Nigeria has positioned its expanding Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework as a key enabler of both physical infrastructure and the country’s growing digital economy, as officials presented a pipeline of major projects to global investors in Washington, D.C.
The presentation was made during a session of the Global Infrastructure Facility on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, where Nigeria outlined how PPPs are being deployed to support infrastructure critical to digital transformation, including telecommunications, broadband expansion, and data-driven public services.
Jobson Ewalefoh, Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), says the government is aligning policy, capital, and execution frameworks to unlock infrastructure delivery at scale.
According to him, PPPs are being positioned beyond financing mechanisms to serve as tools for efficiency, innovation, and risk sharing.
“Public Private Partnerships are not just financing tools; they are engines of efficiency, innovation and risk sharing,” Ewalefoh says, emphasising the need for stronger project development frameworks and transaction systems.
At the session, Nigeria highlighted recent approvals of PPP projects valued at over ₦6.43 trillion (approximately $4.29 billion), including deep seaport developments and a 460-megawatt hydropower plant, as indicators of execution momentum.
Officials also identified project preparation as a critical challenge, describing it as the “missing middle” in infrastructure delivery. Ewalefoh notes that improving this phase is essential to translating project concepts into bankable investments.
Nigeria used the platform to call for reforms in global financing approaches for emerging markets, particularly for infrastructure supporting digital economies. Ewalefoh says attracting investment will require more flexible financing structures that reflect local operating conditions.
“Financing systems must evolve to support shorter development cycles, faster execution timelines, and scalable project pipelines,” he says.
Public-private partnerships are increasingly being applied in Nigeria to combine private sector capital, technical expertise, and technology with government oversight to deliver infrastructure more efficiently.
The model is being extended to digital infrastructure, where investment needs are growing in areas such as broadband networks, telecommunications systems, and smart public services.
Nigeria estimates its infrastructure gap at approximately $2.3 trillion between 2020 and 2043, requiring annual investments of about $100 billion. By prioritising PPPs, the government aims to shift a significant share of infrastructure financing to private sector participation while reducing pressure on public finances.
Ewalefoh says the approach is expected to accelerate infrastructure delivery and support the country’s broader economic and digital transformation objectives.
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