Benin-Asaba Expressway Concessionaire Appoints Onwodi as COO

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 aimed at strengthening the company’s executive leadership as it advances the development and management of the Benin-Asaba Expressway, a major transport 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 previously spent about 14 years in senior positions at the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, where he rose to director-level roles covering areas including transport infrastructure, planning, research and statistics, and special projects.

As COO, Onwodi will support the operational execution of the highway concession, coordinate key stakeholders and help implement BAECC’s long-term objectives.

His responsibilities will include strengthening project delivery, improving operational efficiency and promoting 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 in the United Kingdom and a bachelor’s degree in International Accounting from the University of Northampton.

He also holds professional qualifications in accounting, logistics, finance and PPP management.

BAECC said his combination of public-sector experience, infrastructure knowledge, financial expertise and familiarity with complex concession arrangements would support efforts to deliver the expressway.

The company said the appointment comes at an important stage of the project, with effective coordination between government agencies, financiers, contractors, communities and road users expected to be central to its implementation.