According to Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), President Muhammadu Buhari will launch the first helicopter produced in Nigeria in Kaduna before he leaves office on May 29.
Speaking yesterday, while on a visit to the Kaduna Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology (NAFIT), Haruna said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has planned to establish industrial parks for the automotive industries in three zones of the nation.” Referring to Nnewi (Anambra State), Osogbo (Osun State), and Igabi (Kaduna State).
“The car parks will become self-sustaining and a source of revenue for the government once they have been fully occupied and outfitted. The Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning has set aside N3,250,000,000 for the project’s launch in the first phase, and we applaud the Honourable Minister for his dedication and enthusiasm in the endeavor.
“We are equally appreciative of Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, for the provision of 50 hectares of land and his Excellency’s generosity in waiving all statutory fees for the title of the land,” he added
The reasons for creating the industrial parks were outlined by Haruna. He declared: “The project initiative is consistent with the idea of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, which initially proposed constructing the Automotive Supplier Industrial Park (ASIP) in these three regions of the nation for technical progression in the automotive sector.
“This is in line with the mandate of NASENI for provision and development of primary and intermediate capital projects required for machine and equipment design, fabrication, and mass production, in order to provide the enabling environment for sustainable industrialization of the country.
“The Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute (HEDI), a NASENI institute in Kano, is overseeing the project on behalf of the agency. It will bring in foreign exchange for the nation and halt the impartation of auto parts.
“Technologies prospecting for domestication from our counterpart agencies across the world for aircraft manufacturing will have pilot plants for realisation here in Kaduna by the Grace and will of God. The facilities designed to be provided; machineries, equipment, laboratories, and workshops will be shared facilities with the AFIT and the Nigerian Air Force,” he said.
According to AFIT Commandant AVM Paul Jemitola, the organization is prepared to work with NASENI. For the benefit of all parties involved, he pledged to maximize the advantages of the collaboration.
