Public Private Participation for Infrastructure in Developing Countries

Of recent, significant development in the use of public private partnership in providing infrastructural facilities has become a new policy initiative in many countries, Nigeria inclusive. This became necessary in view of the inadequacy of existing infrastructures to cope with the demands of the urban dwellers due to the inability of the government at various levels to provide and maintain urban infrastructures which are essential ingredients of economic development of the nation. Apart from the acute shortages of these infrastructures, the available ones are witnessing a reverse revolutionary trend from the situation of inadequacies to that of dearth or outright decay. This paper therefore focuses on the state of infrastructural facilities in Nigeria, with a view to providing a framework that will ensure their provision and sustainability. The paper went on to trace the historical antecedent of infrastructure development and provision in Nigeria and the current efforts of government through the application of public private partnership (PPP) in infrastructural facilities provision. Factors militating against the provision and maintenance of these infrastructures were identified. The paper concluded that policy measures should be put in place by the government in form of appropriate legislation and regulations that will create a conducive environment for private operators and other stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient partnerships that will promote the provision of urban infrastructure.