LIVE UPDATES
President Bola Tinubu has authorized the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to enhance the efficiency and streamline the process for public-private partnership (PPP) project delivery.
The director-general of ICRC, Jobson Ewalefoh, shared this information in a statement by Ifeanyi Nwoko, acting head of media and publicity for ICRC, on Sunday in Abuja.
Ewalefoh explained that the new procedure would include setting PPP thresholds for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), which is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s infrastructure development.
He noted that until now, all PPP projects, regardless of their scale, required Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval, leading to protracted processes and limiting participation from MDAs with smaller projects. The new policy decentralizes the approval process.
“It permits MDAs to approve projects below specified thresholds under ICRC guidelines, thereby facilitating projects of all sizes and promoting broader private sector involvement in PPPs,” he stated.
He recalled that during the recent Nigeria PPP Summit, the president emphasized that his government was reinforcing the ICRC as the “engine room of Nigeria’s infrastructure revolution.”
“The president highlighted that PPPs are crucial for transformative development throughout the nation.”
“Under the new directive, PPP projects valued below N10 billion for parastatals/agencies and N20 billion for ministries will now receive approval from the respective Project Approval Boards (PABs),”
Ewalefoh added. He indicated that the boards would be formed following ICRC guidelines and regulations. “Only projects surpassing these limits or those that involve multiple ministries and necessitate inter-agency coordination will need FEC approval.
Importantly, all such projects must be completely privately funded, with no governmental guarantees or financial responsibilities from the treasury. Regardless of the new thresholds, every PPP project must still be submitted to the ICRC for examination and certification. The ICRC must issue compliance certificates before any PPP project can gain approval from the PAB and other approving entities,” he stated.
Ewalefoh mentioned that this system shift from a uniform approach to a more flexible and scale-sensitive model allows for low-value yet high-impact projects.
He indicated that the new approval process is a significant breakthrough, particularly in sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and housing. “We anticipate private sector-driven investments in initiatives like rural diagnostic medical centers, the construction of classroom blocks and student hostels.
Additionally, this will be reflected in the provision of affordable housing solutions nationwide with reduced bureaucratic hurdles under the newly adopted procedure,” he mentioned.
He stressed that the new framework aligns with Tinubu’s broader public procurement reforms, fostering coherence across the governmental financial and investment systems.
“By decentralizing approvals, the government is encouraging and unlocking investment opportunities through enhanced capital inflows, job creation, and expedited project delivery, which is precisely what we require in the current economic environment,” he remarked.
Ewalefoh stated that the ICRC will continue to advance, guide, facilitate, and regulate the PPP ecosystem within the country, while working in tandem with other agencies involved in infrastructure.
He identified these agencies as including the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
The Director-General urged MDAs, as project owners and grantors, to leverage the approved thresholds and the new guidelines that will be provided by the commission.
“MDAs are encouraged to adopt the use of PPPs for the delivery of essential infrastructure to fulfill the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”
