The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has announced the approval of N169.7 billion for the reconstruction of four roads under the tax credit scheme.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola after the FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The scheme seeks to encourage public-private partnership interventions and is a ten-year scheme that enables the federal government to leverage private sector funding for the construction or refurbishment of eligible road infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
What the minister is saying
Fashola said the approval was in response to the tax credit scheme, initiated in 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari after signing Executive Order 7.
He said, “The two main memoranda relate to the uptake by the private sector in response to the tax credit programme, which we initiated in 2019, by Mr President signing of Executive Order 7 to allow private sector finance public infrastructure in lieu of tax and then to offset it over time, using tax credits.
“So, the first road that was awarded today on that policy initiative is the road from Bali to Sheti through Gashaka to Gembu in Taraba state – 234 kilometres, reconstruction of the road at a cost of N95.232billion.
“The existing road, for those who are familiar with it, has no concrete stone base.
“So it’s just laterite on the asphalt so it doesn’t last and it’s breaking up and leading to potholes.
“So, we have awarded this now for reconstruction under the tax credit scheme; there’s a N20 billion provision under the NNPC tax credit scheme that will be used to kick-start this immediately.
“So, this is a road that should not suffer from sustained funding challenges. Now that council has approved it, and it’s very critical road leading to the Mambilla Plateau.’’
The Minister added that the FEC approved Mainstream Energy Solutions, to invest over N74 billion in the reconstruction of three roads in Kebbi and Niger States.
“The second project, which is also on tax credit scheme approved by council, is actually three roads.
“The applicant, in this case, is Mainstream Energy Solutions, a major energy player in the country, is now seeking to also participate in this policy by investing about N74.4bn,” he said.
What you should know about tax credit
- On January 25, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Executive order 007.
- Executive Order 007 established the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme 2019. The scheme seeks to encourage public-private partnership interventions.
- The scheme is a ten-year scheme that enables the federal government to leverage on private sector funding for the construction orrefurbishment of eligible road infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
- The Federal Government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of N621 billion to fund the construction of critical road infrastructure across the country.
Pls we want federal government to help us with good road in lafiagi and federal University of biomedical Heath and science technology pls Mrs president with due of ur respect
Federal government should also helps to reconstruct ijebuode shagamu road inward epe,it has been there for ages,nothing has been done it even perching it,pls it needs to be of standard,is a federal road and people in that axis are suffering,pls help the masses Mr president and monster sir.