The Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited, BAECC has appointed infrastructure and Public-Private Partnership specialist, Dr Emmanuel Onwodi, as its Chief Operating Officer, COO.
The company said the appointment would strengthen its executive leadership as it advances the development and management of the Benin-Asaba highway corridor.
Onwodi, a chartered accountant and infrastructure finance specialist, brings more than 25 years of experience spanning infrastructure development, concession management, project finance, risk management, transport and logistics.
He previously spent about 14 years in senior roles at the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), where he rose to director-level positions covering Transport Infrastructure, Planning, Research and Statistics, and Special Projects.
In his new role, Onwodi will oversee the operational execution of the expressway concession, including project delivery, stakeholder coordination and implementation of the company’s long-term objectives.
His responsibilities will also cover operational efficiency, concession framework compliance and collaboration among government institutions, investors, contractors, lenders, host communities and other stakeholders.
During his career at the ICRC, Onwodi participated in the development and implementation of major infrastructure and PPP initiatives covering roads, railways, ports, aviation, energy, real estate and social infrastructure.
His experience includes concession structuring and negotiation, project finance, financial modelling, risk allocation and contingent liabilities. He also contributed to the Nigerian Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, National Infrastructure Financing Policy and PPP implementation guidelines.
Onwodi participated in the negotiation and structuring of the Eastern and Western Railway concessions, valued at more than $2.2 billion, and worked on projects involving deep-sea ports, dry ports, truck transit parks and aviation infrastructure.
He holds a Ph.D. in Risk Management in Public-Private Partnerships, an M.Sc. in Risk Management from Birmingham City University, United Kingdom, and a B.A. in International Accounting from the University of Northampton, UK. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, as well as a Certified Public-Private Partnership Professional, Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Management Consultant.
BAECC said Onwodi’s public-sector experience, infrastructure finance expertise and familiarity with complex concession arrangements would support the company’s efforts to deliver the Benin-Asaba Expressway.
The company said his appointment comes at a critical stage of the project, with effective coordination among the concessionaire, government agencies, contractors, financiers, communities and road users central to its successful delivery.
The Benin-Asaba Expressway is being developed under a PPP concession and serves as a key transport link between Edo and Delta states, facilitating the movement of people and goods across southern Nigeria.
Onwodi said effective infrastructure development required balanced risk allocation, transparent partnerships and rigorous execution.
“Infrastructure is the bridge between vision and prosperity. Through balanced risk, transparent partnership, and rigorous execution, we turn concession agreements into lasting public value — for generations to come,” he said.
BAECC said Onwodi would apply this approach to the day-to-day management of the concession, with a mandate to support timely project delivery, strengthen stakeholder relationships and promote sustainable value for road users, investors and the wider economy.
The company said its immediate priority remained effective execution of the concession and constructive engagement with stakeholders towards delivering a safe, efficient and modern Benin-Asaba Expressway.