President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to bridging Nigeria’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure deficit through a reformed, transparent, and inclusive public-private partnership (PPP) framework.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigeria Public-Private Partnership Summit at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, June 17, Tinubu emphasized that basic infrastructure—power, roads, health facilities, and quality schools—is critical to improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians. The initiative aims to transform Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape, currently at 30-35% of GDP, to reach 70% by 2043, as outlined in the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (2020-2043).
Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s unique market potential, noting its scale, demand, and investment returns surpass other African nations. “We need partners who bring innovation, efficiency, and integrity, not just capital,” he said, urging private sector commitment to bankable projects. The summit, attended by private investors, development partners, and civil society, featured 12 major road projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, valued at ₦3 trillion, with 60% funding from private investors. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) reported that PPPs have attracted $5 billion in investments since 2023, including a $1 billion port overhaul driving a 45% cargo surge.
Director General of the ICRC, Jobson Ewalefoh, described the summit as a platform for “strategic convergence” to de-risk projects and align institutional frameworks. However, critics, including the Pan-Yoruba group Afenifere, argue that southern states like Ondo and Delta are underrepresented in project allocations. Tinubu’s task force to monitor project execution aims to ensure accountability, but public skepticism persists amid economic challenges, with inflation at 24% in May 2025.