EDITORIAL: Decision to accelerate Northern Corridor projects timely

The leaders of Northern Corridor Infrastructure Projects (NCIP) partner states converged in Kigali on Thursday for their 12th summit during which they directed that responsible officials take concrete steps to fast-track a raft of joint projects. One of the key decisions was that concerned ministers and technocrats shall henceforth meet to review the projects once a month instead of once in two months, which the leaders said would help add new impetus in the implementation of the 14 projects that have been approved and undertaken by partner states. The NCIP initiative is the brainchild of Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, who first met under this initially tri-partite arrangement in June, 2013 in Uganda, with a view to jointly speed up key projects that would benefit the three countries and the wider region. That the three leaders have since met a whopping dozen times in roughly two-and-a-half years with several projects already bearing fruit with the principals still feeling that the pace at which these projects are being implemented can be accelerated is telling. It’s proof that where political will is in no short supply things get done. Indeed, thanks to the gains already registered under the NCIP initiative, several countries have joined the effort, with South Sudan and Ethiopia already fully-fledged members, with the latter having sealed its membership this week in Kigali, while DR Congo has applied to join specific projects, particularly the Standard Gauge Railway scheme. Burundi and Tanzania too have taken note with both sending delegations to recent successive NCIP summits. The entry of Ethiopia into NCIP initiative is an important development and will significantly boost the Northern Corridor development and cooperation agenda, as well as the wider Eastern African integration project. It is from such tangible and pro-people actions that will strengthen regional economic communities across Africa, break down barriers between the African peoples and nations and, ultimately, lead to a strong case for a United States Africa. The leaders of the Northern Corridor partner states deserve commendation for their continued commitment to making the integration agenda a reality by ensuring it directly impacts the ordinary people.

Opinions

EDITORIAL: Decision to accelerate Northern Corridor projects timely