Shettima: Nigeria’s Economic Growth Rests on Improved Public-Private Infrastructure Partnerships

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has stressed the importance of improved public-private infrastructure partnerships as critical catalysts for Nigeria’s economic growth.

Shettima, who stated this in Abuja on Thursday during the public presentation of two books authored by one of Nigeria’s legal luminaries, Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN), recalled President Bola Tinubu’s legacies as governor of Lagos State, a feat he said the president is set to replicate at the national level in the bid to reposition the country.

Delivering his speech titled, ‘Mallam Yusuf Ali: Enduring Reflection in Law, History and Public Policy’, the vice-president said: “There is, of course, no politician in the country today who can match President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s experience in both brokering public-private partnership and understanding what must be done to bridge our infrastructure gaps.

“You only need to gaze into the realities of Lagos State before and after his progressive leadership as executive governor to realise his spectacular legacy, a skill-set he’s again brought into play to reposition Nigeria as a competitive global player.”

Noting that the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda is built on the realisation of improved infrastructure as a critical catalyst for the nation’s economic growth, Shettima pointed out that the projections of the administration’s sound economic team on revolutionising investment in infrastructure were in tandem with those of its development partners.

He said: “I am here to acknowledge that such a grand vision is the reason we are exploring innovative funding mechanisms like Public Private Partnerships, with avenues like the Infrastructure Concessions Regulatory Commission (ICRC) as testimony to such ambition. The on-going review of the ICRC (Establishment ETC) Act, 2005, is telling.”

The vice-president described the two unveiled books — ‘The Supreme Court and the Jurisprudence of the Right to Fair Hearing’ and ‘Public Private Partnerships: An Essential Guide for Stakeholders’ — as an eagle-eyed contribution to the “nation’s pursuit of order and development”.

“These books aren’t well-timed solely due to their thematic interests. They are not being celebrated solely for their interpretation of paramount aspects of our nation’s journey, nor for a yearning for such interventions in our collective responsibility to serve the nation. These two books stand out due to the intellectual and professional pedigree of the author,” he added.

Describing the author of the two books, Mallam Ali, as a friend and brother, Shettima also described the senior lawyer as a “reservoir of knowledge acquired over decades of sincere engagement with the legal intricacies of our dear nation”.

“His decision to document these treasures of wisdom reflects a legacy that shall echo through the corridors of scholarship beyond the practice and learning of law,” he noted.

The vice-president further observed that the author was able to capture readers’ attention by recognising the need for a clearer perspective on collaborations between the public and private sectors.

According to him, “Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit depends on our understanding of the complex interests of all parties involved in deals that do not disadvantage the nation. It’s crucial to ensure that we are not blinded by any legal requirements.

“It’s worth noting that one astute lawyer can bankrupt a country, but it also takes just one astute lawyer to save a nation. We have witnessed this, even in the recent case of Nigeria versus P&ID, which could have resulted in an unbelievable $11 billion arbitral award against us.”

Reviewing the book, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN) said apart from the numerous contributions to knowledge by the author, the book offers an absorbing, interesting and informative insight on the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence on the right to fair hearing in Nigeria.

He noted that the book is a well-researched study focusing on the principles of fair hearing as laid down by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, adding that it is a must-read for not only lawyers and judges but also for all other stakeholders involved in the justice sector.

The other book on ‘Public Private Partnerships in Nigeria’, according to him, was written with the aim of providing stakeholders with the requisite knowledge and guidance regarding the operations and implementations of the Public-Private Partnerships initiative in Nigeria.