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 appointment is expected to strengthen the company’s executive leadership as it advances the development and management of the Benin-Asaba Expressway corridor linking Edo and Delta states.
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 also spent about 14 years in senior roles at the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), where he held director-level responsibilities covering transport infrastructure, planning, research and statistics, and special projects.
In his new position, Onwodi will be responsible for supporting the operational execution of the expressway concession, coordinating key stakeholders and strengthening the implementation of BAECC’s long-term objectives.
His responsibilities will also cover operational efficiency, concession management and cooperation among government institutions, investors, contractors, lenders, host communities and other stakeholders involved in the project.
Onwodi 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.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and is also a Certified Public-Private Partnership Professional (CP3P).
His professional background includes participation in major infrastructure and PPP initiatives involving roads, railways, ports, aviation, energy and social infrastructure. He has also worked on concession structuring, financial modelling, risk allocation and infrastructure financing.
Among the initiatives associated with his career are contributions to Nigeria’s infrastructure planning and PPP frameworks, as well as work on railway, maritime, aviation and road infrastructure projects.
Commenting on his approach to infrastructure development, Onwodi said, “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.”
BAECC said his combination of public-sector experience, financial expertise and knowledge of complex concession arrangements would support the company’s efforts to deliver the Benin-Asaba Expressway.
The company added that his appointment comes at a critical stage of the project, with effective coordination among the concessionaire, government agencies, financiers, contractors, communities and road users remaining important to successful delivery.
BAECC said its immediate priority remains the effective execution of the concession and the delivery of a safe, efficient and modern expressway.
