The Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC) has appointed the incumbent Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Abuja Branch, Dr Emmanuel Onwodi, as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO).
According to the company, the strategic appointment aims to reinforce its executive bench as it accelerates the development and management of the critical Benin-Asaba highway corridor.
Dr Onwodi—a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and a Chartered Accountant of repute, he is currently the Chairman finance and audit Committee of CILT Nigeria, a seasoned infrastructure finance and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) specialist. He brings over two half decades of robust experience spanning infrastructure development, concession management, project finance, risk management, and transport logistics to his new role.
Prior to his retirement from public service, Dr Onwodi was a director at the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), where he climbed the ranks to head key portfolios including Transport Infrastructure, Planning, Research and Statistics, and Special Projects.
In his capacity as COO, he will spearhead the operational execution of the expressway concession. His mandate covers project delivery, stakeholder coordination, and the long-term strategic objectives of the firm. He will also oversee operational efficiency, concession framework compliance, and critical collaborations between government institutions, investors, contractors, lenders, and host communities.
During his distinguished tenure at the ICRC, Dr Onwodi was central to the development and rollout of landmark PPP initiatives cutting across roads, railways, ports, aviation, energy, real estate, and social infrastructure.
His deep expertise encompasses concession structuring, negotiation, financial modelling, risk allocation, and managing contingent liabilities. Notably, he contributed to the formulation of the Nigerian Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, the National Infrastructure Financing Policy, and federal PPP implementation guidelines.
Among his career highlights, Dr Onwodi participated in the structuring and negotiation of the Eastern and Western Railway concessions, a massive portfolio valued at over $2.2 billion. His public sector footprint also extends to deep-sea ports, dry ports, truck transit parks, and aviation infrastructure.
Dr Onwodi holds a Ph.D. in Risk Management in Public-Private Partnerships, an M.Sc. in Risk Management from Birmingham City University, UK, and a B.A. in International Accounting from the University of Northampton, UK.
Additionally, he holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria.
His elite professional pedigree is further anchored by his status as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a Certified Public-Private Partnership Professional, a Chartered Financial Consultant, and a Chartered Management Consultant.
According to BAECC, Dr Onwodi’s formidable public-sector background, deep infrastructure finance acumen, and seasoned familiarity with complex concession ecosystems are exactly what the company needs to push the Benin-Asaba Expressway over the finish line.
The concessionaire emphasized that his appointment comes at a high-stakes juncture for the project. For the multi-billion-naira corridor to succeed, seamless, high-level coordination is urgently required among the concessionaire, government regulatory bodies, contractors, financiers, host communities, and daily commuters.
Developed under an ambitious PPP framework, the Benin-Asaba Expressway serves as a vital economic artery connecting Edo and Delta states, anchoring the seamless movement of commerce and people across Southern Nigeria.
Reacting to his appointment, Dr Onwodi stressed that world-class infrastructure delivery relies entirely on balanced risk structures, transparent alliances, and uncompromising execution.
“Infrastructure is the ultimate bridge between vision and prosperity,” Dr Onwodi noted. “Through balanced risk, transparent partnership, and rigorous execution, we turn complex concession agreements into tangible, lasting public value that will serve generations to come.”
BAECC confirmed that Dr Onwodi will immediately inject this performance-driven philosophy into the day-to-day management of the concession. His mandate is clear-cut: accelerate project timelines, deepen stakeholder trust, and unlock sustainable economic value for investors, road users, and the regional economy alike.
Reaffirming its commitment, BAECC stated that its immediate, laser-focused priority remains the flawless execution of the concession agreement, backed by proactive stakeholder engagement to deliver a safe, hyper-efficient, and modern Benin-Asaba Expressway.
