transformation
Goal:
• Make Nigeria the largest processor of food sorghum in the
world.
• Unleashed new economic opportunities for sorghum farmers
across the north
Achievements
 New High Yielding Sorghum Hybrids have been released by
Nigerian Scientists.
11
 515 MT of new sorghum seeds distributed to 51,500 farmers,
and planted on 51,500 hectares.
 Two sorghum hybrids were released, with yield of 3.5-4 MT
per hectare compared to the normal yield of 0.5-0.8 MT per
hectare.
 1,000 MT of certified seeds produced to plant 100,000
hectares of sorghum in 2013 season.
 Nigeria plans to build the largest High Energy Foods Plant in Africa
using sorghum, maize and soybeans for fortified foods.
 The Federal Government developed strategic partnership with the
World Food Program and the private sector to purchase high
energy foods from Nigeria.
 Private Sector Partners include:
 Dangote flour milling/foods
 Honeywell Superfine Foods LifeCare Ventures Malting Dala
Foods, Kano
 Aba malting plant
Cocoa Value Chain
2015 Goal: Double production to 500,000 MT through improved
productivity, rehabilitation of cocoa plantations and bringing new areas
into cultivation
Achievement
 420,000 of high yielding cocoa hybrid pods or over 14 million
cocoa seedlings distributed (free of charge)
 13,000 hectares cultivated in hybrids
 2,500 hydrocarbon free jute bags distributed to farmers
 4,000 pumps procured for farmers
 50,544 farmers benefitted
12
Oil Palm Transformation Action Plan
 Drive economic growth for South-South, South-East and SouthWest region states.
 Replace importation of 300,000 MT of vegetable oil ($US 500
Million) annually
 Achievement Highlights
 1.34 million sprouted seedlings provided to 18 oil palm estates
(free of charge)
 A total of 9 million sprouted seedlings were distributed this year,
including to smallholder farmers (free of charge).
 Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification of farms.
 Increased private sector investments in new plantations
 Cotton Value Chain:
 Achievement Highlights
 1,506 tons of improved cotton seed was distributed free of charge
to 38,000 farmers in Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara,
Sokoto, and Kaduna states, respectively.
 75,319 hectares of cotton was planted by an estimated 38,000
farmers. The seeds are valued at N234 million.
13
 9 of the 17 functional private ginneries have been revamped
 240,000 tons of cotton was produced.
 More funds are now going to farmers in Nigeria from local and
international investors as well as financial institutions. The
Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural
Lending (NIRSAL) which was introduced by the Central Bank of
Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development last year has guaranteed N25 billion of agricultural
loans. This development has increased lending to the Agriculture
Sector to 4% of banks’ total loans from the average of 1.5% in
2009. In 2012, the banks lent N3.5 billion to agro-dealers, first
time ever. This year, the banks lent N20 billion to the agrodealers.
 NIRSAL is based on five pillars that aim to reduce risk in
agricultural lending and lower the cost of lending for banks.
US$500 million is divided across the pillars.
a) Risk-sharing facility (US$ 300 million).
To break down banks' perception that agriculture is a high-risk
sector, NIRSAL will share their losses on agricultural loans.
b) lnsurance Facility (US$ 30 million).
14
The facility's primary goal is to expand insurance products for
agricultural lending from the current coverage to help reduce credit
risks and increase lending across the entire value chain. Both will
be by expanding the coverage of existing products provided by the
Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), and piloting
and scaling new products, such as weather index insurance, new
variants of pest and disease insurance etc.
c) Technical Assistance Facility (US$ 60 million).
NIRSAL will equip banks to sustainably lend to agriculture. At the
same time, it will equip producers to borrow and use loans more
effectively, and produce more and better quality goods for the
market.
d) Holistic Bank Rating Mechanism (US$ 10 million).
This mechanism rates banks based on two factors: the
effectiveness of their agricultural lending and its social impact.
e) Bank Incentives Mechanism (US$ 100 million).
To complement NIRSAL's first three pillars, this mechanism offers
banks additional incentives to build their long-term capabilities to
lend to agriculture.
15
 Pilot Value Chains:
As a first step, NIRSAL offers a controlled lending environment for
banks with a well-structured agricultural value chain. 12 pilot value
chains have been identified based on existing crop, livestock and
fisheries. Oil Palm, Cotton, Rice, Cocoa, Sorghum, Cassava,
Aquaculture, Sheep and Goats, Poultry and Leather.
 The World Bank, the African Development Bank and other global
development finance institutions have put up over $2 billion in
support of the Agriculture Transformation Agenda.
 $3.3 Billion of investment commitments in Executed Letters of
Intent secured from foreign and domestic investors. Local and
international operational and financial investors have committed to
investing across all stages of the agricultural supply chain
 Some key achievements recorded in the Agriculture Sector are as
follows:
 Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme.
Following the introduction of GES, the Government ended 4
decades of corruption in the seed and fertilizer sectors within 90
Days.
16
 Ended direct procurement and distribution of seed and fertilizers
by the Federal Government. Private sector seed and fertilizer
companies now sell directly to farmers.

 Cellphone-based system has been developed to send subsidies
via electronic vouchers (e-wallets) directly to farmers via their
cellphones.
 Nigeria is 1st country in Africa to develop the E-wallet for input
delivery to farmers
 Reached 1.5 million farmers (7.5 million people impacted) within
the first one year.
WATER RESOURCES
Water Supply
 Before the inception of this Administration access to potable water
was 58%. Access is now 65%, while sanitation moved from 32%
to 41% under the recent national assessment. This has been
made possible through the efforts of the three tiers of Government
in the provision of water supply for the urban, small towns and
rural settlements. Development partners have also been
supportive in the following projects that were initiated by this
administration:

Urban Water Sector Reform Project with the support of the World
Bank, African Development Bank and French Development
Agency is being implemented in Kaduna, Ogun, Enugu, Cross
River, Lagos, Taraba and Oyo States while 12 States that include
Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Ekiti, Gombe, Ondo,
Rivers, Kano, Jigawa and Plateau States have been recently
selected to participate in the next phase of the project;
 Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assisted Rural
Water and Sanitation project in which a number of equipment and
17
capacity building have been provided to Kebbi, Niger, Enugu,
Taraba and Ondo States under a Grant-in-Aid valued at N 2.1
Billion that was signed in 2012;
 EU-Assisted Water Supply and Sanitation Projects in the six
States of Anambra, Cross River, Osun, Kano, Jigawa and Yobe.
