President Bola Tinubu has directed that all approved infrastructure projects across Nigeria must immediately shift from planning to execution, signaling a bold acceleration of national development through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
Speaking at the 2025 Nigeria Public-Private Partnership Summit in Abuja, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda,” President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, emphasized the urgency of moving beyond bureaucratic delays to tangible action.
“Our national aspirations exceed what public funding alone can achieve,” Tinubu declared. “We’re offering investors opportunity—not burdens—to co-create value.”
He stressed that the administration will streamline project approvals and enhance coordination among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure rapid implementation of critical infrastructure projects. The government also plans to fast-track high-impact ventures under the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (2020–2043), which aims to boost infrastructure stock from 35% to 70% of GDP by 2043.
“Nigerians are not asking for promises,” Tinubu said. “They want roads, electricity, hospitals, clean water, and schools. We must deliver—together.”
The president highlighted that PPPs are central to bridging Nigeria’s estimated $2.3 trillion infrastructure gap. He called on the private sector to look past perceived risks and focus on the immense market potential Nigeria offers.
“Investment is important, but we also need innovation, efficiency, and above all, integrity,” he added.
The summit, organized by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), gathered top national and international stakeholders to discuss the future of PPPs in Nigeria. Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, Director-General of the ICRC, affirmed that Nigeria remains open for business, noting that the commission is committed to ensuring every PPP deal is legally sound, economically viable, and socially impactful.
“PPPs are no longer optional—they are essential,” said Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Infrastructure at the African Development Bank. He cited ongoing work on the Lagos-Abidjan highway as a regional integration success.
Dahlia Khalifa of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) commended Nigeria’s PPP reforms and transparency, while Zitto Alfayo of Afreximbank said Nigeria’s economic reforms have improved the investment climate, revealing the bank has already disbursed over $50 million into Nigeria’s infrastructure sectors.
President Tinubu concluded by reiterating that blueprints and policies alone cannot build roads or generate electricity—execution is what matters most.
