The Federal Government has said that it will explore Public Private Partnerships (PPP) to bridge the $2.3 infrastructural deficit.

President Bola Tinubu, who stated this, yesterday, in Abuja, during the opening of the Nigeria 2025 Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Summit, also sent a clear message to the investment community that Nigeria is open for business with the flurry of its economic reforms.

The summit, organised by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), brought together key stakeholders across government and private sectors to advance collaboration towards closing Nigeria’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure gap.

Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said Nigeria could not build a 21st-century economy on 20th-century infrastructure, noting that the era of government funding capital projects exclusively was over.

“We are not seeking investors to carry burdens; we are opening opportunities to create value. We want long-term partners that are ready to bridge our infrastructure gap with purpose, precision, and integrity,” the President noted .

He said that his government had introduced sweeping reforms aimed at optimising government’s revenues.

“We have strengthened the ICRC, streamlined bureaucratic bottlenecks, and aligned our infrastructure processes with global best practices. Policies alone won’t generate megawatts or build roads, what we need is collective action,” he added.

The President, while reaffirming the administration’s commitment to swift implementation, pledged to fast-track bankable projects, saying, “Nigeria has turned the corner. We have crossed the Rubicon. We are on a path to sustained peace and development. We are ready, and we are open for business.”

Earlier in his welcome address, Director-General of the ICRC, Jobson Ewalefoh, restated the Federal Government’s resolve to close Nigeria’s infrastructure gap, estimated at over $2.3 trillion, through strategic Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

The ICRC boss, who spoke at the summit, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Role of PPPs in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda,” described the event as a platform for national transformation.

He, however, applauded the President for repositioning infrastructure as a key driver of inclusive growth and for promoting PPPs as a governance model rooted in innovation, efficiency, and accountability.