FG’s transformation agenda’ll boost construction sector — FOCI

The President, Federation of Construction Industries, Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, has said that the expected growth in the construction industry will be driven by the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, which has led to infrastructural development in various parts of the country.

Ogunbusola spoke at the 2014 Building, Construction and Mining Mart, which ended on Friday in Lagos.

He said, “The growth in our members’ investment value will be driven by the Federal Government’s transformation agenda.  The government is doing a lot of transformation, and in the construction industry, we are not just talking about road construction, we are also talking about transformation in rail and air transport.

“No government has invested more in infrastructure provision, especially roads, than the present government under President Goodluck Jonathan. If you go to the far North, you will see massive investment in road and rail infrastructure.”

According to him, most of the roads in the eastern and northern parts of the country are being expanded into dual carriageways.

“As all these are going on, some of our 125 members, especially the big ones like Julius Berger, Dantata and Sawoe, and PW, among others, are getting involved and if it goes on like that, I am sure that by 2021, their investment value will triple,” he said.

Ogunbusola said contrary to the belief that the government had preference for foreign firms in the award of contracts; the reverse was the case as the government now patronised indigenous construction firms.

He said the current policy of the Federal Ministry of Works was that any contract below N5bn should be given to indigenous firms.

The president said urged members of FOCI to take advantage of the opportunity to boost the growth of the industry.

Ogunbusola also said the industry was worried about the dearth of artisans in the country, adding FOCI was in Canada last year to source for artisans.

“We wanted technical colleges in this country to help us to train our people who would return home and be hired by our member industries. We are making progress and we are on this effort with the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria,” he said.