The public sector has traditionally financed and operated infrastructure projects using resources from taxes and various levies (e.g. fuel taxes, road user charges). However, the rapid increase in human population growth coupled with extended globalisation complexities and associated social/political/economic challenges have placed new demands on the purveyors and operators of infrastructure projects. The importance of delivering quality infrastructure has been underlined by the United Nations declaration of the Millennium Development Goals; as has the provision of ‘adequate’ basic structures and facilities necessary for the well-being of urban populations in developing countries. Thus, in an effort to finance developing countries’ infrastructure needs, most countries have adopted some form of public-private collaboration strategy. This paper critically reviews these collaborative engagement approaches, identifies and highlights 10 critical themes that need to be appropriately captured and aligned to existing business models in order to successfully deliver sustainable infrastructure projects. Research findings show that infrastructure services can be delivered in many ways, and through various routes. For example, a purely public approach can cause problems such as slow and ineffective decision-making, inefficient organisational and institutional augmentation, and lack of competition and inefficiency (collectively known as government failure). On the other hand, adopting a purely private approach can cause problems such as inequalities in the distribution of infrastructure services (known as market failure). Thus, to overcome both government and market failures, a collaborative approach is advocated which incorporates the strengths of both of these polarised positions.

Managing major public infrastructure projects presents considerable challenges for governments/associated stakeholders, particularly where resources are limited. Consequently, many countries are now exploring various approaches to engaging the private sector in the delivery of essential infrastructure projects crucial to economic growth/development. Given these, a conceptual collaborative engagement framework is developed to overcome the challenges/contextual constraints associated with road infrastructure management in Nigeria. The study adopted a pragmatist philosophical positioning that involved a sequential mixed-methods research approach. The ‘quality function deployment’ systematic integration tool was employed to determine the degree of correlation between the ‘pivotal drivers’ and the ‘voice of the customer’. Research findings identified 12 important priorities of collaboration that constitute the nucleus of the conceptual Collaborative Engagement Framework for Road Infrastructure Management (Cefrim). These priorities reaffirm the need for ‘good/harmonious relationships’, ‘collective understanding’, ‘shared responsibility’, ‘innovative capacity’, ‘accountability’ and ‘value-for-money’ as essential rubrics for collaborative engagement. The Cefrim presents new knowledge that would help practitioners understand the fundamental elements in developing collaborative projects. Key implications include the need to help stakeholders appreciate the importance of people-centric forces in relationships. In doing so, traditional ‘lose-lose’ and ‘win-win’ relationships can be more effectively understood ergo the pivotal measures of success.

The development of any nation depends largely on her technical prowess and capabilities. This study utilizes a pragmatist philosophical investigative approach to capture the opinions of stakeholders in vocational technical manpower development in the geo-political zones of Nigeria. In all, 188 survey questionnaires were administered to the randomly selected samples of stakeholders. Of these, 132 completed questionnaires (representing 70 percent response) were retrieved. Descriptive statistical (Relative Importance Index) tool was used along with the SPSS version 25 for the analysis of primary data. Results of the study revealed over-reliance on imported technology, inadequate funding and poor learning resources as the challenges of vocational technical manpower development. The study strongly recommends appropriate training in local and adaptable technology, and public-private collaboration in the development of vocational technical manpower in Nigeria.

The globalisation of trade and rise in national income has resulted in increased demand for transport infrastructure and services. Given its high and diverse functionality and wide range of beneficiaries, road infrastructure and services have become essential components of national transport systems. However, lack of access to basic all-weather, reliable and safe road infrastructure is a major challenge in developing countries. Therefore, this study focused on public-private collaborative management of road infrastructure in Nigeria. The research methodological approach adopted an extensive review of relevant literature and questionnaire survey. A critical evaluation of secondary data helped to articulate the characteristics of various models of public-private collaboration. The study population comprised public, private sectors and end-user stakeholders purposively selected from the geo-political zones of Nigeria. Primary data were analysed through SPSS version 20 along with inferential (Kruskal-Wallis Test) and descriptive (Relative Importance Index) statistical tools. The study uncovered new meaning and understanding in ‘trust’, and strongly advocated for an effective stakeholders’ collaboration in financing, construction, operation, maintenance and management of viable road infrastructure and services.

No abstract