Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit remains a major constraint on growth, even as government faces limited fiscal space to fund critical projects. Against this backdrop, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission under Jobson Ewalefoh, is pursuing reforms to make PPPs faster, more predictable and capable of mobilising private capital for infrastructure delivery, writes James Emejo For years, Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit has presented a paradox: The country has enormous development needs, yet the public purse alone cannot provide the capital required to close the gap. That reality has made Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) increasingly central to Nigeria’s infrastructure strategy. But attracting private capital is only one part of the equation. Investors need predictable rules, efficient approvals, transparent processes and projects capable of delivering value. It is against this backdrop that the leadership of Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), has assumed significance in Nigeria’s evolving PPP ecosystem. As the federal government agency responsible for regulating and supervising PPP projects, the ICRC occupies a critical position between government institutions seeking infrastructure solutions and private investors looking for viable, bankable opportunities. Since assuming office, Ewalefoh has pursued a reform-oriented agenda aimed at making Nigeria’s PPP process faster, clearer and more predictable, while strengthening regulatory oversight and ensuring that infrastructure concessions deliver value for money. Career Built Around Devt Finance and Infrastructure Ewalefoh brings to the ICRC a career that cuts across development finance, infrastructure, investment promotion and public-sector leadership. His professional experience spans project finance, project development, strategic planning, investment structuring and institutional reforms designed to improve the investment environment. His academic background is equally broad. He holds a PhD in Development Studies from the University of South Africa (UNISA), alongside an MSc in Economics from Enugu State University of Technology; a Master of Information Technology from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology; an MBA and Master of Public Administration from the University of Abuja and a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Benin. He has also undertaken executive training at internationally recognised institutions, including Harvard University, the Brookings Institution, the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University and Lagos Business School. That combination of economics, technology, public administration and development studies has informed an approach to PPP regulation that places emphasis not merely on approving projects, but on improving the structures through which those projects are conceived, financed and delivered. From Approval Bottlenecks to Faster Project Delivery One of the most significant changes under Ewalefoh has been the effort to simplify and decentralise the approval process for PPP projects. Traditionally, lengthy approval procedures have been identified as one of the challenges capable of slowing infrastructure transactions and discouraging prospective investors. Under the reforms driven by the ICRC, PPP projects have been categorised according to value thresholds, giving Ministries, Departments and Agencies greater room to process projects within defined limits. Ministries can now approve projects valued at N20 billion and below, while parastatals and agencies can approve projects valued at N10 billion and below. Where a project initiated by an agency or parastatal exceeds N10 billion but remains below N20 billion, the Project Approval Board of its supervising ministry can approve it. Projects above those thresholds, as well as projects involving multiple MDAs, remain subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council. The objective is straightforward: ensure that projects do not become unnecessarily trapped in layers of bureaucracy when they fall within clearly defined approval limits. For the PPP market, the potential impact is considerable. Faster approvals can shorten transaction timelines, improve investor confidence and enable government institutions to respond more quickly to infrastructure needs. Bringing Greater Certainty to PPP Process Beyond approval thresholds, Ewalefoh’s administration has also sought to make the PPP process easier for both public institutions and private-sector proponents to navigate. Clear guidelines have been issued to explain how PPP transactions should progress from inception through procurement and ultimately to financial close. This is important becaus
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