NAEng advocates improved PPP for infrastructure devt
Former registrar, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Dr. Felix Atume, Tuesday, called for improved Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to boost infrastructure development and enhance economic growth in the country. He spoke at the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng) 2025 yearly lecture entitled: “Bridging infrastructure gap in Nigeria: the role of private sector,” […]
Former registrar, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Dr. Felix Atume, Tuesday, called for improved Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to boost infrastructure development and enhance economic growth in the country.
He spoke at the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng) 2025 yearly lecture entitled: “Bridging infrastructure gap in Nigeria: the role of private sector,” in Lagos.
Atume argued that Nigeria and many other African countries have not been able to sustain economic growth because of poor infrastructure stressing that poor infrastructure and inadequate infrastructure services are among the major factors that hinder the continent’s development.
He emphasised that the Public Private Partnership is a viable concept that can close the infrastructure deficit in Nigeria. However, he said in involving the private sector, basic questions must be answered such as- is the project included in a pipeline of nationally sanctioned strategic infrastructure rojects?
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“If the answer is yes, it helps determine whether the project is likely to be supported by stakeholders, ministries or agencies.
This calls for careful planning and prioritisation of key intrastructure projects at both the federal and state levels.
Political risk is difficult to manage, especially in Nigeria where there are regular changes in governments.
He pointed out that the Nigerian PPP institutional architecture suffers frrom weak coordination, land acquisition challenges, corruption and lack of transparency, political instability and excessive institutional bureaucracy, overlapping responsibilities among government and agencies, which often protract approval processes.
Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, represented by the commissioner for education, Prof Abubakar Sambo, urged the NAEng to remain committed towards promoting excellence and advancement of engineering science, practice, and technology and related disciplines to bridge the huge infrastructure gap in the country.
Addressing the forum, the President of NAEng, Prof. Rahamon Bello, commended the Federal government for its bold Infrastructure initiatives and the recent Local Content Policy of the government.
The forum attracted presentation life achievement awards to eight fellows who have attained the age of 75 and induction of 12 new fellows. They include Engr. Dr. Abubakar Abu Adama, Engr. Chukwuwike Chigbo Iluno, Engr. (Mrs.) Nnoli Akpedeye, Engr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, Engr. Dr. Ismaila Mohammed Amodu, Engr. Dr. Adeolu Olarewaju Odusote, and Engr. Lamu Audu.
Others are Engr. George Chukwulewa Okoroma, Engr. Dr. Ezekiel Bababunmi COKER, Engr. Eric Chiwuike Onyewu, Engr. Prof. Akoehomen Okonigbon Aki Ibhadode and Engr. Dr. (Mrs) Iniobong Louisa Usoro.