Impact Assessment of Maritime Transportation Infrastructure on Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Development (Published)
The study examines the impact of maritime transportation infrastructure on Nigeria’s economic growth and development. Amongst others, the objectives were to assess the impact of port infrastructure on trade facilitation and economic development in Nigeria; investigate the effect of maritime transportation costs on Nigeria’s international trade and economic growth; evaluate the role of maritime transportation infrastructure in promoting regional development and economic growth in Nigeria, and develop a framework for optimizing maritime transportation infrastructure in promoting sustainable economic growth in Nigeria. The study adopted the Taro Yamane formula to determine the sample size of 225 out of 423 and there was 100% response rate. Observation and structured questionnaire were used for the collection of data. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data was coded and analyzed using the 4-point Likert Scale. The study finds, amongst others that Nigeria’s maritime transportation infrastructure is essential for the country’s economic development; Nigeria’s port infrastructure does not make the country competitive in the global market and it is important to develop a comprehensive framework for optimizing maritime transportation infrastructure in Nigeria, considering factors such as infrastructure development, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. Accordingly, among others, the study recommends that Nigerian ports should be upgraded with modern facilities, equipment, and technology to increase efficiency, reduce congestion, and improve cargo handling capacity and Government can promote public-private partnerships (PPPs) to finance, develop, and operate maritime infrastructure projects, such as ports, terminals, and logistics facilities. PPPs can attract foreign investment, transfer technology and expertise, and improve the efficiency and sustainability of maritime infrastructure development.
Keywords: Congestion, Infrastructure, Intermodal, port hinterland connectivity, public private partnerships
Evaluating the Implementation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for Housing Provision in Nigeria: A Case Study of Niger State (Published)
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) is a joint effort by the public and private sector for the financing, development, operation, and or ownership of public housing and infrastructure. The rapid increase in population and urbanization in Nigeria has resulted in a housing deficit of about 17-23 million. Mortgage financing which is the predominant means of funding housing eludes the low income earners due to their inability to access mortgage facilities. This paper evaluated the implementation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as an option for public housing delivery in Nigeria using Niger State as a case study. Questionnaires were administered to 200 built-environment professionals in public and private sectors in Niger State and interview was conducted with NSPPPA officials on project conception and management. Official reports and guidance documents on PPP implementation for housing were also reviewed. The responses to the questions were categorized into political, project, financial, and environmental factors and the mean score of responses to each question were calculated before calculating the mean score of each category. Political (4.28) and project (4.24) factors were found to have the greatest influence in implementing PPPs in Niger State. Interview and document reviews also revealed that out of eight housing projects conceived under the Niger State PPP program in 2013 only four were implemented. Of the four implemented projects, two were completed while two were delayed due to lack of funds and disagreements between public and private sector partners. The study recommends among others that all stakeholders in Nigeria’s housing sector should work together to realize the goal of PPPs in housing as stated in the New National Housing and Urban Development Policy (NNHUDP) of 2002 and that government should focus more on the provision of housing for the low income earners as they are the most affected by the housing problem in Nigeria.
Keywords: Low Income Earners, housing delivery, housing finance, housing provision, public private partnerships