This study investigates the severity of the challenges associated with the Public-Private Partnership system initiation phase in the procurement of public infrastructure. Also, strategies for managing the barriers associated with the procurement system were evaluated. The study adopted a quantitative research method, conducting a questionnaire survey targeted at selected PPP stakeholders, which includes Architects, Builders, Structural engineers, estate managers, and Quantity surveyors in Lagos and Abuja. The stakeholders were elicited from selected 19 PPP projects using a project-based approach. The data generated were analysed with SPSS 21 using descriptive and inferential tools. Findings from the study revealed the most severe factors associated with PPP procurement system failure to deliver public infrastructure at the inception phase, including a lack of PPP development fund to promote PPP, corruption among the political class, and investors' perception of the country as high-risk for investment. Likewise, strategies considered significant to managing the PPP initiation barriers were unveiled including establishing policies to facilitate PPP at the inception phase, improving transparency in information sharing and providing guarantee legal framework to protect investors. The findings will grant PPP stakeholders insights to the issues responsible for the termination of PPP project collaboration at initiation phase of the procurement system. Also, the unveiling of the PPP challenges and mitigating strategies at the inception phase could guide stakeholders in developing a framework to a successful PPP implementation in a bid to encouraging more participation at this level.