Nasarawa Government Initiates Public-Private Partnership Training Program to Address Infrastructure Challenges

The Nasarawa State Government has launched a comprehensive capacity building program to equip its civil servants with specialized knowledge in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), as part of strategic efforts to bridge the state’s widening infrastructure gap.
During the opening ceremony of the three-day workshop held in Lafia yesterday, senior government officials emphasized that the initiative represents a paradigm shift in the state’s approach to infrastructure development amid limited financial resources.
“This training program marks a significant milestone in our administration’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions to our infrastructure challenges through collaborative frameworks with the private sector,” the Secretary to the State Government declared while addressing participants.
The workshop, which attracted over 60 mid-level and senior civil servants from various ministries, departments, and agencies, focuses on essential PPP concepts including project identification, feasibility studies, risk assessment, contract structuring, and effective monitoring mechanisms.
According to the Director-General of the State Bureau of Public Procurement, the training became imperative following an infrastructure needs assessment that revealed a substantial funding gap between available government resources and the capital required for critical infrastructure projects.
“Our internal revenue generation cannot independently support the scale of infrastructure development needed to drive economic growth. By enhancing the capacity of our workforce to structure and manage viable PPP arrangements, we can leverage private sector expertise and capital while ensuring public interest remains protected,” the Director-General explained.
Resource persons at the workshop highlighted successful PPP models implemented in other Nigerian states and emphasized the importance of transparency, competitive bidding processes, and value-for-money assessments in public-private collaborations.
Participants were introduced to case studies covering various infrastructure sectors including transportation, healthcare, education, housing, and water resources management, with practical exercises on project evaluation and monitoring.
“This knowledge transfer initiative will enable our civil service to better conceptualize, negotiate, and manage partnership agreements that address infrastructure deficits while ensuring fiscal sustainability,” noted the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning.
The state government revealed plans to establish a dedicated PPP unit following the training program to coordinate partnership initiatives across all sectors and ensure standardized approaches to project implementation.