Nigerian engineers have raised alarms over rising corruption in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects. They say favoritism in contract awards is reducing trust in the system.
Dr. Felix Atume, former Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), shared his views at the Nigerian Academy of Engineering’s 2025 Annual Lecture in Lagos. His presentation was titled “Bridging the Infrastructure Gap in Nigeria: The Role of the Private Sector.”
Dr. Atume pointed out that corruption is weakening the PPP process. According to him, unfair contract awards, poor procurement methods, and manipulated agreements are major problems. “These issues push away reputable investors and reduce the value of infrastructure projects,” he said.
Despite the promise of PPPs to close Nigeria’s large infrastructure gap especially in road construction Dr. Atume said key problems have blocked success.
He also warned that Nigeria’s legal structure for PPPs is not strong enough. While the 2005 Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act offers a base, it cannot support complex, long-term projects.
There is no clear law guiding PPPs across federal, state, and local governments. The lack of legal clarity around land use, contracts, and dispute resolution discourages private investors. These investors prefer systems that offer clear, enforceable rules.
Dr. Atume explained that poor coordination among government bodies adds to the problem. Approval processes are slow, and technical expertise is lacking. These issues lead to higher costs, delays, and investor frustration.
Africa International Housing Show
He also noted that frequent political changes can disrupt ongoing PPP projects. These changes often result in canceled agreements, which make private investors wary. Many investors now demand higher returns to cover these risks.
Speaking on behalf of the Kaduna State Governor, Commissioner for Education Prof. Abubakar Sambo urged the Nigerian Academy of Engineering to continue its work. He said the academy plays a key role in building the future of engineering in Nigeria.
President of the academy, Prof. Rahamon Bello, praised the Federal Government for its recent push for infrastructure and its Local Content Policy. He stressed the need for long-term planning and local ownership of projects. He called on the President to support local engineering firms to make development sustainable.
Prof. Bello said the country also needs a strong maintenance culture. He explained that simply building infrastructure is not enough. Without proper upkeep, the same projects will need to be rebuilt repeatedly. He asked the government and the National Assembly to include maintenance funds in annual budgets.
He also highlighted the importance of technical education. The academy recently ran a pilot project at the Federal Science and Technical School, Yaba. It was supported by the Nigerian Ports Authority. The project showed the urgent need for more skilled workers and technicians in the country.
Prof. Bello praised the Federal Government’s new focus on youth skills training. He said this move will help boost economic growth and national productivity. He added that the Nigerian Academy of Engineering will keep working with partners like TET Fund, NSE, COREN, and NBTE to promote technical education.
At the event, eight senior engineers who turned 75 received lifetime achievement awards. Twelve new fellows were also inducted into the academy. Honorees included Engr. Dr. Abubakar Abu Adama, Engr. Chukwuwike Chigbo Iluno, Engr. (Mrs) Nnoli Akpedeye, and Engr. Dr. Ismaila Mohammed Amodu.
