The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has taken a decisive step towards advancing the implementation of the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement aimed at transforming the construction, operations, and maintenance of highways in Nigeria. In a ceremony held yesterday, the Minister inaugurated three committees tasked with accelerating the execution of this significant infrastructure initiative.
The HDMI program envisions the involvement of concessionaires who will recover their investments through toll and non-toll revenues negotiated within the framework of the PPP. Minister Umahi, while addressing the committees, underscored the importance of their effective collaboration, emphasizing the expectations of Nigerians regarding transparency, standards, and efficiency in contract negotiations.
Although contracts with some concessionaires have already been finalized, Umahi acknowledged the need for a comprehensive review due to the evolving economic landscape and the new policy direction of the current administration. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the scope of work and cost implications align with the present economic dynamics.
The Minister charged the concessionaires to adhere to the criteria set and the stipulated timeline for the projects. He articulated the ministry’s commitment to establishing a benchmark for road infrastructure that could be subject to tolls, emphasizing the necessity for designs to conform to the ministry’s standards. As part of this commitment, the chairman of the committee on scoping and design will be the director of roads and bridges at the Ministry of Works.
The inauguration of these committees signifies a crucial step forward in the government’s efforts to modernize and enhance the country’s highway infrastructure through strategic partnerships with private entities. The HDMI initiative is expected to not only improve the quality of road networks but also contribute to the overall economic development of Nigeria. The success of these committees is anticipated to set a precedent for transparent and efficient public-private collaborations in the nation’s infrastructure projects.
