Several stakeholders have lauded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on its planned N15trn Infrastructure Fund billed to be launched next month. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, had in Abuja at the annual banking and finance conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria stated that the project, which was conceptualised by the apex bank alongside African Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), will help to address the infrastructure deficit in the country. He said InfraCorp would enable the use of mostly private capital to support infrastructure investment that will have a multiplier effect on growth across critical sectors, while providing reasonable returns to investors. Former President, Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) and Chairman of Tricontinental Group, Olabintan Famutimi noted that while the infrastructure deficits in the country remained worrisome and require interventions like the CBN funding, it was important to manage the funds judiciously. He urged the government to channel the funds into viable projects with economic benefits instead of politicising economic and business decisions. He said: “We have huge infrastructure deficit. We need infrastructure but it is more about which infrastructure.

THISDAY