ABUJA- Experts at the Nigerian Infrastructure Summit say the proposed partnership with the private sector on funding of infrastructure deficit, will attract costs that should be properly negotiated.
The experts said the inclusion of the private sector in the programme would require considerations on risk sharing on specific projects.
They said there was a need for a clear policy direction by the government on the continuity of the Private Public Partnership (PPP).
A summary of the recommendations from the five plenary sessions, showed that the participants were particularly concerned with transparency in all negotiations with the private sector.
The sessions, which attracted the ministers and state governors,
covered the power sector, telecommunications, housing and urbanisation, road and water, as well as oil and gas.
According to the summary obtained by newsmen recently in Abuja, the group on the power sector stressed the need for a clear policy framework and strategy in the sector.
It said there was a need to increase gas supply and monitor the water level at the various dams, with a view to ensuring steady power supply.
It said about 33 billion dollars was needed for the sector, which could be partly sourced from the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
The housing and urbanisation group said the institutions and various processes in the sector should be stream lined and better planned to attract investors.
It also observed that the costs on housing should take into cognisance, the need to maintain existing structures.
The members on road and water said government and the private sector must recognise that different PPP models could be applied, therefore, there should be an agreement on the most suitable.
The experts said there was still a “log jam and lack of clarity” on the
policies on road, but government should provide a clear direction, to attract investors from the private sector.
They also said there was still lack of capacity in the sector, stressing the need for more training and skill transfer in the construction and maintenance of roads.
The group on the oil and gas called on government to design a gas pricing and infrastructure blue print, to attract more investors.
The group observed that the oil fields were producing below capacity, suggesting that about 12 billion dollars be plunged in annually, to augment the shortage.
The group said only two of the 24 licences granted in the exploration of the oil were operational.
The summit recorded 75 presentations and 20 hours of brainstorming on infrastructure.
President Umaru Yar’Adua had at the opening ceremony, announced the establishment of an Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Institution, chaired by a former Head of Interim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan..
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