President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that his administration has significantly strengthened the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), transforming it into a central powerhouse for the delivery of public-private partnership (PPP) projects across Nigeria. Speaking at the 2025 Nigeria Public-Private Partnership Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall, Tinubu emphasized that this move is not just a bureaucratic upgrade, but a “structural reset” designed to align policy with execution and accelerate infrastructure development nationwide.
According to Tinubu, the ICRC has been empowered to regulate and superintend PPP transactions, de-risk, fast-track, and ensure that public-private partnerships deliver real results. The President highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to improving transparency in project pipelines, streamlining approvals, and coordinating across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to “fast-track implementation of viable projects.” He also reiterated his administration’s goal to raise Nigeria’s infrastructure stock to at least 70% of GDP by 2043.
The Director-General of ICRC, Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, commended President Tinubu for his transformative leadership in advancing Nigeria’s infrastructure development through PPPs. He noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda under President Tinubu has catalyzed a bold recalibration of public policy, placing infrastructure at the heart of inclusive national growth. Dr. Ewalefoh pointed to the range of transformative PPP projects currently being implemented across sectors, including the Highway Development and Management Initiative, MediPool medical infrastructure programme, Ikere Gorge Dam, Borokiri Fishing Terminal, and MEMS platform.
The two-day summit brought together critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s infrastructure space, including key federal ministries, state governors, international development partners, and leading private sector players. Technical discussions covered themes such as innovative financing models for PPPs, harnessing opportunities in transport, and strategies for boosting private sector investment in power and renewable energy. Participants also reviewed case studies of successful PPP projects from Nigeria and across Africa.
In his address, President Tinubu charged the private sector to step up, not just with capital, but with innovation, integrity, and long-term commitment. “Let this summit be remembered not for fine speeches, but for bankable projects, signed deals, and enduring progress,” he said. The President’s commitment to infrastructure development is evident in his administration’s efforts to revamp public infrastructure, including the recently rehabilitated International Conference Centre, which was renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in recognition of his transformational leadership.
