Federal Government has announced its willingness to accept collaboration with any firm to revamp the moribund Ministry of Works & Housing Central Workshop at Ijora, Lagos, in order to boost its skills development agenda.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Housing, Alhaji Babangida Hussaini, disclosed this, on Thursday when he led officials of the Ministry on an assessment tour of facilities in the workshop which was the Nigeria’s mechanical and electrical hub in the 70s and 80s.
He lamented the loss of track in Nigeria’s policy direction in addressing unemployment and skills development, stressing that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is poised to restore the lost glory of the workshop and boost its employment agenda.
Hussaini pledged to revamp the current dilapidated nature of the Centre before December 2021, in line with President Buhari’s vision to lift one million Nigerians out of poverty.
According to him, the idea was to assess the state of facilities and equipment in the Centre and review its operation to meet the demands of the 20th Century population.
He said that turning around the Centre would help in addressing unemployment in the country.
“Skills acquisition is key to revamping and turning around the fortune of the country.
“In the 70s and 80s, the Centre was a hub for artisans, craftsmen and medium calibrators where all major mechanical and electrical works were done here.
“We have several ideas. We are looking at partnership agreements with any willing company or concessionaire, who want to work with the government to facilitate the effective utilisation of the resources in the Centre.
