FG TASKS CONCESSIONAIRE ON THE REVITALIZATION OF CENTRAL WORKSHOP IJORA LAGOS FOR OPTIMAL DELIVERY.

The concessionaire interested in investment in the rehabilitation and management of the Central Workshop Ijora, Lagos under Public Private Partnership has been tasked on the need to leverage on the private sector initiatives of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of Nigeria, *His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR* to invest on technologies that will promote best construction standards in Nigeria, bearing in mind the mandate of the Central Workshop which is essentially public works as provided by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

The Honourable Minister of Works, *His Excellency, Sen. Engr Nweze David Umahi CON* stated this during a concession review meeting with the Public Private Partnership unit of the Federal Ministry of Works led by its head, *Ugwu- Chima Nnennaya (Mrs)* and Messrs. BETA Transport Nigeria Ltd led by its Director, *Nana Fatima Paturel*, dated 13th February 2024. He urged them to see the partnership as an opportunity to develop technologies that would help in the building and maintenance of the government's infrastructure, especially buildings, road construction, bridges, rail tracks, harbours and aerodromes. 

He highlighted the importance of the Federal Government's approval for the concession of the Central Works Ijora, Lagos and expressed confidence that if fully rehabilitated and put into optimal use, it would create job opportunities and help in the training of Nigerian youths, artisans and craftsmen that would close the gap in the human capital formation needed to drive the construction and manufacturing industry 

Considering the report on the processes leading to the finalization of the concession agreement with Messrs BETA Transport Nigeria Ltd, the Honourable Minister expressed reservations over the strength of negotiation that gave rise to the financial close, and therefore constituted a five- member committee to re- evaluate the negotiation outcome and make appropriate recommendations with a view to achieving value for the federal government.The Committee is made up of the following members:

1. Director Highway Construction and Rehabilitation - Chairman 

2. Director Highway Panning & Development - member

3. Director Engineering Services 

4. Director Legal Services

5. Head Public Private Partnership - Secretary 

Responding on behalf of the committee, the Chairman thanked the Hon. Minister for his sense of commitment to the cause of national development and for the ethical standards he introduced in the conduct of government businesses in the Federal Ministry of Works and assured him that the committee would deliver on a record time in the assignment given to them.