Minna, the Niger State capital will today have the honor of receiving Nigeria’s top economic professionals, who will be having a 2day conference aim at deliberating on the deregulation of the downstream sector of the nation’s economy.

CEOAFRICA news desk have it that in the conference which is organized by the National Council on Finance and Economic Development, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance, the issues that centre on deregulation and its impact on the nation in terms of revenue generation and utilization in an era of economic meltdown will be scanned.

Nigeria’s top economic professionals expected to be present at this August conference include the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Petroleum, Dr. (Mrs) Diezani Allison Madueke; Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama; the Accountant Generals in all the 36 states of the federation, among others.

The Vice President Namadi Sambo will also be present and would be received by the Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre as the Special Guest of Honour.

The discourse in the conference will be focused on the policy that enshrine the reduction, or removal of excessive control, rules and regulations made by the government that restrain free activities in the operation of the sector.

The issue of fiscal and investment implication of the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector as well as the assessment of deregulation of the downstream sector as a critical economic development driver in Nigeria will be ascertained to attract foreign direct investment to the petroleum sector.

The issues to be raised are likely to focus on the cushioning the effect that fuel subsidy removal is likely to cause. These are in the area of infrastructure projects like rail transport projects, Niger Delta development; road development projects, water and agriculture development (irrigation projects), electrical power projects (hydropower) and Greenfield Petroleum Sector Projects to be sited in Kogi, Lagos and Bayelsa states.

There will also be an assessment of the Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE programme) established to alleviate poverty.

The papers are also likely to touch on safety net programmes like public works/youth employment programme, maternal and child health services, urban mass transit scheme, and vocational skills acquisition and self entrepreneurship skill development.