Efforts are in top gear to implement the water component of the
Niger Delta Support Programme in five States (Akwa Ibom,
Bayalsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers). Also the phase III of the Water
Supply and Sanitation Reform Programme will commence soon in
Adamawa, Ekiti and Plateau; and
 African Development Bank is assisting in Rural Water Supply and
Sanitation Program in Yobe and Osun States.
Dams and Reservoir Operation
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources is curently engaged in
construction, operation and maintenance of dams nationwide for supply
of hydropower,irrigation, fishery development, flood control, tourism and
recreation.
These include:
 Increase in the volume of stored water in the nations reservour by
422 Million Cubic Meters with the completion of nine dams in
different parts of the country.
 Water Transfer from Gurara to Lower Usuma dam to the tune of
over 100 Million Cubic Meters to augument water supply in FCT.
 Raw water supply from Alau Dam to Maiduguri Metropolis,
Goronyo Dam to Sokoto, Oyan Dam to Lagos and Abeakuta, Ikere
Gorge dam to Iseyin town in Oyo State, Dadin-kowa Dam to
Gombe, Tiga and Chalaw Gorge Dam to Kano Metroplois, Owiwi
Dam to Abeokuta metropolis and
18
 Job creation for about 125,000 persons( Skilled and unskilled)
 Construction work on some strategic dams such as Otukpo Multipurpose Dam, Kontogora dam, Galma Dam Ilesha Dam, Adada
Dam, Ivo dam, Kasimbila Dam, Ogunwashi-Uke,etc are
progressing well and are at varoius stage of completion in line with
the Government’s intention to complete such projects and put
them into use to inhence food security, power generation and job
cration .The Kashimbila dam on the Katsina – Ala River a major
tributary of the River Benue , beside other economic benefits
would help to chakmate the threat of flood from the structurally
weak volcanic lake Nyos upstream Cameroons.
 The Ministry is collaborating with Federal Minsitry of Power
towards a quick realization of the Mambila Dam and 26 other dams
for which assessment and feasibilities have been undertaken with
a view to harnessing their hydropower potentials. Currently,
Nigeria-German partnership arrangement is on-going with regards
to the use of these dams for hydro power generation on Public
Private Partnership (PPP) basis.
 Effort is at advanced stage for construction of some very strategic
dams to increase the nation’s capability on flood control in addition
to their usage for other economic purposes like the Datsin Hausa
with a reservoir storage capacity of 16 Billion cubic meters of water
which is proposed principally to regulate flood along the River
Benue and contain irregular releases from Lagdo Dam in
Cameroon Republic. It will also generate electricity of about
150MW and provide water for irrigation for vast farmland etc.
Irrigation & Food Security
 The Ministry views irrigation as key to the attainment of food
security due to the fact that irrigation has the potential of
increasing the agricultural productivity by as much as tenfold.
19
Irrigation is also important for employment generation and poverty
alleviation in rural areas.
 Nigeria currently has irrigation land potential of about 3.1 million
hectares out of which only 175,000 hectares has been developed.
However, there is a renewed effort by this Administration to
accelerate the rate of irrigation development in the country in order
to enhance food security, employment generation, poverty
alleviation and reduce rural-urban migration.
 Apart from the Ministry’s efforts to build more irrigation
infrastructure in the savannah region of the country, further efforts
had been made to reclaim agricultural land in the wetland areas of
the country, in order to expand cultivable areas, for medium-scale
agricultural production. Contracts were recently awarded for land
reclamation and drainage in nine sites (Peremabiri and Otuoke in
Bayelsa State; Koko in Delta State; Mamu-Awka in Anambra
State; Ilushi-Ega in Edo State; Koton-Karfe in Kogi State; Obinda
in Benue State; Donga in Taraba State; Marawaji in Yobe State),
all across the country, to make land available in those areas where
water has inundated larger percentage of arable land. Work is ongoing at the various sites and will soon be available for agricultural
production.
 To address the issue of unutilized and underutilized irrigation
potentials in Nigeria, which is over 3.1 Million hectares of irrigable
land spread across the country, the Ministry recently signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development (FMA&RD). The two parties in
the MOU have distinctive roles to play as well as joint
responsibilities in order to drive the efforts of the two MDAs to
logical conclusions. While the Federal Ministry of Water Resources
is to develop Irrigation Infrastructures, the Federal Ministry of
20
Agriculture and Rural Development (FMA&RD) will be responsible
for creating the enabling environment for the supply of inputs,
agro-processing and other value adding to the farmers.
 In consonance with the Nigerian Water Sector Roadmap (2011),
Development Partners, particularly, the World Bank and Food and
Agriculture Organisation have taken cognizance of the critical
importance of the irrigation sub-sector and agreed with the
necessity to rehabilitate and complete existing irrigation projects as
a strategic goal, to ensure that all irrigation facilities are optimally
managed through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
We are currently finalizing the documents that will enable us
concession the Gurara Irrigation Project to the private sector for
operation and maintenance.
Trans-boundary Waters
 Trans-boundary Waters have been widely noted to be a potential
source of world conflict. In future, if not properly managed, conflicts
might arise hence the need for trans-boundary water cooperation
amongst nations sharing common basins. Nigeria belongs to two
major Trans-boundary Organizations i.e Niger Basin Authority
(NBA) and Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). Nigeria is also
using Bilateral Joint Commissions like Nigeria-Cameroon Joint
Commission (NCJC) and Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission (NNJC)
to achieve trans-boundary cooperation and reduce tension. Nigeria
has been supportive in actualizing both the objectives of the NBA
Shared Vision and the Investment Plan of the LCBC.
