The federal executive council (FEC) has approved three public-private partnership (PPP) projects targeted at strengthening Nigeria’s transport and power infrastructure.
The projects include the development of a smart national transport data bank under the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), alongside independent power projects (IPPs) at the Onne port in Rivers and the Apapa port in Lagos.
The approvals reportedly followed regulatory reviews by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), including outline business case assessments, due diligence, negotiations and certification of the full business cases before presentation to the FEC.
Jobson Ewalefoh, director-general of the ICRC, said the projects reflect a shift towards infrastructure delivery driven by private capital and structured PPP arrangements.
Ewalefoh said the approvals also align with the federal government’s efforts to improve economic efficiency and accelerate sustainable development.
“These projects represent a deliberate shift towards well-structured PPPs that unlock private capital while delivering measurable economic impact,” he said.
Ewalefoh said the smart national transport data bank would address longstanding issues around transport planning, coordination, and enforcement.
He said the platform would integrate real-time data across road, rail, air, and marine transport systems while deploying technologies such as vehicle tagging and automated number plate recognition.
“Nigeria’s biggest transport challenge is not just infrastructure, it is the lack of reliable, usable data,” he said.
“What this administration has done with the approval of the National Transport Data Bank is to lay the foundation for a data-driven transport system that improves planning, enforcement, and overall efficiency across the sector.”
The ICRC DG said the initiative would also strengthen the government’s ability to plan infrastructure investments using evidence-based data, reduce inefficiencies, and create additional revenue streams through digital compliance and automation.
He said the transport database would serve as a nationwide digital backbone for transport intelligence.
On the approved IPPs, Ewalefoh said the projects are expected to address unreliable electricity supply in two of Nigeria’s major economic zones.
“At Onne, the development of a 50MW power plant will provide stable electricity to the port and the Oil and Gas Free Zone, significantly reducing operational bottlenecks and supporting industrial activities in that corridor,” he said.
Ewalefoh said the Apapa port project, designed with a hybrid energy mix expected to deliver about 36MW, would improve energy reliability within Nigeria’s busiest port environment.
According to him, the project would also lower energy costs for operators and improve the competitiveness of port operations.
“These are not just power projects; they are productivity enablers,” he said.
“When you fix power in these critical economic zones, you directly impact trade efficiency, reduce the cost of doing business, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional hub.”
Ewalefoh said the projects underscore a coordinated effort to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit through structured PPP frameworks that ensure value for money, investor confidence and protection of public interest.
Comments