In efforts to optimise the services of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), the Federal Government, through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), has inaugurated an interagency committee between the two agencies to enable the Institute to deliver on its mandate.
Inaugurating the 7-member committee in Abuja recently, Director-General of BPE, Alex Okoh, said the projects’ reform and infrastructural development of the Institute will be executed through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
He expressed the Bureau’s commitment to partnering with FRIN for the successful execution of the following projects through PPP transactions:
- Plantation development of Tectona grandis (Teak) for Timber exportation;
- Plantation development of Acacia Senegal for gum Arabic production for local industry and exportation;
- Plantation development of Vitellaria paradoxa (Shea butter tree) for pharmaceutical, dietary and cosmetic products for local industry and exportation;
- Plantation development of Gmelina arborea (short fibre) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (long fibre) for pulp and paper production;
- Biomedicinal products development; and
- Production of saw dust-cement board for use in the building industry.
The projects’ reform and infrastructural development of the Institute will be executed through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Okoh recalled that the Bureau, in pursuance of its mandate for the reform of government-owned enterprises, had written to FRIN requesting its collaboration to bring in reform initiatives on some of the projects under its purview, to ensure identified viable projects were structured to attract investors through PPP arrangement.
The membership drawn from the two organisations include Prof. O. Akinyemi, Prof. F.A Aderounmu, Mrs. O, A Bamgbade, Dr. Obiora Obiagwu, Ahmed Abdulkadir, Abubakar Dutse, and Gladys Madu.
The members are charged to review, the operations of the identified projects, their challenges and come up with a strategy; the Institute’s facilities for the purpose of ascertaining their technical requirements and value of the enterprises; and all lease agreements with the Institute to ensure conformity with the standard procedure of the FGN’s requirements in line with the original concept.
The Director of Research, FRIN, Prof. Akinyemi thanked Okoh and the management of the Bureau for recognising the Institute as a valuable organisation capable of adding value to plantation projects in the country.
