2) Infrastructural Development
We must appreciate the critical importance of infrastructure. We cannot have a functioning body without the skeleton as it guarantees that all other parts of the body function well.
Infrastructure must be developed with a holistic perspective. The starting point will be in carrying out geographic surveys and adequate plans that will highlight the nation's physical features, resources and locations in order to ensure their optimal utilization.
Master plans will be created for regions, urban centres and rural communities. The goal is to achieve planned communities throughout Nigeria and to eliminate shanties and slums. We shall halt the growth of existing shanties and slums and take measures to prevent the emergence of new ones. In doing this though, citizens must never be traumatized. Adequate provision for resettlement and rehabilitation will be made before clearing of shantytowns and settlements.
As a result of many years of neglect and mismanagement, Nigeria is very backward in infrastructural development. We need huge financial investments in infrastructure to achieve our economic and developmental goals. This cannot be achieved only through government earnings, but will demand creative financing which will include technical partnerships, concession, futures trading, developmental loans, foreign direct investment and huge private initiatives.
Nigeria must be in a hurry to develop, catch up and even surpass most of the nations around the world. Urban infrastructure must always be provided ahead of population growth, while rural infrastructure should make rural areas livable and adequately connected with the urban centres. To this end, we will focus our infrastructural development programmes on the following areas:
Energy
• Our government will come up with a comprehensive strategy to give Nigerians uninterrupted power supply within 6yrs.
• We will build big and small hydro power stations in suitable locations.
• We will build a network of gas pipelines to make it easy to build gas turbine power stations in locations where hydro power station is not possible.
• We will develop our coal mining capacity and use coal for power generation.
• We will also harness alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, nuclear and bio fuel.
• Our strategy is to encourage small power stations across the country.
• We will create enabling environment for effective private sector participation in the power sector.
• Simultaneously we will ensure adequate power transmission and distribution to ensure that electricity is readily available to all communities in Nigeria.
Water
• A lot of health problems are created by scarcity of potable water. Nigeria is blessed with abundance of fresh water including underground supply.
• We will reduce our huge health bill and enhance life expectancy by providing potable water supply for all Nigerian Communities.
Transport
• We will connect all parts of Nigeria with international standard inter-state highways to be built simultaneously nationwide until every State is connected. We will involve the State governments and private developers as partners in this project.
• Similarly, Nigeria needs a network of railway lines connecting all the geo-political zones so as to reduce pressure on the roads while ensuring that goods and services are distributed more efficiently.
• We will acquire the technical expertise to build a world-class railway system that can be extended to other parts of Africa in the future. We will also develop a homegrown capacity for maintaining and running the railway system.
• An airport is not just a transit point for traveling passengers. It should also be a centre for commerce and recreation. Selected airports will be developed as integrated centres for aviation, commerce, tourism and recreation.
• Safety of air travelers will be given priority to enhance confidence in our air industry.
• Efforts will be made to develop our capacity to maintain aircraft and produce components in Nigeria. The ultimate goals will be to have Nigerian airlines become respectable international brands and make Lagos and Abuja African aviation hubs.
• Nigerian inland waterways and coastal waterways have suffered neglect over the years, yet their potentialities for transportation and tourism cannot be over-emphasized. As part of our integrated transport system, we will develop our waterways by building coastal and inland ports in relevant locations.
Telecommunications
• We will ensure that the existing network of optic fibre built by various telecommunication companies is upgraded to a fully integrated backbone that can get every home and work place connected with broadband facilities. This will make telephone, Internet and entertainment services readily available to all Nigerians for domestic, commercial and security purposes.
• We will also create enabling environment for private companies to manufacture telephone handsets and components for the telecommunication industry.
Housing
• The surest way for efficient housing delivery is through partnership between the public and private sectors. In addition to planning, our government will enforce strict development control such that no building will be erected anywhere in Nigeria without the necessary statutory approvals.
• Site and services will be provided in urban and rural communities. Private estate development schemes will be enhanced through easy access to financing while government for long term leasing will provide low cost housing schemes.
• Affordable mortgage financing will be made readily available to working citizens through mortgage banks, commercial banks and building societies.
Rural Infrastructure
Rural communities provide most of the agricultural supplies for the urban centres as well as raw materials for the industries.
• As part of our policy of providing the good life for all, basic infrastructure development will be extended to the rural communities to boost economic activities in those areas and halt the rural-urban drift.
Environment
• We shall make Nigeria an orderly and beautiful nation through the adoption of efficient environmental management practices and standards.
• We will promote the spirit of responsible stewardship in managing the environment.
• We will prevent and minimize environmental pollution and degradation, while avoiding ecological disasters through proactive environmental engineering, appropriate legislation, and heavy penalties will be put in place to deter environmental abuses.
• Our goal is to replenish and control our environment and pursue a national policy of beautification in our homes, communities' streets and even highways. We will make environmental beautification a major industry in Nigeria.
• All forms of noise pollution will be adequately discouraged and sanctioned
