Public-Private Partnership and Infrastructural Development in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the role of public-private partnership in infrastructural development in Nigeria. The high level of infrastructural deficit with its concomitant effect on socio-economic development in Nigeria has made the government to search for an alternative means of providing infrastructure for the teeming population and not only that, there is also problem of inadequate resources on the part of the government as well as the penchant of some public officials to divert public fund to private pockets. All these factors made the federal government of Nigeria to adopt the public-private partnership model to provide infrastructure for the use of the people. It is expected that when there is high level of infrastructural development in the country, there would be increase in economic activities amongst the populace which would invariably contribute positively to their well being. This paper is qualitative in nature because data for the study were sourced through secondary means. The paper adopts the historical/descriptive method of data analysis. A combination of social contract theory and principal-agent theory were used as the theoretical framework. The paper recommends amongst others that adequate legal framework be put in place in the implementation of public-private partnership projects to guide against abandonment when there is leadership change in the country.

Keywords: public-private partnership, infrastructural development, socio-economic development, populace.