 The Ministry is working closely with the NBA Secretariat to obtain
update on the construction of Kandadji Dam aimed at protecting
her huge investment on the Jebba and Kainji Dam. Also, the ongoing rehabilitation of Jebba and Kainji Dams is geared towards
21
increasing their hydropower generation capacities to the people of
Nigeria.
Engagements with Stakeholders:
 The Ministry is actively engaging with local and International
Development Partners (IDPS) like JICA, EU, World Bank, AFDB,
UNICEF, DFID, Islamic Development Bank, French Development
Agency and Chinese Government. The Ministry has in the process
attracted over 1 billion dollars worth of investment into the Water
Sector under the present Administration. These include:
 $520M from the World Bank for urban water supply in five States
 $400M from the World Bank for Irrigation project in two RBDAs
 $280M from African Development Bank for urban and rural water
supply in four States.
 N2.1billion from JICA for rural water supply in five States
 $77.7M from French Development Agency for urban water supply
in 3 States
 Euro80 Million from the European Union for water supply and
sanitation in six States
 These funds are at different stages of utilization or processing for
water supply, sanitation and irrigation.
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
1. The Federal Government through the Ministry of Communication
Technology recently launched two Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) initiatives to empower Nigeria
Women and Girls.
 The two initiatives are namely, Smart Woman Nigeria and
1,000 Girls training in ICT.
22
 The Federal Government is collaborating with Huawei West
African - an Information and Communication Technology
solutions provider - to train 1000 female students on basic
knowledge of ICT. This is aimed at accelerating the
development of women by generating new employment
opportunities for them to be more efficient and effective in
their jobs, career and business.
 The Smart Woman Nigeria will allow women in Nigeria to
connect with one another, share knowledge, and learn from
each other, and through that empower themselves to
achieve their goals.
2. The eleventh annual Commonwealth Telecommunication
Organization Forum, tagged CTO Forum 2013, held in Abuja
recently, resolved with a focus on affordable broadband
deployment and infrastructure development that will enhance
business across its member countries.
3. The Ministry harmonized regulation of base stations between the
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Nigeria
Environmental Standards Regulations and Agency (NESREA) and
Ministry of Works to standardize application processed pricing for
Right of Way at Federal level.
4. The Ministry also developed a draft National Addressing System
Policy that will help to link every household irrespective of
locations in the country, to a unique identifiable address using
international standards.
5. About N13 billion worth of counterfeited financial instruments were
intercepted by NIPOST as against N9.27 billion in previous years.
6. About N1.5 billion has been released by the Federal Government
for the payment of pension arrears to 5,206 NIPOST retirees.
23
7. The Ministry also initiated Spectrum audit to free more bandwidth
for the successful implementation of the recently approved national
broadband policy.
8. The spectrum audit which is expected to be completed within the
next six months will be carried out by the National Frequency
Management Council (NFMC).
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The ministry made significant in-road towards the promotion of Science,
Technology and Innovation in the informal sector, through financial
support to young inventors and innovators, under Standing Committee
on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII). A total number of 29 (twentynine) beneficiaries were supported with various
sums ranging from
N500,000.00 to N1,000,000.00 , based on their inventions and
innovations in various sectors of Science and Technology including
Health, Engineering, Agriculture and the Manufacturing sector.
The Ministry is also collaborating with international partners and
participating in international meetings to share ideas and knowledge.
One of such meetings was the EU-Africa High Level policy Dialogue on
Science Technology and Innovation, which held recently in Brussels,
Belgium.
The dialogue focused on areas of common understanding, building of
mutual trust and agreement on shared priorities that are of mutual
benefits for current and future collaborations that will strengthen the
overall co-operation framework in Science, Research, Technology and
Innovation. The dialogue identified Science Technology and Innovation
24
as key driver for socio-economic development and an instrument for
addressing many African challenges.
JOB CREATION
In line with the Job creation component of the Transformation Agenda
programme, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology through
one of its agencies, the National Board for Technology Incubation
(NBTI), commissioned its first pilot project of Crop Residue Crushing
Machine (CRCM) in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Thursday, 7th November,
2013.
The CRCM is a technology incubated at the Kano Technology
Incubation Centre, in collaboration with NASENI as a potent tool for
rapid industrialization in the agro-allied sector of the economy. This
technology was innovated to produce feed for animals, as it converts
waste to wealth, creates employment for the operators of the machines
and generates income for the farmers.
Through its parastatal, the National Technology Incubation Programme
(TIP), the Ministry graduated 17 Entrepreneurs at its Technology
Incubation Centre (TIC), Calabar. The graduates now operate
free-
standing enterprises in the industrial landscape of the country, creating
jobs and generating wealth and value for Nigerians.
HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT/ REAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
In an effort to enhance human capital development and the development
of the real sector of the economy, the ministry was allocated an
expansive piece of land for the development of Science and Technology
Park at the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO).
Abuja. The proposed park is designated as SHESTCO Silicon Valley
25
(SSV), and when completed is expected to create a focal point for
building critical mass of infrastructure and expertise that would catalyze
and fast-track the commercialization of
existing and emerging
technologies and research output.
A UNESCO supported mission had earlier visited Nigeria to assist in
the development of a master plan including an implementation strategy
for the SHESTCO Silicon valley.
The master plan is expected to provide an Incubator facility as well as
Research and Business Development facility sites for inward investment
and capacity to build renewable energy cluster. It is also expected to
catalyze spin-off industries that would translate Research results to
viable and vibrant Small and Medium Enterprises especially in the ICT
sector to service the establishment of large scale industries.
The SHESTCO Silicon Valley will also focus on the development of solar
wafers and cells for the production of electricity solar panels. This will
ensure increased utilization of locally available raw-materials, while also
generating jobs and wealth.
