POTENTIAL BENEFITS FROM BUDGET 2012 AND SURE-P
Against the backdrop of the recent debate on the removal of fuel
subsidies , and the calculated misinformation being peddled by
opponents of this policy, it is pertinent to highlight, in more
tangible terms, some of the significant allocations that have been made
to essential sectors of the economy, both in the 2012 budget as well as
the recently-launched Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme
(SURE-P). This programme is a 3—4 year programme designed to mitigate
the immediate impact of the removal of fuel subsidy and accelerate
economic growth through investments in critically-needed infrastructure.
It is noteworthy that, while the 2012 budget allocated the best
possible amounts to these critical projects, additional resources are
allocated to the same projects in the SURE programme to ensure that
they are completed at faster rates than envisioned in the 2012 budget.
Some of the projects and allocations are as follow:
WORKS
• N11bn is allocated to the Abuja-Lokoja road in the 2012 Budget, with
an additional N14bn from the SURE-P.
• N6bn is allocated to Benin-Ore-Shagamu, with an additional N16.5bn to
be financed through SURE-P.
• N3bn is allocated to Port-Harcourt–Onitsha road, with an additional
N5bn from the SURE-P.
• Similarly, N18.5bn is allocated to Kano-Maiduguri road, with an
additional N1.5bn from SURE-P.
• Provision is made in the 2012 budget for construction of the Second
Niger Bridge (N2bn) and Oweto Bridge (N3.5bn). An additional N5.5bn and
N4bn would be spent on both bridges respectively from the SURE-P.
• Provision of N23.5bn is made for maintenance of roads and bridges
across the country through Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
POWER
• The total amount allocated to the power sector (including Bulk
Trader, Nelmco, and Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) and PHCN
privatization) is N248bn.
• A sum of N392 million allocated to Nigeria Electricity Liability
Management Company and N650 million for Bulk Trader.
• In the 2012 Budget Proposal, a sum of N3.7bn is allocated to the
Kaduna Dual Fired Power Plant.
• Similarly, N2bn is allocated for the completion of the small and
medium hydro-electric power plants Oyan Dam Hydro Power (Ogun state).
• A sum of N2.2bn is allocated for feasibility studies regarding the
establishment of coal fired power plants.
• Additionally, N155bn will be spent on Power projects (Mambilla power
plant, Coal Power Plant and Small Hydro power plants) through the
SURE-P over the period 2012-2015.
AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT
• The total allocation to the sector is N78.98bn
• N4bn is allocated to research and mechanisation
• Provision of N1.22bn is made for the construction of access roads to
each of the 6 Staple Crop Processing Zones.
• Value Chain: N720 million is allocated to the development of value
chains in cocoa, rice, maize, livestock, cotton and others sectors.
• N1bn is allocated to the Price stabilisation scheme.
• N610 million to facilitate for the access to credit, fertilizers and
seeds.
• An additional sum of US$500m is expected from Development Finance
Institute to support the sector.
TRANSPORT
• Rail lines: The 2012 budget allocates N3.95bn, N3.15bn and N3.35bn to
the construction and completion of Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and
Ajaokuta-Warri rail lines respectively. In addition, the SURE-P
allocates N11.6bn to the Abuja-Kaduna line and N9.3bn to the
Lagos-Ibadan line.
• Provision of N800mn is made for the procurement of wagons, coaches
and locomotives.
• Dredging project: N1.2bn is allocated to the dredging of Lower River
Niger (Warri-Baro).
EDUCATION
• The total allocation to the sector is N400bn
• N11.6bn is allocated for existing universities.
• N7.7bn is allocated for the restructuring to Unity Schools.
• National Teachers Institute: The 2012 budget allocates N3.5bn to the
retraining of teachers for basic education and training in innovative
teaching.
• Moreover, an additional N24.6bn will be spent on vocational training
centres from the SURE-P.
HEALTH
• N4.6bn is allocated to the Polio eradication programme
• N3.5bn is allocated to the procurement of HIV/AIDS Drugs
• The sum of N174 million is allocated to Integrated maternal, newborn
and child health strategy, including capacity building, and promoting
school health initiatives.
• N8.42bn is allocated to Federal University Teaching Hospitals.
• N6bn and N3.6bn are allocated to the procurement of vaccines and
midwifery service scheme respectively.
• An additional N73.8bn will be spent on Maternal and Child heath from
SURE-P.
AVIATION
• Various Airports: N22.2bn is allocated for the modernization of
airport terminals and upgrading of facilities in the six geopolitical
zones of the country.
FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ADMINISTRATION
• N3.1bn is allocated to the construction of a 20,000m3/hr lower Usuma
dam Water Treatment Plants.
• N2.5bn is allocated to the construction of Cultural and Millennium
Tower.
• N1.25bn is allocated to the Development of Idu Industrial Area (1b
Engineering Infrastructure).
• Various road projects including the completion of roads B6, B12 and
circle road (N4bn), rehabilitation and expansion of airport Expressway
(N7.53bn).
NIGER DELTA
• East-West Road (Section I—V): The 2012 budget allocated N22.2bn to
this road. In order to accelerate its completion, an additional N21.7bn
is allocated in 2012 from the SURE programme.
WATER RESOURCES
• N1.2bn is allocated to the construction of Central Ogbia Regional
Water Project.
• A total of N4bn are allocated to the construction of dams.
• Other provision for water facilities (i.e. regional water supply
scheme) of N8bn.
• Rehabilitation of river Basin authorities (12 nos) of N13.91bn.
• Moreover, over the period 2012-2015 an additional N205.5bn will be
invested in rural water scheme, water supply scheme, irrigation scheme
and other water related projects from SURE-P.
These projects will not only significantly improve the country’s
infrastructure, but will also create millions of jobs for Nigerians.
This struggle is not between the government and Nigerians, because
government is squarely on the side of the people. The fight is between
the government and Nigerians on one side, and persons who are bent on
continuing their age-long “milking” of the system for their personal
benefits on the other side.
Please let us support government’s efforts at defeating these persons,
and creating a better country for all Nigerians.
