By Okeoghene Akubuike
Mr Michael Ohiani, Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), says the Federal Government remains committed to infrastructure development through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
Ohiani said this at the Second Quarter 2024 Public-Private Partnership Units Consultative Forum(3PUCF) Meeting in Abuja on Friday.
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 by the Federal Road and Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
Ohiani said that within the second quarter, the commission successfully issued Outline and Full Business Case Compliance Certificates in respect of key PPP projects from several MDAs.
He said between April and June 2024, the commission issued 14 Outline Business Case (OBC) Compliance Certificates and two Full Business Case (FBC) Compliance Certificates.
Ohiani said the commission would continue to issue OBC and FBC certificates as the need arises.
He said some projects which had been issued OBC Compliance Certificates in the second quarter included the Infrastructure Development of Residential Buildings at the Federal School of Forestry, Jos.
Ohiani said others were the Design and Development of eight Hostel accommodations at the University of Lagos, Campus, Akoko.
“Others are the development of 240 Housing Units of two and three Bedroom Bungalows at Nigerian Airspace Management Agency’s land located at Jaba, Kano State.
“The Operation and Management of Kashimbila Integrated Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport, Taraba, and Implementation of the Nigerian National Patronage Cash Reward Programme.
“Also, the Implementation of Metal and Mineral Operational Audit and Export Certification programme, and the Implementation and Development of the Electronic Enforcement and Penalty Management (eTraffika).”
Ohiani said FBC Compliance Certificates were issued for the following projects which included the Implementation and Development of the Electronic Enforcement and Penalty Management (eTraffika).
“Also the Renovation and Upgrading of School of Nursing Student Hostel, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.”
He said the commission had also continued to monitor PPP projects which were at the implementation stage.
“Just last week, our staff and the relevant officers of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security visited 17 silo complexes across the Federation.”
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.
He urged the members of the forum to take advantage of the opportunities the training institute provided.
“We also invite you to take advantage of the MBA in PPP and PhD in Management (PPP option) programmes which are being run in collaboration with the Malaysia University of Science and Technology.”
Ohiani expressed his appreciation to members of the forum for their continued valued contributions to its sustenance and overall success.
“I, therefore, encourage us all to continue to advance with the various projects across our MDAs up to implementation and possible hand-back, as these will have a direct positive bearing on the wellbeing of Nigerians.
“ I encourage us to sustain the shared vision of a prosperous and infrastructure-sufficient country for the coming generations.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Vivian Ihechu