The Director-Common of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Fee (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, has said that Nigeria urgently wants Public-Personal Partnerships (PPPs) involving each native and international buyers to handle the nation’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure hole.
He made the commentary on Tuesday on the ongoing Nigeria Public-Personal Partnership (PPP) Summit 2025, held on the State Home Banquet Corridor in Abuja, an occasion attended by Nairametrics.
The summit, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Position of Public-Personal Partnerships in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda,” was graced by a number of Federal Ministers, officers from Afreximbank, the African Growth {Bank} (AfDB), the Regional Director of the Worldwide Finance Company (IFC), amongst others.
In his opening remarks, Ewalefoh confused that buyers ought to reap the benefits of Nigeria’s open market.
“Let me guarantee our native and worldwide buyers: Nigeria is open for enterprise — and extra importantly, prepared for partnership. With over 200 million folks, a rising center class, wealthy pure endowments, and an infinite infrastructure hole estimated at over $2.3 trillion — the case for PPPs in Nigeria isn’t solely compelling, it’s pressing,” he mentioned.
The DG defined that below the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria has witnessed a daring recalibration of public coverage, prioritizing infrastructure because the engine of inclusive progress.
“In 2024, he directed that each one MDAs should strictly adjust to the ICRC Act and Pointers in all PPP transactions — a transparent assertion of his dedication to rule-based, clear infrastructure improvement.
“He has preserved the integrity of our regulatory mandate, by no means interfering with our processes. As an alternative, he routinely directs potential buyers and companions to interact straight with the ICRC — reinforcing our function because the statutory gateway for all federal PPPs.
“Underneath his management, we’ve witnessed unprecedented velocity within the approval of PPP proposals earlier than the Federal Govt Council (FEC). This presidential help is enabling us to fast-track crucial nationwide tasks, together with the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State — a life-saving infrastructure that may mitigate the perennial devastation brought on by water launched from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon,” he added.
Talking as Visitor of Honour on the summit, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, urged personal sector companions not simply to supply capital however to indicate dedication to Nigeria’s infrastructure calls for.
“To our personal sector companions, we ask not only for capital, however for dedication. Nigeria provides scale, demand, and returns like no different African market,” he mentioned, including that the nation wants greater than funding.
“We’d like innovation, we’d like effectivity, and above all, we’d like integrity. I urge you to look past the dangers and acknowledge the immense alternative to form a nation that’s not simply rising, however prepared,” he mentioned.
“Our {economic} reforms have laid a secure basis.
“From the elimination of unsustainable subsidies to the liberalization of the international trade regime and the optimization of presidency revenues, we’ve acted boldly and responsibly.
“We’re streamlining bureaucratic bottlenecks and enhancing transparency in our venture pipelines. Now we have aligned our processes with international finest practices and investor expectations,” he added.
Shettima subsequently declared the 2025 Nigeria Public-Personal Partnership Summit open.
