Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Mohammed Goronyo, has declared that Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) remain the only viable pathway to closing Nigeria’s infrastructural gap, given the country’s enormous project backlog and limited fiscal capacity.
Speaking during a high-level panel at the Nigeria Public-Private Partnership Summit 2025, Goronyo underscored the strategic importance of PPPs in achieving the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The two-day summit, hosted by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), was held at the State House Banquet Hall and the Transcorp Hilton’s Congress Hall in Abuja.
With the theme “Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the summit brought together policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to deliberate on the evolving infrastructure landscape in Nigeria and the opportunities it presents globally.
Barrister Goronyo, representing the Federal Ministry of Works, provided insights on the ministry’s Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) and highlighted key projects under PPP arrangements, including the 227.2km Akwanga-Lafia-Keffi corridor and the newly signed 127km Benin-Asaba route.
The Minister revealed that Nigeria’s road network spans over 200,000km, with 35,000km under the Federal Government’s purview. He disclosed that the current administration inherited over 2,600 ongoing projects valued at about ₦19 trillion, a financial burden that necessitates alternative funding mechanisms such as PPPs.
“Our national budget cannot fund these massive projects alone,” Goronyo said. “That is why the PPP model is not just an option but a necessity.”
However, he stressed the importance of transparency in concession agreements, warning that, “We cannot, in the name of PPP, mortgage our country by signing deals that unduly favour concessionaires.”
The Minister lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recognising infrastructure as a cornerstone of economic growth and development, adding that the President’s commitment has renewed investor confidence and fostered an enabling environment for private sector participation.
The summit concluded with calls for deeper collaboration, improved regulatory frameworks, and a shared vision to drive sustainable development through strategic partnerships.
