Tinubu Approves New Decentralised Framework For PPP Projects In Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu has introduced a groundbreaking decentralised framework for public-private partnership (PPP) projects, aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s infrastructure development. The directive, announced on Sunday in Abuja by Jobson Ewalefoh, the director-general of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), grants parastatals and ministries greater autonomy in approving projects, streamlining processes and reducing bureaucratic delays.
Under the new system, parastatals can independently approve PPP projects valued up to N10 billion, while ministries have the authority to greenlight projects worth up to N20 billion. These approvals will be overseen by project approval boards (PABs), which must comply with strict guidelines and certifications issued by the ICRC. Only projects exceeding these financial thresholds or involving multiple ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) will require Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval.
A key feature of the framework is that all PPP projects must be entirely privately funded, with no reliance on government guarantees or treasury commitments. However, every project, regardless of value, must be submitted to the ICRC for review and receive a certificate of compliance before approval by the PAB or other bodies.
Ewalefoh described the directive as a transformative step for Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape, particularly for sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and housing. The decentralised approach is expected to expedite private sector-led investments in critical projects, including rural diagnostic medical centres, classroom blocks, student hostels, and affordable housing schemes. By cutting red tape, the framework aims to foster faster project delivery, increased capital inflows, and job creation—vital components for Nigeria’s economic growth in the current climate.
The ICRC director-general hailed the approval as a “game-changer,” noting its potential to unlock significant investment opportunities. With this bold reform, Nigeria is poised to see a surge in infrastructure projects driven by private sector innovation, delivering tangible benefits to communities across the country.
