The Highway Development and Management Initiative, HDMI road project, according to the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, is the largest highway concession ever undertaken on the African Continent with the potential to create 5,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect jobs, if successful.
Fashola noted this while delivering his keynote address at the Lagos Business School, LBS Evening with the Ministers Series held on recently to clear outstanding issues on the project.
“And speaking of information or lack thereof about opportunities and policies, I recall that it was to this business school that we came for the launch of the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) to share information and opportunities regarding the planned concession of 12 highways spanning over 1,000 km of the federal road network, and the opportunity for investment growth and job creation.” He said.
Mr Babatunde Fashola said the government did not go to a foreign business school to launch the initiative, even while there are many options to choose from for the project.
He revealed that the Ministry could attest that out of 75 applicants, 18 have been prequalified and will soon be requested to submit proposals and environmental and social impact studies, which are concurrently being undertaken.
The Minister revealed that the national tolling policy had been approved to guide the development of business plans in the state.
Every quarter, he said the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS releases reports about the growth situations in the economy, adding that he observed a negative result readily acceptable and pleasing to some people, but would question the data when the same Bureau announces positive quarterly economic performances.