Governors Forum Advocates PPP Expansion To Close Infrastructure Gap

Tosin Kolade
Oct, Thu, 2024

Economy/Business

Governors Forum advocates PPP expansion to close infrastructure gap

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By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has called for collaborative efforts to enhance Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to address Nigeria’s infrastructure gap.

AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, Governor of Kwara and Chairman of the NGF, made this call at the 2nd Joint PPP Units Consultative Forum (3PUCF) and the Nigeria PPP Network (NPPPN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day event was organised by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

The theme of the meeting is “Using PPP to Actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda in Nigeria’s Infrastructure Delivery”.

Abdulrazaq, represented by Abdulateef Shittu, Director-General of the NGF, stated that there was a 100 billion dollar infrastructure deficit at the subnational level.

“Overall, at both federal and state levels, we face an infrastructure deficit of over $200 billion. Since the government alone cannot shoulder this cost, we need collaboration with the private sector,” he said.

According to Abdulrazaq, challenges such as financing gaps exist, but these must be addressed collectively to boost investor confidence and ensure the success of PPPs.

“The private and public sectors, together with development partners, must seize this opportunity to examine best practices, identify challenges, and develop concrete solutions for implementing PPP projects,” he added.

He noted that the theme of the meeting was timely and relevant, as citizens expect the government to provide the infrastructure necessary for economic growth, job creation, and improved quality of life.

“At the core of the Renewed Hope Agenda is the desire to improve the lives of Nigerians by creating jobs, enhancing access to quality services, and building an economy that benefits everyone.

“Infrastructure is the backbone of this vision, and PPPs provide a unique opportunity to mobilise resources and expertise to achieve it,” Abdulrazaq said.

Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, Director-General of the ICRC, also noted the importance of collaboration in closing the infrastructure gap in the country.

Ewalefoh explained that the forum was designed to review how agencies have been performing in terms of PPP implementation.

“At this forum, we exchange ideas and gather feedback from various agencies on strategies for advancing infrastructure development in the country.

“We aim to professionalise this platform and work more closely with the agencies and the Governors’ Forum to achieve this. Together, we are striving for a unified national approach, both at the federal and subnational levels,” he said.

Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to strengthening public-private partnerships.

Edun, represented by Mrs Lola Uket, Director of Technical Services at the ministry, emphasised the role of PPPs in achieving the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit is estimated at $100 billion, and PPPs can help bridge this gap by attracting $20 billion in private investment annually.

“Through effective collaboration, we can accelerate the delivery of essential projects in sectors such as energy, transportation, healthcare, education, and others critical to our nation’s development.

“With PPPs, the government aims to increase agricultural productivity by 20 per cent over the next three years.

“Nigeria has a renewable energy potential of over 200,000 MW, and our target is to harness at least 20 per cent of this potential by 2030,” Edun said.

He added that Nigeria’s current literacy rate is 62 per cent, with the goal of increasing it to 75 per cent by 2028 through PPP initiatives.

According to him, the government aims to boost the contribution of the non-oil sector to the GDP from the current 90 per cent to 95 per cent by 2030.

Edun urged participants to commit to fostering a conducive environment for PPPs by ensuring transparent policies, a strong legal and regulatory framework, and synergy among stakeholders.

Mrs Dadi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Chairman of the Forum, reiterated the commitment to creating a platform where public and private stakeholders can align their interests.

Walson-Jack, represented by Mrs Fatima Mahmood, Permanent Secretary for Career Services, said the forum would address challenges and develop innovative solutions to accelerate the delivery of key infrastructure projects, improving the quality of life for citizens.

The 3PUCF is a forum for heads of PPP units in federal MDAs, while the NPPPN, under the aegis of the NGF, is a network of PPP agencies at the state level. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

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