Tinubu’s infrastructure blitz: New PPP limits unveiled

Barbara Bako, Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) thresholds that allow Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to independently approve smaller-scale projects without Federal Executive Council (FEC) involvement.…

Under the revised framework, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) will oversee implementation. MDAs can now approve PPP projects below N20 billion, and Parastatals/Agencies below N10 billion, following ICRC guidelines.

Director General of the ICRC, Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, explained:
“Under the new directive, PPP projects valued below N10 billion for Parastatals/Agencies and N20 billion for Ministries will now be approved by respective Project Approval Boards (PABs) that will be constituted under ICRC guidelines and regulations.”

Projects above these limits or involving multiple MDAs will still require FEC approval.

Read also:Scholar calls for Waqf literacy to Boost Islamic social protection in Nigeria

He said, “Importantly, all such projects must be entirely privately funded, with no government guarantees or financial commitments from the treasury. Notwithstanding the new thresholds, every PPP project must be submitted to the ICRC for review and certification.”

“The ICRC must issue certificates of compliance before any PPP project can be approved by the PAB and other approving bodies,” he added.

Ewalefoh said the reform supports smaller, high-impact projects in sectors like education, health, and housing.

This approval he said, “Is a game-changer, especially for sectors like health, education, agriculture, and housing.”

He emphasized alignment with ongoing procurement reforms:
“By decentralizing approvals, the government is supporting and unlocking investments opportunities through improved capital inflows, job creation, and faster project delivery.”

He urged MDAs to utilize the new thresholds to deliver critical infrastructure aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“MDAs are encouraged to embrace the utilization of PPPs for the delivery of critical infrastructure in delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President,” he said.