The Benin Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited, BAECC, has appointed infrastructure finance and Public Private Partnership specialist, Dr Emmanuel Onwodi, as its Chief Operating Officer.
The appointment is expected to strengthen the company’s executive leadership as it continues work on the development and management of the Benin Asaba highway corridor. Onwodi brings more than 25 years of experience covering infrastructure development, concession management, project finance, risk management, transport and logistics.
As COO, he will oversee the operational execution of the expressway concession, with a focus on improving project delivery, coordinating key stakeholders and supporting the company’s long term objectives.
His responsibilities will also include improving operational efficiency, maintaining the integrity of the concession framework and strengthening cooperation among government institutions, investors, contractors, lenders, communities and other stakeholders involved in the project.
Onwodi is a chartered accountant and infrastructure finance specialist who previously held senior positions at the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC. His career has placed him at the intersection of government policy, private investment and major infrastructure development.
He holds a PhD in Risk Management in Public Private Partnerships, with research focused on contingent liability risk. He also earned an MSc in Risk Management from Birmingham City University in the United Kingdom and a BA in International Accounting from the University of Northampton.
His academic qualifications also include a Postgraduate Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology in Zaria.
Professionally, Onwodi is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He is also a Certified Public Private Partnership Professional, Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Management Consultant.
During his time at the ICRC, Onwodi worked on major infrastructure initiatives across sectors including roads, railways, ports, aviation, energy, real estate and social infrastructure. His experience covers concession structuring and negotiations, project finance, financial modelling, risk allocation and the management of contingent liabilities.
His background also includes work aimed at improving the bankability and long term sustainability of infrastructure projects, giving him experience in managing the financial and operational demands associated with large concession arrangements.
The Benin Asaba Expressway is being developed under a Public Private Partnership concession and serves as an important transport link between Edo and Delta states, supporting the movement of people and goods across southern Nigeria.
With Onwodi joining the executive team, BAECC is expected to place greater emphasis on project coordination, stakeholder engagement and the effective implementation of the concession as work on the highway corridor progresses.
The company said the appointment reflects its commitment to building the professional and technical leadership needed to advance the project and deliver a modern and efficient Benin Asaba Expressway.
