Former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has stressed the importance of public private partnership arrangement in the development of the much needed infrastructure in any nation, noting that the government cannot do everything alone.
Alhaji Mohammed who stated this at the launch of a book titled “Practical Guide to Public Private Partnership Arrangement in Nigeria” authored by Pastor Adebisi Sogunle, described the book as very timely because government alone cannot maintain all its assets, which requires the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.
The former minister noted government officials need to change their approach to agreements validly entered into with any private investor, irrespective of his or her ethnic background or religion, in order to attract the required private investments for the economy.
He acknowledged that “there are lots of challenges in the area of regulatory framework and policy making decisions as regards PPP arrangement in the country.
According to him, Public-Private-Partnership is one of the most viable ways to boost the much needed infrastructure services in the country.
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“Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in Nigeria is a major issue of discourse among individuals, corporate bodies and government. PPP is a tool to deliver the much needed infrastructural services.
“Building modern, sustainable and reliable infrastructure is critical for meeting the rising aspirations of millions of people in Nigeria and PPP helps to raise economic growth rates, offers new economic opportunities and facilitates investment in human capital.
Earlier in his keynote address, Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya pointed out that since the Ogun state government passed the Public Private Partnership (PPP) law in 2019, the initiative has facilitated projects with road networks rehabilitated and expanded as well as reconstruction of the Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway among others.
“Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State has harnessed the potential of PPP to drive significant developments and give Ogun State focused and qualitative governance and as well create the necessary enabling environment for a public private sector partnership’, he added.
Onasanya while congratulating the author of the book for his contributions to the discourse on Public Private Partnership (PPP) said the valuable resource will no doubt guide policy makers, practitioners and investors in navigating the complexities of Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements in Nigeria and urged public servants as well as private sector partners to key into the messages of the book and apply its lessons in their endeavours.
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Dr. Chris Iziguzor speaking to journalists on the sideline of the events said the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative has assisted Ogun State in achieving much in the area of infrastructural development and added that the arrangement, in turn, brought in more investors and provided job opportunities for the citizens.
In his remarks, author of the book Pastor Adebisi Sogunle, expressed appreciation to all guests for the support he got, explaining that he wrote the book based on the experience he garnered while working on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arranged programme in Cross River State.
The author said the book will help in examining the roles of stakeholders because they have the responsibility to maintain the environment when political, economic, and administrative concerns arise while partnering.