WORKS
In the past two months in particular, the Federal Ministry of Works
has made significant progress in the construction, rehabilitation,
reconstruction, expansion and maintenance of key arterial roads across
the six geopolitical zones of the country. This has resulted in the
reduction of travel times, cost of maintenance of vehicles by transporters
among other gains.
The most visible of the achievements within the past two months
are as follows:
a. The Flag-off for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Bida –
Mokwa Road, performed on the 14th of November, 2013.
26
b. The Flag-off for the rehabilitation of Akure – Ilesha Road
performed on the 15th of November, 2013.
c. The Flag-off for the rehabilitation of Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual
carriageway sections 1 and 11 performed on the 30th of
November, 2013.
The ministry is also doing a lot in the area of institutional reforms to
stimulate private sector financing. For example, two draft bills for the
creation of the Federal Roads Authority and National Roads Fund have
been approved by the National Council on Privatisation and reviewed by
the Federal Ministry of Justice. These two bills will soon be presented to
the Federal Executive Council for approval, before their transmission to
the National Assembly.
When the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan assumed
office on May 29, 2011, it made a conscious decision to complete major
road rehabilitation projects in the country that were either on-going or
abandoned and to scale up maintenance works on Federal roads across
the country. The “Operation Safe Passage” embarked upon by the
Ministry in the 4thquarter of 2012 led to the recovering of failed portions
of Federal roads across the country; from Ilorin to Jebba, Lafia to
Makurdi, Aliade to Oturkpo, Oturkpo to 9th Mile, Enugu to Port Harcourt,
Kano to Katsina, Lokoja to Okene, Okene to Benin, Lagos to Ibadan,
and Odukpani to Itu.
32 road projects were completed in 2012 across the country. They
include the following:
 Completion of the Dualization of Ibadan-Ilorin road section I
(Ibadan - Oyo) in Oyo State.
 Completion of the Reconstruction of Vom-Manchok road in Plateau
State.
 Completion of the Repairs of 3rd Mainland Bridge (Phase II),
covering additional works for the replacement of 8Nos. Expansion
Joints in Lagos State (This was completed 10 days ahead of the
scheduled completion date).
27
 Completion of the Dualization of Onitsha-Owerri Road (Section I)
and Onitsha Eastern Bypass, in Anambra State.
 Completion of the Rehabilitation of Uba-Mbalala road in Borno
State.
 Completion of the Rehabilitation of Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto road
(section II: Gusau-TalataMafara) in Zamfara and Sokoto States.
 Completion of the Rehabilitation of Obiozora-Uburu-Ishiagu Road
in Enugu and Ebonyi States.
 Completion of the Access Road to the Kaduna Refinery in Kaduna
State.
 Completion of the Rehabilitation
Iwarajaroad in Ekiti and Osun States.
of
Efon-Alaaye-Erinmo-
 Completion of the Rehabilitation of Katsina-Daura road in Katsina
State.
 Completion of the Rehabilitation of Ijebu Igbo-Ajegunle-AraromiIfe-Sekona Road (Section II), in Ogun State.
 Emergency reinstatement of collapsed section of Gombe-Potiskum
Road, (at KM 12) in Gombe State.
 Rehabilitation of Jebba Bridge in Kwara State
 Rehabilitation of Otukpo-Oweto Road in Benue State
 Rehabilitation of Wukari-Takum Road in Taraba State
 Rehabilitation of Okija-Uli-Oguta Road in Imo State
 Rehabilitation of Hadejia-Nguru Road Phase I (Hadejia-Krirkasama
Section) in Jigawa State
 Completion of the Rehabilitation of Access Road to the Warri
Refinery in Delta State.
 Completion of the Dualization of Access Road to Onne Port in
Rivers State.
28
 Construction of Gombe-Bypass in Gombe State.
 Rehabilitation of Aba-Owerri Road in Abia State.
 Reinstatement of Washouts at km6+750, km30+400 and
km35+325 along Onitsha-Enugu dual carriageway in Anambra and
Enugu States.
 Emergency reinstatement of Washout/Gully erosion at KM127+000
at Auchi along Okene-Benin road and Km14+000 along AuchiAgenebode road in Edo State.
 Construction of Langtang-Lalin-Tunkus-Shendam Road in Plateau
State.
 Rehabilitation of old Oyo-Ogbomoso road in Oyo State
 Rehabilitation of Omuo-Ifakiroad in Ekiti State.
 Rehabilitation/Reconstruction of Lafenwa Bridge in Abeokuta in
Ogun State.
 Rehabilitation of Gombe-Numan-Yola road, Section II: NumanGombe in Adamawa and Gombe States.
 Rehabilitation of Otta–Owode road in Ogun State.
 Rehabilitation of Mararaba-Pambeguwa-Saminaka-Jos
section I (Mararaba-Panbeguwa) in Kaduna State.
road
 Rehabilitation of Mainchi-Anka-DakiTakwasroad in Zamfara State.
29
POWER
Privatisation of PHCN successor companies:
 The privatization of the Nigerian power sector has been
internationally recognized as one of the most ambitious and
transparent reform program ever embarked by any nation
 On August 21, 2013, 5 Generation companies and 10 Distribution
companies successfully completed payments for the purchase of
the assets.
 The 10 NIPP power plants are going through the bidding process.
 We have put in place all other support institutions to ensure the
efficient functioning of the electricity market. These include,
amongst others, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission
(NERC), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Electricity
Management Services (EMS) and Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading
Company (NBET).
 The payment of severance package to PHCN staff was concluded
by the end of October and physical handover to the new owners
took place thereafter.
 The Ministry has repositioned itself towards providing effective
overall leadership for the sector and facilitating investments with
special attention to the National Grid, greenfield IPPs, renewables
and rural access
 The Condition Precedents that are essential to the declaration of
the Transition Electricity Market (TEM) are therefore substantially
in place and are currently being subjected to a quality and
assurance testing by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission,
prior to the declaration of TEM
 Fifty-five (55) IPPs have applied to Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading
Company (NBET) for PPAs. Including three (3) renewable energy
IPPs, one coal generating IPP, and the rest gas based IPPs
30
 Several reputable international companies have indicated interest
in investing in the sector through our various investment forums –
we have signed MOUs with Power China (20,000MW) generation
+ transmission infrastructure, General Electric (10,000MW),
Siemens, Electrobras etc.
