Public–Private Partnership and Infrastructure Development in Nigeria: A Political Economy Appraisal

Abstract

Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) have become a global instrument for addressing infrastructure deficits, particularly in developing economies where fiscal constraints and governance limitations undermine public-sector investment. Nigeria's infrastructure gap, estimated at over $100 billion annually, has spurred growing interest in PPPs as mechanisms for leveraging private-sector capital and expertise. This article presents a multidisciplinary, political-economy appraisal of PPPs in Nigeria. It interrogates key theoretical frameworks underpinning PPP design and performance, reviews global and regional literature, compares international experiences across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, and analyses the prospects and challenges specific to the Nigerian context. Methodologically, the paper employs a qualitative mixed-methods design that combines systematic literature review and comparative analysis. The study concludes that while Nigeria's PPP framework, anchored on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Act of 2005, offers a viable policy platform, success depends on stronger institutional capacity, enhanced fiscal transparency, improved project preparation, and political commitment to governance reform.