Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has affirmed his administration’s commitment to accelerating approvals for viable infrastructure projects across Nigeria, stating that only impactful, bankable investments, not bureaucracy, can transform the country’s economic landscape.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 2025 Nigeria Public-Private Partnership, PPP Summit in Abuja on Tuesday, Tinubu laid out a bold vision for infrastructure delivery through strategic collaboration between the government and the private sector.
He declared that Nigeria’s development goals cannot be met through public financing alone, urging private partners to bring innovation, integrity, and urgency to the table.
“The projects that emerge from this summit must not gather dust on paper or linger in bureaucratic limbo. We will fast-track approvals for viable projects. We must build. We must deliver. And we must do it together,” the President said.
The Summit, held at the State House Conference Centre, brought together key government officials, business leaders, and international financiers to explore pathways for closing Nigeria’s yawning infrastructure gap, estimated at over $100 billion annually.
Tinubu noted that despite limited public resources, Nigeria offers scale, demand, and returns that are unmatched elsewhere in Africa.
“Our national aspirations far exceed what public budgets alone can deliver. That is why we must innovate, and why we must work together. We are not looking for investors to carry burdens. We are offering opportunities to create value.”
The President also emphasised that reforms under his administration, including subsidy removal, FX liberalisation, and revenue optimisation, have laid a stable foundation for private capital inflow.
“We have acted boldly and responsibly. We are streamlining bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving transparency in our project pipelines. We have aligned our processes with global best practices and investor expectations.”
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, to enable it to regulate and de-risk PPP transactions more effectively.
“We need more than investment. We need innovation, we need efficiency, and above all, we need integrity. I urge you to look beyond the risks and recognise the immense opportunity to shape a nation that is not just rising, but ready.”
Declaring the summit open, Tinubu challenged attendees to deliver tangible results.
“Let this summit be remembered not for fine speeches, but for bankable projects, signed deals, and enduring progress.”
Earlier, the Minister of Interior, Mr Tunji Ojo, praised the ICRC for spearheading transformational PPP projects across sectors. He expressed optimism that the Tinubu administration would continue to anchor Nigeria’s rise on collaboration and innovation.
Also, Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, Director General of the ICRC, described the summit as a “strategic convergence point” to de-risk projects and align national aspirations with global development standards.
“This summit brings together the finest minds from government, private investors, development partners, and civil society. It is a testament to Nigeria’s readiness to lead in the evolving global PPP ecosystem.”
Dahlia Khalifa, Regional Director, Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa at the International Finance Corporation, IFC, applauded Nigeria’s PPP reforms and the government’s growing track record of transparency and dispute resolution.
“With the right frameworks, Nigeria is well-positioned to attract more capital. The government has shown a strong commitment to resolving PPP disputes swiftly and fairly,” Khalifa stated.
Solomon Quaynor, Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization at the African Development Bank, AfDB, said the theme of the summit underscores that “partnerships are not optional, they are essential.”
“The infrastructure deficits we face demand that both government and the private sector engage in commercially viable PPPs,” Quaynor said, highlighting AfDB’s partnership on the Lagos-Abidjan highway project.
Also speaking, Afreximbank’s Director and Global Head of Project Preparation, Zitto Alfayo, noted the fiscal limitations of government make private participation in infrastructure a necessity.
“The federal government’s bold market reforms have positioned Nigeria to absorb global shocks. Since inception, Afreximbank has disbursed over $50 million in Nigeria across energy, logistics, healthcare, and finance.”
