ICRC DG Urges PPPs to Fill West Africa’s Critical Infrastructure Gap

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ICRC DG Urges PPPs to Fill West Africa’s Critical Infrastructure Gap
By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

**Introduction**
Speaking at a regional infrastructure forum in Abuja, Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, Director‑General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), called on West African governments to accelerate the adoption of Public‑Private Partnerships (PPPs) as the most viable route to close the region’s yawning infrastructure deficit. His remarks came amid mounting evidence that traditional budget allocations alone cannot meet the $93 billion annual investment need identified by the African Development Bank for transport, energy and water sectors across the 15‑nation bloc.

**Key Developments**
Dr. Ewalefoh highlighted three concrete steps already underway in Nigeria that could serve as a template for neighbours. First, the ICRC has fast‑tracked the concession process for the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway expansion, aiming to award the contract by Q1 2026. Second, a pilot solar‑PPP scheme in Kaduna State is set to deliver 150 MW of clean power to off‑grid communities by late 2025. Third, the commission is drafting a standardized risk‑sharing framework for water‑utility PPPs, intended to reduce procurement timelines from an average of 24 months to under 12 months. He urged other West African states to replicate these models, stressing that uniform legal safeguards and transparent bidding procedures are essential to attract both local and international