President Bola Tinubu has approved a major reform in Nigeria’s public-private partnership (PPP) approval process, a move experts say could significantly accelerate infrastructure delivery in key sectors.
Announced by Jobson Ewalefoh, Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), on Sunday, the new regime decentralises project approvals, allowing ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to greenlight certain PPPs without going through the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
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New Thresholds for Faster Project Delivery
Under the new framework, MDAs can now approve PPP projects internally, provided they fall below specific financial thresholds. Parastatals can approve projects valued under ₦10 billion, while ministries can approve those under ₦20 billion subject to ICRC guidelines and certification.
“Only projects exceeding the thresholds or involving multiple MDAs will require FEC approval,” Ewalefoh clarified, adding that all PPP projects must still be reviewed and certified by the ICRC before final approval.
Ewalefoh said this policy shift is “a game-changer for Nigeria’s infrastructure ecosystem,” noting that the old system required all PPP projects, regardless of value, to pass through FEC, a process that created delays and discouraged agency-level initiatives.
He emphasised that the reform “aligns with President Tinubu’s broader push to overhaul Nigeria’s public procurement and infrastructure financing systems.”
No Government Guarantees, All-Private Funding
A key condition of the new regime is that eligible PPP projects must be “entirely privately funded, with no government guarantees or financial commitments from the treasury.” This means projects seeking public financial backing or involving more than one MDA will still need FEC approval.
However, the ICRC will remain the central gatekeeper for quality control.
“Notwithstanding the new thresholds, every PPP project must be submitted to the ICRC for review and certification,” Ewalefoh said. “The ICRC must issue certificates of compliance before any PPP project can be approved by the PAB and other approving bodies.”
Boosting Low-Value, High-Impact Projects
The Tinubu administration hopes the new model will unlock faster and more widespread delivery of low-cost, high-impact infrastructure across Nigeria.
“With this framework, we expect private sector-led investments in projects like rural diagnostic centres, school blocks, student hostels, and affordable housing to be delivered faster, with less bureaucracy,” Ewalefoh explained.
He added that the reform represents a move from a “one-size-fits-all approach” to a more “dynamic and scale-sensitive model” of project evaluation and approval.
“By decentralising approvals, the government is supporting and unlocking investment opportunities through improved capital inflows, job creation, and faster project delivery—exactly what we need in this current economic climate,” he said.
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The ICRC says it will continue to guide, promote, and regulate the PPP ecosystem, collaborating with MDAs to ensure transparency and efficiency under the new approval structure.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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