Nasarawa State Govt. Trains MDAs on Climate-Smart PPPs to Address Infrastructure Deficit

The Nasarawa State Government has successfully trained key management staff from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on the tools required to implement climate-smart Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, aimed at addressing infrastructure challenges and boosting the state’s economy.

The workshop, organized by the Nasarawa State Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA) in partnership with the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), took place in Lafia, the state capital, on Friday.

Speaking at the event, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Managing Director of NASIDA, emphasized the crucial role of PPPs in infrastructure development. He stated that Nasarawa has emerged as a leading example in the West African region for leveraging PPPs to enhance public service delivery and infrastructure growth.

Abdullahi noted that PPPs are essential in optimizing underperforming or non-performing government assets to generate value for both the state and its citizens. He also highlighted the collaboration with UKNIAF, which has helped Nasarawa develop robust frameworks for managing PPP projects, making the state a pioneer in Nigeria.

“Through the support of UKNIAF, we have established a PPP manual and a contingency liability framework, which is among the most effective by a subnational government in Nigeria. These frameworks guide us in selecting and improving policies based on the lessons learned from completed projects,” Abdullahi stated.

He urged participants to share their newly acquired knowledge within their respective MDAs to foster a broader understanding of PPP principles and how to apply them to enhance the state’s infrastructure across all sectors.

Mike Imafido, a PPP Specialist with UKNIAF, introduced the 360 Degree Project Screening and Assessment Tool at the workshop. This tool helps institutions evaluate and prepare infrastructure projects by providing a pipeline of bankable projects. It also supports policymakers in making informed decisions on whether to continue investing in specific projects, ensuring that public institutions receive value for money.

Imafido further explained that the workshop focused on improving the delivery of climate-smart PPP infrastructure projects in Nasarawa. He discussed strategies for overcoming challenges in project delivery and emphasized how to scale successful projects quickly. The workshop also provided practical guidance on advancing PPP projects in sectors such as Agriculture, Energy, and Technology, to attract financing and enhance the state’s growth.