President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ordered the immediate execution of all approved infrastructure projects nationwide, declaring that the era of bureaucratic delays must come to an end if Nigeria is to meet its development goals.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 2025 Nigeria Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Summit in Abuja, Tinubu emphasised that “what matters to the average Nigerian is not promises, but power in their homes, roads to their farms, access to clean water, modern hospitals, and quality schools.”
The summit, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda”, was organised by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
Tinubu warned that his administration would no longer tolerate inertia from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). He said all viable projects must move from paper to reality, with fast-tracked approvals and inter-agency collaboration now a top priority.
“We must build. We must deliver. And we must do it together,” the President declared.
The President noted that Nigeria’s national aspirations have outgrown the limits of public budgets alone, urging private sector players to see themselves not just as financiers, but as nation-building partners.
“We’re not looking for investors to carry burdens. We’re offering opportunities to create value,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges require innovation, efficiency, and integrity, not just capital injection.
Tinubu admitted that Nigeria’s infrastructure potential has often been undermined by a poor project implementation culture, but assured investors that the current administration has aligned processes with global best practices.
“We have streamlined our bureaucracy and improved transparency in public-private engagements,” he stated.
Appealing directly to potential investors, Tinubu said Nigeria presents unmatched opportunities for scale, demand, and returns on the continent.
“To our private sector partners, I urge you to look beyond the risks and recognise the immense opportunity to shape a nation that is not just rising, but ready,” he said.
Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (2020–2043), which aims to grow Nigeria’s infrastructure stock from 30–35% of GDP to 70% by 2043.
But he warned against over-reliance on documentation, stating, “Blueprints do not build roads. Policies alone do not generate megawatts.”
Summing up his message, Tinubu called for urgency, clarity of purpose, and collective action to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure gap.
He said, “Nigeria does not lack potential. What we have lacked, at times, is alignment of purpose and the courage to act decisively.
“Let us chart a new path — not just as government and investors, but as partners in nation-building.”