The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, on Friday, said it had received orders from Uganda, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire to produce and supply laboratory equipment for secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Mohammad Haruna, disclosed this to State House Correspondents shortly after a closed-door meeting with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Haruna said he was at the villa to brief the President about the agency’s activities and finances for the third quarter of 2022. According to him, Friday’s briefing would have been held on an earlier date but for the President’s tight schedule.
Revealing the revenue-generating efforts for the 2023 fiscal year, he explained that NASENI is implementing various local and international contracts to manufacture and supply laboratory equipment.
“Yes, we are generating revenue. Our solar manufacturing plant is a limited liability company of the government. That is revenue for the government. Other activities are the production of the laboratory equipment for secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
“Just yesterday (Thursday), we received orders from Uganda. They want supply of this laboratory equipment from us. That is a revenue source for the government.
“Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire are also patronising these products. Payment for this goes directly into the consolidated revenue account. So, that is some of our revenue-generating activities.”
Haruna also revealed that the agency received N44.56bn from the federal coffers. This is 20 per cent less than the N56bn earlier appropriated for the 2022 fiscal year.
The PUNCH reports that the Senate approved the President’s request to extend the responsive period for the 2022 national budget to March 31, 2023.
Between July and September 2022, NASENI received N35.61bn as first-line charges. N28.77bn of that amount has been spent, leaving a balance of N6.84bn, said the executive vice chairman.
Giving specifics of the spending, he said “The major areas that these funds were utilised are the federal government of Nigeria’s 15 per cent counterpart funding for our projects with China Great Wall Industry Cooperation for the establishment of a transformer manufacturing plant, the establishment of high voltage technology testing laboratory and the production of solar cells in Nigeria the total project costs, of course, was the China Great Wall is $325.86m.
“The Federal government is to provide 15 per cent. Out of these, NASENI has so far paid N10bn or $23,928,063. So out of the $48m of the 15 per cent counterpart funding, we have paid so far $23.9m. The balance as of the end of the third quarter is N24.9m.”
He also explained that the funds went for the acquisition and domestication of technologies for the laboratory equipment for the secondary and tertiary institutions from Delorenzo, Italy. This includes training and local production of equipment.
According to him, the infrastructure agency utilised part of the appropriated funds for aircraft development and some defense-related equipment.
“Part of our collaboration with the defense sector and development of three out of the 12 new Institutes that the federal government has approved and the development of three out of 24 skill development centers that Mr. President has approved.
“And of course, completion and equipping NASENI technology complex that Mr. President has commissioned recently. And the production of food processing equipment and provision of laboratory equipment, and of course, upgrading NASENI institutes across the nation. These are the major areas,” he continued.
The Federal Government will complete payment of the 15 per cent counterpart funding of the China Great Wall Corporation by Q2 2023, Prof. Haruna disclosed.
Responding to a question by our correspondent, the NASENI Boss revealed that three out of 24 skill development centres will be commissioned by March 2023.
“The ones that are near completion are the Agricultural Equipment and Machinery Development Institute in Mbutu, Aboh-Mbaise near Owerri in Imo state. This has been delayed by some security challenges.
“However, through the intervention of the state governor, work is taking place at the site 24 hours. God willing, in March, after the elections, the President will commission that.
“So also, the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute in Lafia Nasarawa state. Work has reached advanced stage. That one also will be due for commissioning. There is skill development centre in Gwantu, Kaduna state. That one will be ready for commissioning in March too,” he said.
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