*Photo R-L: VP Shettima, CJN Ariwoola, Alhaji Ganduje, Mallam Yusuf Ali and Prof Oloyede *
Vice President Kashim Shettima has emphasized the importance of improved public-private infrastructure partnerships as critical catalysts for Nigeria’s economic growth.
Sen. Shettima stated this in Abuja on Thursday during the public presentation of two books authored by one of Nigeria’s foremost legal luminaries, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN).
Delivering his speech titled, “Mallam Yusuf Ali: Enduring Reflection in Law, History, and Public Policy,” the Vice President stated: “There is, of course, no politician in the country today who can match President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s experience in both brokering public-private partnership and understanding what must be done to bridge our infrastructure gaps.
“You only need to gaze into the realities of Lagos State before and after his progressive leadership as Executive Governor to realise his spectacular legacy, a skill-set he’s again brought into play to reposition Nigeria as a competitive global player.”
Noting that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda “is built on the realisation of improved infrastructure as a critical catalyst for “the nation’s economic growth,” Sen. Shettima pointed out that the projections of the administration’s sound economic team on revolutionising investment in infrastructure were in tandem with those of its development partners.
“I am here to acknowledge that such a grand vision is the reason we are exploring innovative funding mechanisms like Public Private Partnerships, with avenues like the Infrastructure Concessions Regulatory Commission (ICRC) as testimony to such ambition. The on-going review of the ICRC (Establishment ETC) Act, 2005, is telling,” the VP stated.
Dignitaries at the event included the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi SAN ; National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Umar Abdullahi Ganduje; Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB); Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (Operators of the MMA2), Dr Wale Babakakin SAN and a host of others.