Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, held a closed-door meeting with Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, as part of the federal government’s push to enhance road rehabilitation in Nigeria through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
The meeting, in line with the road infrastructure initiative of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” administration, included the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, and former Minority Leader of the Federal House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu.
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The minister’s Special Adviser, Uchenna Orji, issued a statement highlighting Umahi’s ongoing consultations with concessionaires and private sector entities to attract investment for Nigerian road infrastructure, aligning with practices in advanced economies.
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As part of efforts to transform the road infrastructure narrative in Nigeria, Umahi established three committees to review contracts executed by concessionaires under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), assessing their scope and cost implications.
Umahi emphasized that private sector involvement would expedite the road infrastructure revolution, introducing order, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operations, management, and maintenance of federal highways.
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The statement expressed hope that local and international investors, along with organized bodies, would capitalize on the determination of President Tinubu’s administration to leverage private sector experience and professional capacities for the improvement of over 35,000 km of the national road network.
With federal highways bearing more than 70% of vehicular traffic, the initiative aims to trigger economic development, job creation, local content development, and wealth creation for the Nigerian population.
The statement underscored President Tinubu’s commitment to propelling the country to become the pride of the African continent, emphasizing the critical role of support from investors and the public in realizing these goals.