(Abuja)
The Nigerian Global Business Forum, a group of leading Nigerian professionals in Britain, has stressed the need for holistic and broadbased approach to address infrastructure deficit in the country.
The professionals under the auspices of Nigerian British Business Forum and the Nigerian British Infrastructure Group, came together recently to tackle the role of Nigerian British professionals in Nigeria’s Infrastructural development
Afolabi Andu, Convener and President of the Forum, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday said there were growing concerns over the huge infrastructure deficit and current recurring expenditure in Nigeria.
Andu said there was the need to take drastic measure to address the current situation of infrastructure in the country before it spirals out of control with potential of disastrous consequences.
“We are concerned about the state of infrastructure in the country and call on all stakeholders to adopt a holistic and broadbased view, to tackle the situation before it spirals out of control with potential of disastrous consequences,” he said.
Andu quoted panelists in virtual presentation sessions to have called for strategic steps to be taken, to revive infrastructural deficits.
The first panelist, Dapo Sulu, Managing-Director, Kaidy Engineering, called for strategic partnership between Nigerian professionals and all stakeholders.
“There are many highly qualified and placed Nigerians who have over the years developed necessary technical and entrepreneurial skills to help reduce Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit,” Sulu said.
In the same vein, Dr. Tunji Olagunju, Managing Director of Ten Fold Construction Ltd, explained the process needed to be designed and built in Nigeria to participants.
According to him, planning involves making decisions about the future of cities, towns and countryside.
“This is vital to balance our desire to develop the areas where we live and work in ensuring the surrounding environment is not negatively affected for everyone,” Olagunju said,
Contributing, Mr Andrew Jibunoh, Managing-Director of APD Project Management Ltd, in a presentation said that Technical and Vocational Educational Training TVET had become important to achieve targets.
He reiterated the urgent need for Social and Economic infrastructure development which required the most investment.
“We can invest in roads and housing, we also need to have peace and security to enjoy it; this investment unlocks potential of most valued resource and youth population,” Jibunoh said.
In the same vein, Mr Lance Kadiri, Chief Executive Officer of Spearman Consulting, stressed the need for various funding options available, for funding of Infrastructure in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the special guest of the session, Dr Lanre Towry Coker, Founder of Tower Coker and Associates, urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to always contribute their quota to nation building through their expertise and extensive global network.
The session attracted notable Nigerians, including Moderator of the Webinar, Dr. Boma Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Doxxie Energy Consulting and Chairman of the Central body of all Nigerian Associations in the UK.
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