Update on Transmission
 The Management contract with Manitoba Hydro of Canada is in
place to bring best practices. The Schedule of Delegated Authority
(SODA) duly signed by the Honourable Minister of Power has also
been issued to Manitoba Hydro.
 Inauguration of TCN Board, Management & Advisory Team
 The enlarged technical board of TCN has also been
inaugurated by the Honourable Minister of Power to
add more experience and fresh impetus into the
supervision of TCN
 The shadow team (Directors) is to aid the transfer of
best practices while bring the local knowledge to bear
 The Management team is therefore charged to work as
a unit in the delivery of a robust and stable
transmission grid.
 Transmission Expansion Plan
 With the full payment for the GenCos and DisCos
comes the urgent need to reposition TCN to meet its
obligation in the post privatization era.
 TCN Network Expansion Blueprint was presented to
the PACP on Monday 26 August 2013
 The blue print commits TCN to a transmission capacity
of 16,000MW by 2017
 The FGN is committed to the funding of this blueprint
through a variety of sources which include:
 AfDB
$150m
 World Bank
$290m
31





Eurobond Issue $150m
China Exim Bank $500m
Proceeds for the sale of NIPP assets - $1.6b
Appropriation
Agence FDB
$170m
 Completed Transmission Sub-stations through NIPP added
2,370MVA to the grid.
 -
Completed 274Km Transmission projects (lines) through NIPP
 -
Completed Transmission projects by Transmission Company
of Nigeria across the six – geo political zones.
 -
Transmission Grid Expansion Programme got boost from
$500 million, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese
Xian Electric Engineering Company XD.
 -
A new 330kva Power line commissioned in Benue State to
boost small scale industries and the state’s agro-based end users.
 -
A record over subscription of the $1 billion Eurobond meant to
improve power infrastructure, especially Transmission.
 Also, under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), the
Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo just last Month
commissioned the following transmission sub-station under the
NIPP projects.
 i.
Apo Two-type x 15MVA injection sub-station Apo, AMAC
FCT, Abuja
 ii.
Dei-dei Lot 2 injection sub-station Jiwa AMAC Area Council,
FCT. Abuja.
 iii.
Dutse injection sub-station, Dutse Alhaji, Bwari Area Council,
FCT, Abuja
 iv.
Dikko injection sub-station Gurara Local Government, Niger
State.
32
DISTRIBUTION
Recently some abandoned projects which spread across the four States
of Kaduna, Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto were completed. They included:
construction of 1x15MVA, 33/11kv injection sub-station with associated
line and 11kv HVDS at Gorin Gora; construction of 1x7.5MVA 33/11
Injection Sub-station with associated 33kv line and 11kv HVDS at
Kagoro; construction of 2x15MVA, 33/11kv line and 11kv HVDS at
Narayi, Barnawa BU; construction of 1x2.5MVA, 33/11kv injection substation with associated 33kv line and 11kv HVDS at Zambia Crescent
Barnawa; construction of 1x7.5MVA, 33/11kv injection Sub-station with
associated 33kv line and 11kv HVDS at Kaduna Industrial Layout
Anguwan Muazu; construction of 1x7.5MVA 33/11kv injection substation Air Force Base, Kaduna; construction of 1x7.5MVA 33/11kv
injection sub-station at Airport Road, Kaduna; construction of 1x15MVA,
33/11kv injection sub-station Doka and construction of 1x15MVA
injection sub-station at Samaru Zaria, all in Kaduna State.
Others are construction of 1x7.5MVA 33/11kv injection sub-station at
NNPC junction, replacement of 1x2.5MVA with 7.5MVA.33/11kv
injection Sub-station at Rinjin Sambo, construction of additional
1.75MVA, 33/11kv injection sub-station at Fadama and construction of
1x7.5MVA, 33/11kv injection Sub-station at Dukku in Zamfara, Sokoto
and Kebbi States among others.
33
NIPP
 A total capacity addition of 4775MW expected when all the
NIPP generation units are commissioned.
 So far 1,350MW capacity has been commissioned and taken
over.
 The commissioned Geregu Power Plant has a total capacity
of 434MW.
 The Omotosho Power Plant which was commissioned on
Saturday 19th October, 2013 has a total capacity of 450MW
 Other NIPP Power Plants include:
o Calabar 562.5MW
o Egbema 337.5MW
o Gbarain 225MW
o Omoku 225MW
o Alaoji
450MW
o Sapele 450MW
o Ihovbor 450MW
o Olorunsogun 450MW
 790MW will also be added to the National grid through the African
Finance Corporation (AFC) N226 billion to finance critical
electricity infrastructure.

 Shiroro: Repair works on Unit 2 was carried out which led to
recovery of 150MW in 2012.
 Jebba: Hydro Power Station preventive maintenance of 2G2 to
ensure availability and sustainability of 96.4MW.
34
 Egbin: In 2012, several worn parts of the plant were replaced with
new ones. This has improved plant reliability from 60% to more
than 70%.
 Kainji: Rehabilitation works on 1G5 & 1G12 Units to recover
220MW capacity by December 2014.
 ENERGY MIX
 In order to enhance the security of power supply, The Federal
Government is assiduously working towards the diversification of
the fuel mix. In this regard, the nation’s vast resources of coal,
wind, solar, biomass and hydropower potentials are being fully
exploited.
 Feasibility Studies on the development of coal to power are ongoing in five(5) coal blocks in Enugu axis and three (3) coal blocks
in Benue, Kogi and Gombe axis. Progress of work on the studies is
at 25% and is expected to focus on clean coal technology.
 Feasibility Studies on ten (10) dams with small hydropower
potentials which commenced in 2011 have been completed and
ready for concession.
