CHAPTER ONE

                                                     INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Throughout the world, governments are being faced with increasing demand to finance the rising expectation of their citizens (Ibrahim et al, 2007). Regardless of the economic resources at the disposal of a country, it is a social and political responsibility to provide basic services to the citizens. However owing to the limitation of capital resources, there has been increase in private sector involvement in the provision of public services through the formation of public private partnerships (PPPs) (Ibrahim et al, 2007).

PPP market has become popular for the delivery of public sector service around the world after nearly 2 decades of its introduction into the UK construction industries. Its position in the industry is well rooted and substantial in size. Yet structure, nature of competition and the market orientation are little known (Kyaw and Akintoye, 2009).

With the current estimated population of 141,568,000 and annual growth rate of about 3.2% (National Population Commission (NPC), 2010), Nigerian faces huge deficit of basic amenities and essential public infrastructure for the majority of the citizens (Oyedele, 2008). The government encourages the introduction of PPPs by involving the private sector in the provision of public infrastructure and services. Consequently, the application of PPP in Nigeria is becoming increasingly for both new project (such as road construction, market development, car park and estate development) and for the operation and management of old facilities (Ibrahim et al, 2006). Public services are provided by the private sector through the formation of PPP. These initiatives have taken many forms such as outright privatization of previously state-owned industries (Ibrahim et al, 2007). Others include Private finance initiatives (PFI), Build Operate and Transfer (BOT), Joint venture and concessions, Build Owned Operate Transfer (BOOT), Build operate train Transfer (BOTT), Build Transfer Operate (BTO) outsourcing etc (Jagafa, 2008). It’s generally recognized that a PPP program offers a long term, sustainable approach to improving social infrastructure, enhancing the value of public assets and making better use of tax-payers money. PPP also offers a rapid and effective way of offsetting immediate infrastructure need (Jagafa, 2008).

There is no straightforward definition of PPP. Many forms of public-private co operation exist and numerous definitions are available to describe PPPs. PPPs can be defined as co operation between public and private actors with a durable character in which actors develop mutual products and/or services and in which risk, costs, and benefit are shared (Mirjam and Dewulf, 2007).  Akintoye (2006), defined PPP as “a contractual agreement of shared ownership between a public agency and private company, where they pool resources together and share risk and reward to create efficiency in the production and provision of public or private goods. Jagafa (2008) opines that, PPP entails a shift in the role of public sector from supplying to buying of services, with private firms designing, constructing, financing, operating and maintaining infrastructure, and the public sector paying for these services. Infrastructure according to Longman Dictionary (2007) is the basic needs and structure that a country or organization needs in order to work properly. For example, roads, railway, health care services, bank etc.

Optimum Conditions as defined by oxford Advanced Leaner Dictionary is the set of conditions producing the best result. Also according to Longman dictionary of contemporary English (2007), Optimum is the most suitable for a particular purpose or in a particular situation e.g. Optimum condition for growth etc. therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the optimum conditions for PPPs in various infrastructure sectors in Nigeria.

            1.3 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM (including research questions)

Research has shown that the requirements for PPPs differ between infrastructure sectors and between countries/jurisdictions (Eaton et al, 2007). While some studies have been conducted on different countries, the requirements for each infrastructure sector are still not well known (Akintoye, 2006; Li et al 2005a, 2005b; Ibrahim et al 2006a, 2006b; Eaton et al, 2007).

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