Dare Babalola
President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria is prepared to attract serious investment partnerships and bankable projects as part of efforts to bridge the country’s infrastructure deficit and drive economic growth.
Tinubu made this known in a post shared on Friday following a meeting with the Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation, Makhtar Diop, on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.
The President said Nigeria welcomed the IFC’s involvement in advancing a Public-Private Partnership infrastructure pipeline aimed at addressing the nation’s estimated $14 billion annual urban infrastructure gap.
“I was pleased to meet with Managing Director of IFC, Makhtar Diop, and his team in Kigali on the margins of the Africa CEO Forum,” Tinubu stated.
“Nigeria welcomes IFC’s work in advancing a PPP infrastructure pipeline to help address our annual urban infrastructure gap of about $14 billion. This is the type of practical partnership our reforms are designed to unlock,” he added.
Tinubu noted that his administration was developing frameworks capable of attracting investments into critical sectors of the economy, including transportation, energy, water infrastructure and support for small businesses.
“From urban infrastructure to water, land transportation, energy access, MSME finance, and local currency solutions, we are building a framework that can move capital into real projects, create jobs, improve productivity, and strengthen regional connectivity with our neighbours,” he said.
The President stressed that the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration was focused on converting economic ambitions into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
“Nigeria is ready for serious capital, credible partners, and bankable projects. Under our Renewed Hope Agenda, we must turn ambition into delivery, and delivery into better lives for our people,” Tinubu stated.
He also expressed optimism about strengthening collaboration with the IFC and the World Bank Group in pursuit of inclusive growth and infrastructure development.
“I look forward to deepening this partnership with IFC and the World Bank Group as we build infrastructure for growth, inclusion, and shared prosperity,” the President added.