 The following Small/Medium Hydropower studies were completed
by Federal Ministry of Power from 2011 to date
Oyan
Ogun
10 mw
Oyo
6 mw
Bakolori
Zamfara
3 mw
Challawa
Kano
7.5 mw
Tiga
Kano
10 mw
Ikere Gorge
35
Kampe
Kogi
3 mw
Owena
Ondo
0.45 mw
Doma
Nasarawa
Zobe
Katsina
0.30 mw
Jibia
Katsina
4 mw
1 mw
ZUNGERU HYDRO-PROJECT
 The construction of the 700MW Zungeru hydropower project,
which has been on the drawing board for four decades was
approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2012 in favour of a
consortium of Messrs. Sinohydro/CNEEC in the contract sum of
• US$ 1.237 billion and a completion period of 48 months. Ground
breaking ceremony for the project was performed by President
Goodluck Jonathan on 28th May, 2013
• Another big hydro project – Mambilla project has capacity for
3,050Kw will take-off before the end of the year as disagreement
between the Chinese Companies handling the project now
resolved.
•
World Bank sponsored rehabilitation work on Kainji to recover
turbines that are not functioning for a long time.
• -
Jebba and Shiroro Dams are also undergoing rehabilitation
work on their turbines, two (2) newly installed at Shiroro also ongoing.
• The 10 MW Katsina Windfarm Power Project is at 98% completion.
• To ensure availability of un-interrupted power supply to the
consumers, this administration executed various distribution
36
projects (maintenance/expansion) across the country through the
eleven (11) Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos)
• Transmission development activities were carried out by
Transmission Company of Nigerian (TCN) and Niger/Delta Power
Holding Company (NDPHCN) under the National Independent
Power Project (NIPP). Several transmission projects were
completed in the last 12 months which led to modest increase in
the nation’s transmission capacity.
• -
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
Rural Electrification Agency (REA) hitherto in comatose reactivated in
June 2012.
-
A newly inaugurated Board led by Senator Silas Zigwgina has the
mandate to ensure 75% rural electrification access by 2020.
-
This year’s appropriation to REA is N16 billion, substantial part of
the fund being utilized for projects across the country.
-
Operational “Light Up Nigeria” is an initiative of the Federal Ministry
of Power in conjunction with Philip International of Netherlands and
Schneider of Germany, the Pilot scheme is off grid solar powered
electricity project in Durumi, off Mpape in Bwari Area Council. With the
success of this project which is put at 98% completion, Mr. President
has thus directed that the project is replicated in 2 to 3 locations in each
State of the Federation.
37
REFORMS IN THE POWER SECTOR
 The Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act of 2005 provided
the platform for the reform of deregulating the Nigerian Electricity
Supply Industry (NESI) from the control, ownership and regulation
of the sector by the Federal government to a private sector-driven
industry. The launching of the Roadmap by President Goodluck
Jonathan in August 2010 led to significant progress in the
implementation of the structural reforms outlined in the Act.
 The major achievements are as follows:
i.
Privatisation of 10 Distribution Companies and the 5 Generation
Companies.
ii.
Handing over of Transmission Company of Nigeria to Manitoba
Hydro International for management.
iii
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has been
reconstituted, strengthened and now is fully operational.
iv
NERC launched MYTO 2 cost-reflective tariff in June, 2012, which
is now operational.
v
Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) PLC was incorporated in
July, 2010 and is now in operation as a credit-worthy off - taker.
vi
The Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO)
was established in 2010 to assume and manage the assets,
liabilities and other obligations that could not be earlier transferred
from PHCN to any successor company
iv.
Investor confidence evidenced by increased investment and
signing of MoUs, especially the signing of MOU with Power China
38
Corporation to develop 20,000 MW of Thermal Power Plants with
associated substations and transmission lines up to 10,000 km
v.
Sale of Ten (10) power plants built by the Niger Delta Power
Holding Company Ltd commenced with road-shows in Lagos,
London, Hong Kong and New York.
vi.
The Federal Government is spending N360 billion on severance
package to both active and retired workers of Power Holding
Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
vii.
Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan approved the constitution
of Management Team for the Electricity Management Services to
handle non-core areas, making the last end in the unbundling plan
of the defunct PHCN.
POWER GENERATION
As at December 23, 2013, power generation was at 4,517.6
megawatts.
LANDS, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
 HOUSING DELIVERY
Since
the
inauguration
of
President
Jonathan’s
th
Administration on 29 May 2011, a total of 16,447 housing units
were added to the national stock through various interventions by
the Ministry and its two Parastatals, namely: the Federal Mortgage
Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).
These include:
 256 housing units under the Prototype Housing Scheme;
39
 2,009
housing
units
under
Public-Private
Partnership/Contractor Finance;
 850 housing units through the Federal Housing Authority
(FHA);
 3529 housing units through mortgages created by the
Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN); and
 2808 Housing units through estate development loans
provided by the FMBN.
 SITE AND SERVICES
The Ministry is currently establishing 150 fully serviced residential
plots per site in 13 States of the 6 Geopolitical Zones of the Federation
and the FCT. Some of the pilot site areas are Kuje in FCT, Igbogbo &
Oshorno II in Lagos State; Gubio Road, Yola in Admawa State; Bichi in
Kano State; Bida in Niger State, Republic Layout in Enugu State; and
Runmudmaya, Port-Harcourt in Rivers State.
 SOCIAL/AFFORDABLE HOUSING SCHEME
 The Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is
in the forefront for the campaign for the passage of the “Bill on
Social Housing for Nigeria” which is awaiting passage by the
National Assembly.
 The Ministry is also, partnering with Cyrus Projects Nigeria
Limited, a consortium of Nigerian in the Diaspora, to build unity
villages in the country, totaling 10,000 units in each of the six geopolitical zones. Under the Agreement, the Ministry is currently
funding the provision of infrastructure for the social housing
component of the project in a pilot phase in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the ASO Savings & Loans Plc
and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, is developing 144
mixed housing units of 1-3 bedroom apartments at Lugbe, Abuja.
