‘Abia Only Niger Delta State Embracing PPP Development Model’ – Development Expert Obiaraeri

Development economist, Nnaemeka Obiaraeri, has described Abia State as the only state in the Niger Delta that has embraced a private-public partnership (PPP) development framework capable of attracting investment, creating jobs, and reducing poverty.

Speaking during an interview with Arise TV on Friday, Obiaraeri argued that Nigeria’s economic challenges stem largely from poor governance and misplaced priorities, alleging that government budgets across the three tiers are often structured in ways that encourage corruption rather than development.

He cited a statement previously made by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who disclosed that over ₦2.9 trillion was uncovered as having been lost through over-invoicing at the federal level alone, stressing that similar practices occur across all levels of government.

“Across the three tiers of government, basically, what we do year on year is budget what the majority of them want to loot. When the current EFCC chairman assumed office, he said something very interesting: over N2.9 trillion was discovered to have been stolen through over-invoicing at the federal level alone, and it happened across all three tiers of government.”

According to him, government should focus less on direct spending and more on creating an enabling environment through sound policies, security, and investment-friendly programmes that encourage private sector participation.

Obiaraeri noted that Nigeria’s infrastructure development requires an estimated $100 billion annually over the next 30 years, insisting that such funding cannot come from government alone but must be driven by private investment.

Highlighting one of the proposals his team has presented, he said afforestation and reforestation programmes linked to agro-parks across the nine Niger Delta states could generate more than $4 billion annually, create over one million jobs, reduce carbon emissions from gas flaring, and lift more than 1.5 million people out of poverty over time.

He, however, lamented that Abia State is the only Niger Delta state that has embraced the initiative, attributing the state’s interest to what he described as the visionary leadership of Governor Alex Otti.

“The only state in the whole of the Niger Delta that has bought into this initiative is Abia State because they have a reasonable and thinking governor,” Obiaraeri said.

He criticised other state governments for focusing on political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections instead of pursuing long-term economic development strategies.

According to him, Nigeria’s greatest challenge is electing leaders who prioritise politics over legacy and fail to harness the country’s abundant resources to create inclusive prosperity.

Obiaraeri maintained that with the right leadership and foundational reforms, Nigeria could significantly reduce poverty within the next decade, insisting that the country’s citizens are hardworking but have been held back by poor governance.

He emphasised that sustainable economic growth would depend on governments at all levels partnering with the private sector to unlock investment opportunities capable of transforming livelihoods and driving long-term national development.