Govt strategises to implement industrial revolution plan

The Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) may soon be implemented in full going by current measures being put in place by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to actualise the agenda.

According to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, government is currently considering policies that will lead to proper implementation of the plan as a measure to help the country find alternatives to revenue sources.

Speaking at the unveiling of ‘The Market Square’, an initiative of Footprint to Africa, aimed at reducing key challenges for Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, Enelamah said government would concentrate on fixing infrastructure deficit, particularly at various industrial zones to make the plan a reality.

Developed under the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, NIRP focuses on developing sectors, where Nigeria has a natural comparative advantage and creating an enabling environment through reducing the current major barriers to development. Such sectors being focused include agriculture and agro-products; metals and solid minerals; oil and gas; construction and light manufacturing services.

Enelamah said: “The NIRP, launched by the previous government is a very good document; it is now time for us to at look plans and policies towards its implementation.

“What is most important is to create zones where you have a concentration of infrastructure because every industrialised nation has infrastructure, without adequate infrastructure it will be difficult to achieve the plan. Just like other countries have done we want to concentrate infrastructure in certain areas to make the plan a reality.

“We are also going to focus on creating enabling environment for business to grow working with the private sector. This is what every tier and level of government is currently interested in including the president.