 Estate developers are enjoined to embrace the concept of mixed
development in housing delivery and ensure that at least 20% of
40
the total number of housing units built in a project sites are
allocated to low-cost housing ranging between N1.5 million – N5.0
million for 1-3 bedroom houses.
 The ministry has adopted various housing delivery models for
mass housing development (namely: New Towns Development;
Cooperative Housing; Public-Public Partnership (Pb-Pb-P); Publicprivate Partnership (PPP); Regeneration (including completion of
abandoned houses); Rental Housing; and Sites and Services
schemes).
 HOUSING/MORTGAGE FINANCE
 In line with the recommendations of the Stakeholders’ Workshop
on Housing/Mortgage Finance held on 3rd May, 2012, a Mortgage
Refinancing Company (MRC) is being established (with a US$300
million IDA Credit from the World Bank) to create more mortgages
in support of home ownership in Nigeria.
 A new product targeting the provision of housing finance to
Nigerians in the Diaspora has been developed by the Federal
Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). An estimated 17 million
Nigerians reside outside the country, and targeting 1 million
Nigerians within the first year of the “Nigerians in Diaspora
Mortgage Scheme” will provide the sum of US$100 million to
FMBN as monthly contributions (i.e. US$100 per person per
month).
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS & MONUMENTS
 Apart from efforts towards rehabilitating and maintaining the 23
existing Federal Secretariats in the country, the Federal
Government, through the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and
Urban Development, is currently undertaking the construction of 6
new Secretariats across the country.
41
 The new Secretariats are located in each geopolitical zone,
namely Awka, Anambra State (South East); Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State (South-South); Oshogbo in Osun State South West); Gombe
in Gombe State (North East); Nasarawa in Nasarawa State (North
Central) and Gusau in Zamfara State (North West). Work is
progressing satisfactorily in each of the project sites.
 Work on the Mausoleum and Library Complex at Onitsha, in
Honour of late Rt. Hon. Dr. Namdi Azikiwe, is progressing
satisfactorily. The project is being executed at a cost of N1, 497
billion.
JOB CREATION
 The housing and urban development sector is recognized
worldwide as being immensely valuable in terms of job creation
because the construction of housing units requires the services of
a pool of professionals such as architects, engineers, quantity
surveyors, and artisans such as draughtsmen, electricians, iron
benders, painters, tilers and various vendors. In addition, the
sustainable funding of housing delivery promotes investments in
the production of building materials and boosts linked businesses,
all of which help to increase employment generation in the
economy.
 Through the Ministry’s activities, the Sector further contributed its
own quota to job creation through the employment of 1,568,286
persons in the Ministry’s housing projects, those of its Parastatals,
and in the informal sector through the sale of building materials
across the nation.
The number is even larger if those employed in all the housing
projects in the country are added into this pool.
42
SPORTS
 The Ministry of Sports achieved sustainable peace and harmony in
Nigeria’s Sports house. Before now litigation, disenchantment
pervaded the nation’s sports field.
 Sustained support for the Eagles to qualify for Brazil 2014.
 Positive turnaround in the nation’s sporting arena. The Nation’s
Football league now has a start and finish date,
resolution of sponsorship and television right crisis.
 Won for the first time in the nation’s history the Senior, Youth and
Junior African Championship track events.
 Won laurels at the Madagascar Wrestling Competition.
 Established the Elite Sports Directorate to be manned by world
acclaimed experts in the quest to prepare sportsmen and women
for sporting contest across the globe.
 Organized the first ever National Youth Games for under 17 with a
view to discovering sportsmen and women that would be nurtured
for future events.

Nigeria won the first Mandela Cup in South Africa
 Nigeria won the Under 17 World Football Championship.
 Nigeria won the Catalona Cup.
43
AVIATION
 Safety measures: In recognition of the critical nature of accurate
and real time weather services to safe navigation we have
acquired state of the art technology, to enhance Meteorological
safety within our air space
 Some of the safety technology acquired and installed included: *
Real time detection and tracking of hazardous weather systems
such as thunderstorms, wind shear turbulence, dust storms, etc.
 Providing Early Warnings for pilots and the general public of
hazardous weather systems.
 Determining the precise location of areas of turbulence and wind
shear in the atmosphere.
 Determining the height, amount of precipitation, speed of
movement of rain-bearing clouds.
 Accurate and timely weather forecast.
 Achieved total radar coverage of the nation’s airspace.
 Since the inception of this administration 22 Nigerian airports have
been equipped with lightning and thunderstorm detection
equipment. NIMET’s thunderstorm detectors cover a range of
about 200 km.
 Nigeria has achieved Total Very High Frequency (VHF) Radio
Coverage of her airspace; this has brought the nation’s airspace at
par with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards
and recommended practices.
 DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE
 Under the airport terminal development, the following
achievements were recorded:
44
 THE AIRPORT REMODELLING PROJECTS (ARP)
 Divided into 3 phases, phase one included the upgrading /
redesign and reconstruction of the following terminal buildings:
 General Aviation Terminal (MMA)
 International Terminal (MMA)
 Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, (International
Terminal)
 Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, (Domestic Terminal)
 Kaduna Airport Terminal
 Margaret Ekpo International Airport Terminal, Calabar
 Benin Airport Terminal
 Akanu Ibiam International Airport Terminal, Enugu
 Sam Mbakwe Airport Terminal, Owerri
 Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal
 Yola Airport Terminal
 Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos
 As of April 2013, seven projects named below have been
commissioned:
 General Aviation Terminal (MMA), Lagos
 Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, (Domestic Terminal)
 Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Terminal, Kano
 Benin Airport Terminal
 Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu
 Two Hajj Terminals (Kano and Kaduna)
 Yola and Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri are ready for
commissioning
45
 The phase two of the project consists of the remodelling of the
remaining 11 airport terminals and introduction of new Perishable
Cargo and Pilgrim processing facilities.
