Stakeholders have warned that delay by the Federal Government in implementing the Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN) is holding back foreign investors and the European Union in confirming their participation in the scheme.

The Head of BRISIN International team from Italy, Prof. Vincenzo Naso, stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja with the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma.

Naso said in a statement issued on Friday by the National Media Coordinator, BRISIN, Mr. Tajudeen Kareem, that the failure to expedite action on the project has denied Nigeria the benefit of efficient planning and rapid economic development.

He said he was in Nigeria with his team for the flag-off of the project, which has been on the drawing board since 2007 when an agreement was signed with Dermo Impex, the solution providers. They left for Italy with mixed feelings owing to lack of proper coordination between the Ministry and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

He said: “Delaying this project has caused Nigeria some reasonable setback in credibility and proper economic planning. It has negatively affected internally generated revenue, fiscal policy and management, security control and migration monitor as well as provision of social welfare services.

“I have the strong opinion that the continued delay of this project is dangerous and your government cannot afford to allow other smaller African countries move ahead while you keep watching without taking the necessary steps developed countries took to get to where they are today.” (THISDAY)

•Photo shows Minister of Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah