PPP: We won’t mortgage future of Nigeria in favour of concessionaires, FG warns
2 min read
By Chris Ochayi
ABUJA: The Federal Government has warned that notwithstanding its resolved to adopt Public Private Partnership, PPP, mode as a feasible option for projects execution, it won’t mortgage the country by signing agreements that tend to favour concessionaires.
Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Mohammed Goronyo made the remarks at the Nigeria Public-Private Partnership, PPP, Summit 2025, hosted by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, CRC.
The summit with theme:
Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda”, held at the State House Banquet Hall and Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, also explored how collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors can drive transformative change.
Its aim was to assemble policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to engage in insightful discussions about the evolving landscape of infrastructure in Nigeria and its global implications.
Addressing the Summit, Goronyo, who represented the Federal Ministry of Works, which is a major stakeholder in the initiative, emphasized on the perspective of his ministry on Highway Development and Management Initiative, HDMI, and various concessions under PPP arrangements like the 227.2km Akwanga-Lafiya -keffi and the recently signed 127km Benin-Asaba
He further emphasised the commitment of the administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinibu to fix Nigeria’s infrastructural deficit, revealing that Nigeria has over 200,000km of roads 35,000,km of which are of Federal.
He told the Summit that the current government inherited over 2,600 projects, with a total worth of about 19 trillion, explaining that since the nation’s budget cannot fund these projects, there is a necessity for PPP as a feasible option.
Goronyo pointed to the need for concessionaires to be open and transparent in their agreement because “we cannot in the name of PPP, mortgage our country by signing agreements that tend to favour concessionaires.”
He expressed appreciation for President Tinubu for recognising infrastructure as key driver of economic growth and development.
