The Minister of National Planning, Shamsudden Usman, on Tuesday said that Nigeria needs 2.9 trillion dollars to close the infrastructure gap over the next 30 years.

Usman who is also Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission(NPC) disclosed this at the South West validation workshop on the draft National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan(NIIMP) in Ibadan,the 0yo state capital said that the amount is the required investments to close infrastructure gap between 2014 and 2034.

While saying that the country currently spends between 9-10 billion dollars per annum  on infrastructure, the Minister  disclosed that the 30 year NIIMP plan will cut across various sectors of the economy  and accelerate economic activities for the teeming populace.

Accordng to him, the NIIMP become necessary in view of Nigeria's huge

infrastructure gap,which has slowed down economic growth,reduced the impact of efforts in reducing poverty and unemployment and made life more difficult for Nigerians.

The Minister who was represented at the workshop by Secretary to NCP, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo which had stakeholders from South West Zone in attendance listed benefits of NIIMP to include enhanced economic growth, prioritised projects and programmes,efficient allocation of resources, enabling environment for investors ,positive externalities and investors guide adding that bottom line will be to build strong and inclusive growth and  creating jobs for Nigerians