Abuja: Stakeholders in the infrastructure and financial sectors have called on the Federal Government to urgently transition from traditional procurement models to private capital mobilisation to bridge Nigeria’s 2.3 trillion dollars infrastructure deficit. The consensus was reached at the opening of the 2026 Infrastructure Dialogue held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, in his opening remarks, the President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Emeka Obegolu, stated that modern and resilient infrastructure had become a matter of national urgency. Obegolu emphasised that the greater challenge facing the nation was not identifying gaps, but mobilising long-term and sustainable capital. He highlighted that infrastructure is fundamental to a thriving economy and called for shared commitment and collaboration across both public and private sectors.
In a goodwill message, Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), revealed that Nigeria required an annual investment of 100 billion dollars to address needs across transport, ICT, and aviation. Ewalefoh, represented by Mr Amanze Okere, Director Support Services ICRC, said that with public spending covering less than 30 per cent of this requirement, private capital was an ‘absolute necessity.’ He disclosed that the Commission was set to present a model Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement by June 2026 to accelerate commercial and financial closures for projects.
The Convener of the event and Managing Partner of Deutsche Partners Holding (DPH), Dr Onuoha Nnachi, mentioned that the initiative had already unlocked over 600 million dollars into the Nigerian economy between 2025 and 2026. Nnachi identified ‘trust deficit’ as a major barrier to international funding and urged the government to be more intentional in its backing of regional projects. He stressed the importance of seeking funds for economic infrastructure, such as railways and airports, rather than borrowing for social infrastructure.
Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce, Founder of Silverbird Group, shared his experience in the entertainment and media sectors, urging entrepreneurs to maintain a ‘can-do spirit’ despite systemic difficulties. He recounted his negotiations with international figures, highlighting that the key to success was the ‘ability to dream.’
Ms Olubunmi Obasanjo-Williams of Afreximbank lamented that intra-African trade accounted for only 15 per cent of the continent’s trade, compared to 70 per cent in Europe. She urged Nigerian businesses to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to transform the nation from an oil-dependent economy to a non-oil export hub.