ICRC reiterates commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s PPP architecture
By Okeoghene Akubuike
Mr Michael Ohiani, Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), has reiterated the commission’s commitment to strengthen the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) architecture in Nigeria.
Ohiani said this at the Fourth Quarter Public-Private Partnership Units Consultative Forum (3PUCF) Meeting in Abuja on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum provides a platform for PPP departments in Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and stakeholders to share ideas, success stories, and challenges on their PPP projects to drive economic growth in Nigeria.
The meeting was hosted and sponsored by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).
Ohiani said that in the last quarter of 2023, the commission had successfully issued Outline and Full Business Case Compliance Certificates in respect to key PPP projects from several MDAs.
He said between October and December 2023, the commission issued 15 Outline Business Case (OBC) Compliance Certificates and eight Full Business Case (FBC) Compliance Certificates.
Ohiani said the commission also secured Federal Executive Council approval in respect of the Central Workshop Ijora, a project of the Ministry of Works, in the fourth quarter.
He said some projects which had been issued OBC Compliance Certificates in the fourth quarter included the Development of Commercial Duplexes and Lock-up Shops at Afforestation Programme Coordinating Unit Premises, Kano.
“Others are the Development of Commercial Duplexes at Federal School of Forestry, Jos, Auto Gas Project Lot in the six geo-political zones and the FCT, and National Transport Data Bank and other Integrated Technologies Project.
“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDS) Centralised Domestic Staff Management System, NSCDC Special Services and Private Guards Management System, and Rehabilitation/Upgrade of Radiation on Oncology Centre at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.”
Ohiani said FBC Compliance Certificates were issued for the following projects which included Concession of Un-utilised land owned by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) located at Sheik Jafaar Road, Doyari, Kano State.
He said others included the construction of two new commercial buildings at Onikan Museum at 500 Square meters, and 2,245 square metres, respectively, and Special Services and Private Guards Management System.
“Others are Rehabilitation/Upgrade of Hostel Accommodation at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, and Enhanced Courier Service for Nigerian Passports.”
Ohiani reiterated the commission’s commitment to continue to build PPP capacity across MDAs and PPP practitioners through its training arm- the Nigeria Institute of Infrastructure and Public-Private Partnership.
“In the course of the last Quarter of 2023, the Institute delivered training courses in different parts of the country including an international training which was held in Tanzania early in December.
“This brings the total number of trainings delivered this year to 13.”
The director-general called on members of the forum to take time to reflect on the mandate thrust upon them.
“Let us approach 2024 with fresh ideas as to how to further strengthen the PPP architecture in Nigeria as this is the only way to go,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of MOFI, Dr Armstrong Katang, emphasised the need for PPP in addressing the infrastructure deficit in Nigeria, saying that the government could not do it alone.
Katang, represented by Kemi Owonubi, Executive Director, MOFI, said the mandate of MOFI was to identify, enumerate and establish Federal Government assets and optimise the value of those assets.
He said that MOFI was also mandated to be the face of the government in terms of making new investments with the public and private sector on behalf of the federal government.
Katang said there was a need to optimise federal government-owned assets by providing visibility over what the government owned.
“Optimising the value of government assets is one area we have not done so well as a country, if we had done this well, we may not have some of the revenue issues we have as a country.
“However, it is a journey that will take some time but with commitment from all stakeholders, we will achieve this.
“The partnership between ICRC and MOFI would enable MOFI to maximise value from federal government-owned assets managed by the ICRC for the benefit of the government and Nigerians,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Vivian Ihechu
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