A few days ago I received a mail on Linkedin from the Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria) trying to sell the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
I doubt if the Minister sent this mail personally (it is immaterial who did), what is of importance is that the Minister or her team is taking the time and pain to reach out to Nigerians to generate support for the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). This is simply called Social Media Marketing at its bestl
Details of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P)
Against the backdrop of the recent debate on the removal of fuel subsidy 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 Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) 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 Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
• N6bn is allocated to Benin-Ore-Shagamu, with an additional N16.5bn to be financed through SURE Programme.
• N3bn is allocated to Port-Harcourt–Onitsha road, with an additional N5bn from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
• Similarly, N18.5bn is allocated to Kano-Maiduguri road, with an additional N1.5bn from SURE Programme.
• 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 Programme.
• 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 Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (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 Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (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 Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (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 Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (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.
***The End
My question to you is simple; should we give this Government a chance and monitor them using Social Media?
Comment lets pray dis billions of naira wuld b used 4 d projects is been allocated 2
I’m disappointed at the way SURE-P implementation is being handled.The very persons who should ensure it takes off immediately are the very ones thwarting the efforts and good intentions of Mr President.What is written here is what it should be, but not what is obtained.This programme is the common man’s hope
I have the temptation to believe it’s yet another lie been fed †o nigerians,not because it’s what the leadership intends but because those charged with the duty to ensure it kicks off in the 36 states are toying with it.Uptil now,the 36 states chairmen and their members have not been equipped †o start work.Why?I humbly call on Mr President to look in †o this matter before he is been rubbished by his lieutenants
Good plans but wen do they intend †? start.Uptil now the SIC haven't been equipped to start work.what are they waiting for ?
Is a welcome devt. by initiating the programme but the executors wil not do do as expected.Na naija we de ooo
Its nice to see that our government is ready to take their subjects to the next level,but the question still remain unanswerd,hw can we trust our future in the hands of this money misiles?hw would they implement all this projects without half of d money throne outside country?
Well great plan, for great nigerians
We are jobless and i didnt have hold even twenty thousand per month, so.only God can judge.
so without subsidy our government will not recognise that those provision of amenities to better the people of Nigeria is their primary constitutional function, they are just redundantly rolling their programee.
Intersting to nigerian people
Most of the comments pointed to some degree of loss of faith on those that will handle the project. If I were the President,I go get my big hammer for a possible showdown with people who wants to reap where they did not sow. Then, i use part of the subsidy money to expand our prisons. That is where those who mess with this laudable project will be expressly kept, out of circulation so that we can move on. Less for the fear of corrupt hands, this deregulation initiative will launch the country to where it ought to be in the committe of great nations. Nigerian are scared that the money will not be used as desired by the Presudent and that the very rich in the society would hijack the good plan. Do you know how all these billions of Naira came about?Simple,from the extra money we pay on petroleum products we buy when it was jacked up from 65 Naira to the current 97 Naira and also the full deregulation of diesel. So this is the sacrifice of all Nigerians towards the success of this administration that has President Goodluck Jonathan on the saddle. It is time for the president to wield the big stick on corrupt Nigerians. If you don’t knock a Nigerian hard,yes I mean hard, he or she will surely corrupt your plans. He or she will derail you. If he throws them into jail without delay, others will sit up and give Nigerians the very best. Otherwise, watch them mess our future with impunity. They will send their children to schools even in Togo with our sweat. Buy jeeps and take little girls of their daughters ages for shopping around the globe and vice-versa. Uncle jonathan, please do not allow them. Convince Nigerian that you will wield the bigstick, send them to jail when they mess with this deregulations that you so much desire for our dear country, Nigeria. Pass through Abuja-Lokoja road and see why you wont be appy with Mr President. It hurts that we don’t like good things here in our country but go for them in other countries. Posterity will judge those who are pulling this great country backward.
I agree with you to a very large extent but there is a huge hope for Nigeria. We need to believe there is hope because there is hope truly for Nigeria as long as you and I in our little way contribute positively to this Nation.
Let’s keep hope alive!
I hate it when Nigerians write in pidgin or use funny words understood only by them plus a few others. Please emphasize the use of correct English sentences and words so that we know the class of people we are engaging with in conversation.
I love the idea behind SURE-P. I believe in the project. I am optimistic that it will succeed. I appeal to all stakeholders to work towards its success for the benefit of all Nigerians.