The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to unlocking the full value of national assets and attracting global capital, as Vice President Kashim Shettima called for an aggressive expansion of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to support Nigeria’s economic growth. Speaking on Thursday at the first 2026 meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima said the administration is focused on attracting investments that align with national development priorities.
He noted that Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy would require a deliberate balance between public enterprise and private sector dynamism, stressing that prosperity must be intentionally designed and sustained through strong institutions. “Prosperity does not happen by accident. It is designed, negotiated, protected, and sustained by institutions that understand that national assets must be deployed in the service of the people,” he said.
The Vice President highlighted progress recorded across key sectors, including mining, agriculture, and energy, citing the sale of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DISCO) as a sign of renewed investor confidence. According to him, investor confidence is driven by credibility, consistency, and clarity in policy direction rather than rhetoric, as he urged the Council to accelerate the development of a pipeline of bankable projects and deepen the use of PPPs as a key tool for economic expansion.
Meanwhile, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, said the Council was updated on the progress of the distribution sector recovery programme funded by the World Bank with $500 million. He noted that contracts have been signed for 1,437,000 prepaid meters, with nearly 400,000 already installed, part of efforts to close Nigeria’s estimated 5.6 million metering gap, eliminate estimated billing, and support the administration’s goal of achieving a $1 trillion gross domestic product.
