Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for an aggressive expansion of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to drive Nigeria’s economic ambitions, reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to unlocking the value of national assets.
Speaking at the first 2026 meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) in Abuja, Shettima stated that the administration is focused on attracting investment and ensuring capital is strategically aligned with national development priorities.
The Vice President also charged relevant agencies to end estimated electricity billing, which has caused significant disaffection among consumers. He stressed that Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy would remain elusive without a deliberate balance between public enterprise and private sector dynamism, noting that economic prosperity must be intentionally designed and sustained through strong institutions.
Reviewing progress over the past year, Shettima highlighted key milestones in mining, agriculture, and energy. He specifically pointed to the sale of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DISCO) as a major signal of renewed investor confidence.
Shettima attributed the growing interest to the administration’s reform agenda, emphasizing that credibility, consistency, and clarity are the strongest drivers of capital inflows. He warned against policy inconsistencies, noting that overlapping mandates and unclear roles could undermine market stability.
Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) director-general Ayodele Gbeleyi updated the Council on the distribution sector recovery programme, a $500 million initiative financed by the World Bank. A major component is the procurement of approximately 3.22 million prepaid meters to bridge a gap estimated at 5.6 million.
Gbeleyi explained that contracts have been signed for 1.43 million meters, with almost 400,000 already installed across the 11 DISCOs. He added that the BPE has brought its audited financial statements up to date, presenting the 2025 accounts to the Council in line with global best practices.
