FG determined to end infrastructure deficit – DG

The Federal Government says it is determined to end infrastructure deficit in the country.
Aminu Diko, the Director-General of Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission, stated this in Calabar, Cross River State during a tour of Calabar Port on Thursday.
Diko said President Muhammadu Buhari, on assumption of office, was worried over the level of infrastructure deficit across the country.
Diko added that the government was ready to deal with the situation through the Public Private partnership.
He said the team was in Calabar Port in continuation of its tour of the facilities across the country to ascertain the level of compliance by the concession operators.
According to Diko, this follows the granting of concession to some terminals in various ports in Nigeria.
“Our role is to ensure that these concessions are running properly and if there is any gap or any lapses, we are going to make a report to the Presidency for necessary action,” he stated.
The DG said the commission was not expected to take sides while performing its statutory duties, adding that the ICRC did not approve or award contracts but only ensured compliance in line with the ICRC Act.
The General Manager, Eastern Ports, Joshua Asanga, described the visit of the commission as very instructive.
Asanga said the tour was a signal for the port operators and Nigerian Ports Authority to rededicate themselves to duty.
He said: “There should be a value addition in terms of performance and in everything.
“It needs total commitment and accountability in the discharge of our responsibilities.”
The team toured the facilities of the two concessioners in the Port, ECN Terminal and Intels Terminals to share their experiences and challenges.
Kingsley Iheanacho, the General Manager of ECN Terminals, while welcoming the team, expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of activities in the port due to non-dredging of the Calabar Port.
According to Iheanacho: “This is drastically affecting our operations.”
NAN.