 14 perishable cargo terminals for export are billed for completion in
2014. The terminals are located in Abuja, Akure, Calabar, Ilorin,
Jalingo, Kano, Jos, Lagos, Makurdi, Minna , Owerri, Asaba, Port
Harcourt, and Uyo. Selection of location is based on regional
agricultural comparative advantage and private sector expression
of interest.
 Construction of five new international terminal buildings in Lagos,
Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt and Enugu.
TRANSPORT
NARROW GAUGE RAIL-LINE
• The rehabilitation of over 90% of the entire existing narrow gauge
lines throughout the country is on-going and at various stages of
completion. The rehabilitation is the first segment of the 25 years
railway strategic vision.
• The main Western line, Lagos – Kano, 1,124km is completed and
passenger services and haulage of goods along the line were
flagged off in December, 2012, while the Eastern line, Port
Harcourt-Maiduguri, 1,657km is expected to be completed before
the end of 2013.
46
• Rehabilitation of the Mainline from Ebute Metta Junction to Apapa
Local Station by Nigeria Railway Corporation is completed.
• Rehabilitation of the sidings and loop lines to enhance operational
efficiency along the Western line as well as the Rehabilitation of
the 300m link between the Apapa Port Complex and the National
line plus the spur line to the Kaduna Power Plant Complex are
being worked upon as addendum to NRC contracts 1 and 2
comprising of track rehabilitation of sidings and loop lines from
Lagos to Kano. The MTB has approved the processing of the
procurement records to the Bureau of Public Procurement for
review and issuance of Due Process Certificate of No Objection.
• CONTRUCTION OF STANDARD GAUGE
• The second segment of the 25 years Railway strategic Plan is the
modernization programme.
• Lagos – Kano Line is being executed in six (6) segments on stand
alone basis in order to effectively fund the projects as follows:
• Abuja(Idu) - Kaduna (187km)
• Lagos - Ibadan (181km)
• Ibadan - Ilorin (200km)
• Ilorin – Minna (270km)
• Minna – Abuja (145km)
• Minna – Kano (360km)
 The Completion of the Construction and Rehabilitation of
standard gauge line from Itakpe –Ajaokuta - Warri (274 km)
is over 80% completed.
 The Construction of Abuja (Idu) - Kaduna standard gauge line
(187 km) is 70% completed.
47
 The Contract for the Construction of Lagos - Ibadan standard
gauge line (double track) (180Km x 2) has been awarded and work
has commenced.
• PROCUREMENT
•
Procured 25new locomotives from General Electric
• Refurbished 366 Coaches and Wagons
• Procured 20 Oil Tank Wagons
• Order placed for 2 sets of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs)
capacity of capacity of 540 passengers each.
• Order Placed for the Procurement of 6 Modern
Air conditioned Coaches with capacity of 68 seaters each.
• An investment Incentive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between General Electric (Transportation) and the Federal
Government was signed to accommodate the upgrading and
development of a multi modal Locomotives Assembly Facility in
Nigeria to handle an initial target Assembly of 200 Locomotives
over 10 years under a Special Country to Company Relationship.
SOME BENEFITS OF THE RAILWAY REHABILITATION
 Movement of Wheat owned by Flour Mills Ltd from Apapa to
Kaduna and Kano.
 Freight Haulage for Connect Rail Limited (A freight Logistics
Company)
 Weekly movement of 1,500 tons (Equivalent to 50 trailer loads) of
Cement for Lafarge Cement Plc from Ewekoro to Ibadan,
Oshogbo, Ilorin, Minna and Kano.
 Movement of laterite from Otukpo – Makurdi covering 100,000 tons
(3,333 trailer load equivalent) for Messrs SCC Nigeria Limited.
48
 Weekly Movement of Petroleum Products Equivalent to 30
Tankers from Lagos up to Kano.
 Haulage of Heavy Materials for NRC Contractors: Lagos –
Kafanchan and Various Destinations
 From 2011 to date, a total of 561,883 Metric Tons of cargo have
been conveyed by rail.
PASSENGER SERVICES
 Lagos - Kano Express Train Services , Once per week.
 Offa – Kano Express service once per week.
 Other Intercity Services
 Lagos – Ibadan – Ilorin- Lagos Train ( Thrice Per week
Moving an average of 6,188 passengers weekly)
 Minna – Kaduna – Minna Train (Thrice Per Week Moving an
average of 3,450 passengers per week)
 Kano – Nguru – Kano Train ( Twice Per Week), Moving an
average of 850 passengers per week.
 Excursion Train: Highly patronised during festivities e.g Osun
State utilised it during Easter.
 Intra –city Mass Transit
 Lagos Mass Transit Train(16 Trains Per Day- an average of
16,000 passengers per day)
 Kaduna Intracity Mass Transit Train (10 Trains Per Day- an
average of 10,000 passengers per day).
49
 The Federal Government has completed the capital dredging of
the Lower River Niger from Warri (Delta State) to Baro (Niger
State) – 572km - to facilitate all-year navigability. The channel runs
through major towns such as Warri, Onitsha, Agenebode, Idah,
Jamata (Lokoja) and Baro.
 Maintenance dredging is currently in progress.
 Onitsha River Port has been reconstructed, equipped with modern
cargo handling equipment and commissioned. The process for the
concession of the port is in progress.
 Baro, Oguta, and Jamata (Lokoja) River Ports are under
construction.
 Procurement Processes are on for the Dredging of River Benue
and the construction of Makurdi River Port.
 Bulk Cargo Transportation: The following have commenced:
 Movement of 1,200 tonnes of ceramic tiles from Lokoja to Onitsha
by Messrs Ninon Transport Company.
 Messrs Ninon are currently constructing 4 Nos. 500 tons capacity
Barges in Lokoja with intention to deploy them for use in the Lower
River Niger Channel.
 Movement of 1,600,000 barrels/annum of crude oil from Okpai
(Delta State) to the sea by Messrs Sterling Oil at 3 to 4 trips per
month.
50
51