ABSTRACT

This research work empirically explored into the impact of public private partnership on infrastructural development in Rivers state with a particular reference to Orlean invest and Agip Oil and Gas PLC, Port Harcourt, Rivers state. The specific objectives sought to achieve in this study includes, To examine government policies for improving Public-Private Partnership in Orlean invest and Agip Oil and Gas PLC, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to ascertain the relationship between Public-Private Partnership and Infrastructural development in Orlean invest and Agip Oil and Gas PLC, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to determine how effective government policies are on public-private partnership in Orlean invest and Agip Oil and Gas PLC, Port Harcourt, Rivers state and to access challenges of operationalizing PPP to attain maximum infrastructural development. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The study had a population size of both companies were 1700, out of which a sample size of 324 was realized using Taro Yamanes 's formula at 5% error tolerance and 95% level of confidence. Instrument the for data collection was through primary and secondary sources such as direct · interviews and well structured questionnaire distributed to some staff in various departments of the organization. Also other information were also gathered from books, journals, newspapers and internet to complement the primary data from the analysis of the data. Out of 324 copies of the questionnaire that was ·distributed, 300 copies were returned while 24 were not returned The hypotheses were tested using Chi-Square, Z-test and ANOVA statistical tools. The findings indicates that there are sufficient government policies to improve Public-Private Partnership in Orlean invest and Agip Oil and Gas PLC, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, (X% = 205.2 > Xh; =11.0705, p = 0.0000 < a = 0.05). Also that there is a positive relationship between public private partnership and infrastructural development in Orlean invest and Agip Oil and Gas PLC, Port Harcourt, Rivers state (Ze = 4.911 > Z, =1.96, p = 0.0000 <a = 0.05). Government policies are effective on Public-Private Partnership in Orlean invest and Agip Oil and Gas PLC, Port Harcourt, Rivers state (F,= 574.934 > F, =3.20, p = 0.0000 <a = 0.05), and that corruption and lack of studied policies are the challenges of operationalizing PPP on maximum infrastructural development (Xe = 166.033 > XI =11.0705, p = 0.0000 <a = 0.05) The researcher concludes that the findings of this study will resolve some issues regarding public private partnership arrangements and examine its impact on infrastructural development. The researcher recommends that Rivers state government should encourage public private partnership in their development effort as this will reduce the burden of infrastructural development on government. Again, Government should come up with policies and laws that will encourage Public-Private Partnership.