The Federal Government is to collaborate with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to address Nigeria’s infrastructural challenges. This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the Head of Information Unit of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Mr Salisu Haiba. The statement said the National Planning Minister, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, disclosed this at a pre-planning meeting for a proposed collaborative round table on “Infrastructural Development and Public-private Partnership in Nigeria”.

It said the meeting, which was organised by the commission on and the WEF on Thursday, would further consolidate on the collaborative effort being put in place by the Federal Government to improve infrastructure in Nigeria. Usman described infrastructure as a critical growth driver and an enabler for agricultural transformation.

“It is necessary to know the kind of infrastructural development needed in the country in years to come,” Usman said. He said that with the right policies and enabling environment, infrastructural development would thrive as evidenced by telecommunication sector. The WEF Director/Head of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Dr Pedro de Almeide, said  the delegation was in Nigeria to deepen engagement with the country with a view to addressing its infrastructural challenges.

He said the visit was to deliberate on modalities of a forum scheduled for 21014 in Nigeria.