Abuja — The Federal Executive Council has approved the final framework for the implementation of the technical economic blueprint for the transformation of Nigeria into a modern economy, among the 20 leading countries in the world, called Vision 20- 2020.

This was disclosed during the media briefing after the council meeting held on February 6 in Abuja, by Information and Communications Minister John Odey, in company of his counterpart, Minister of State, Alhaji Ibrahim Nakande and National Planning Minister, Sanusi Daggash.

Senator Sanusi Daggash, who stated that the date of implementation would be announced after a committee constituted by the FEC and headed by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Shamshudeen Usman, submits its report and it is adopted, disclosed that the framework approved by the Council for the realization of the Vision 20-2020 include,

The National Council on Vision 2020 with the President as chairman. Other members are the Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, six governors drawn each from the six geo-political zones and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

The second body is The National Steering Committee, which will be charged with developing the Vision 2020 plan for implementation while the third body is the Secretariat with the Minister of National Planning as chairman.

The National Working Group, the Stakeholders Development Committee (to drive the templates) and the Economic Management Team (charged with driving the policy) are also to be established.

Based on the framework approved by the Council, it is expected that by February 28, this year, the National Council on Vision 2020 and the National Steering Committee would have been constituted. By March 1, this year, the component committees would have been in place.

The first meeting of the National Council is expected to hold by April, while President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is slated to announce and articulate the national priorities enunciated in the Vision 2020 and the key benchmarks for achieving them on May 29, this year on the first anniversary of his government.

The final blueprint would have been prepared and ready for approval by the National Council and the Federal Government by the end of November 2008. The final 20-2020 document is slated to be launched by President Yar'Adua by January 2009 year,

Senator Daggash noted "every sector, agency or department that has anything to do with preparing Nigeria for the future will be incorporated. Ministers and experts will chair the National Planning Committees. And this is the technical economic blueprint to take us from where we are now to where we want to be by the year 2020."

The council also approved the restriction of the importation of unserviceable and sub-standard computers and other electrical and electronic appliances. The restriction, which would be through a fiscal regime whereby they would now be subjected to import duties, is aimed at safeguarding the health of the people and promote development.

Mr. Odey stated that these appliances are now classified as e-wastes and that these scraps are now being imported into Nigeria and cannibalized to fix others. They are brought in droves because they are classified as educational materials, which attract zero duty. He noted that the phenomenal daily growth in ICT technology has led to rapid product obsolescence, generation and accumulation of wastes; resulting from discarded obsolete products which are presently constituting very serious environmental nuisance.

"The Council noted that the restriction in the importation of these unserviceable products will result in the reduction in the pollution level of urban air quality, surface and ground water resources by pollutants from the burning of waste and disposal of wastes into river, water bodies. We want to make it unprofitable to import these unserviceable products. They are burned and the smokes they release into the air are toxic and are accelerating health issues including cancer, bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses." He added.