The Federal Government has unveiled new guidelines on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), granting ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) greater authority to approve infrastructure projects under specific thresholds.
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) announced the reforms on Sunday in a statement, noting that the move is aimed at accelerating infrastructure delivery and attracting more private sector investment into Nigeria’s economy.
Under the new framework, ministries are empowered to approve PPP projects valued below ₦20 billion, while agencies and parastatals can approve projects worth up to ₦10 billion. The initiative follows a presidential directive to overhaul the nation’s infrastructure development process through decentralised decision-making.
The guidelines, developed under the ICRC Act of 2005, detail procedures for preparing Outline Business Cases, Full Business Cases, financial models, procurement routes, and PPP agreements. They were formally presented during a high-level stakeholder engagement with representatives of all federal MDAs involved in PPP implementation.
Speaking at the event, ICRC Director-General, Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, said the reforms are in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic vision to liberalise infrastructure financing and encourage private sector participation.
“These rules establish a definitive framework for the conception, development, and execution of PPP projects in Nigeria. They decentralise project approvals to empower MDAs for faster delivery while safeguarding the ICRC’s role as regulator of PPPs in Nigeria,” Ewalefoh stated.
He stressed that every PPP project, regardless of size or sector, must comply with ICRC’s due diligence and compliance requirements. He further clarified that the Commission serves strictly as a regulator—not an operator or grantor of projects—and will continue to facilitate fair negotiations between MDAs and private investors.
The ICRC boss also warned that while MDAs now enjoy greater autonomy, they are equally subject to heightened accountability and zero tolerance for non-compliance.
Participants at the unveiling expressed strong support for the guidelines, pledging readiness to begin immediate implementation.
The ICRC reaffirmed its commitment to work with MDAs, investors, financiers, and development partners to make Nigeria the continent’s leading hub for bankable and transformative PPP projects.
