The Director-General (D-G) of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) drive has yielded major infrastructure gains.
Ewalefoh made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Washington on Friday.
He said that the Federal Government’s PPP policy was driving infrastructure delivery, with measurable progress.
The D-G said that the federal government was prioritising private sector investment as a central strategy for economic growth and national development.
He recalled Tinubu’s 2024 policy direction, hinged on “A people-focused government anchored on private sector participation to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and stimulate sustainable economic expansion.”
According to him, the commission’s operational independence is to design frameworks that will attract investors and ensure efficient delivery of critical infrastructure projects nationwide.
Ewalefoh said that the commission has repositioned Nigeria as an investment-ready destination, with several landmark projects successfully executed across key sectors within two years.
He said that the aviation concession of Enugu Airport had been completed and unlocking economic opportunities in the South-East and enhancing regional connectivity.
The D-G said that the Port Harcourt airport concession agreement would be finalised soon, marking another milestone in modernising Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure through private sector collaboration.
He said that the commission has facilitated partnerships to deploy advanced passenger information systems and biometric solutions to strengthen safety for both domestic and international air travellers.
Ewalefoh said that these innovations would improve surveillance, enhance national security architecture, and boost investor confidence in the country’s transport ecosystem.
The DG also highlighted the revival of the Ikere Gorge Hydropower Plant, abandoned since 1982, now concessioned for redevelopment into a six-megawatt facility.
He said the project demonstrates government’s commitment to unlocking dormant assets through private investment to improve electricity supply and support industrial growth.
Ewalefoh also disclosed some ongoing work on the Omi-Kampe hydropower initiative in Kogi, aimed at expanding renewable energy capacity and diversifying Nigeria’s energy mix.
The D-G revealed plans to revive the Nigerian National Shipping Line, with strong investor interest secured through collaboration with the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry.
He said the initiative would restore Nigeria’s presence in global shipping, create jobs, and strengthen participation in international trade.
Ewalefoh also revealed the Snake Island expansion project, which has attracted over one billion dollars in private investment to develop additional phases of port infrastructure.
He described the achievement as a major boost to Nigeria’s logistics capacity and a testament to growing investor confidence in the nation’s infrastructure framework.
According to him, multiple projects remain in the pipeline, reflecting sustained momentum in infrastructure delivery through well-structured public-private partnerships.Ewalefoh reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and investor-friendly policies to accelerate national development and economic resilience.
