Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, has said the Bureau is committed to collaborating with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to deliver infrastructure to Nigerians.

The Director General made the commitment during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the ICRC, Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, and his team to the Bureau.

The DG, BPE, who welcomed the ICRC delegation, expressed a strong desire to foster a strong partnership with the commission. Mr. Gbeleyi stated both institutions have a critical role to play in bridging the infrastructure gap in the country.

He noted that in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the planned Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP) initiative to provide 6000 megawatts of electricity by December 2024, both agencies must collaborate with their counterparts to provide energy for the nation.

“The government has set ambitious targets, and with strategic collaboration between BPE and ICRC, we can unlock significant opportunities to achieve these goals,” he said.

The BPE helmsman expressed delight as he welcomed the one-time staff of the Bureau, now the Director General of ICRC, and looked forward to a brighter future of robust and productive collaboration working with the commission.

On his part, Ewalefoh expressed delight on the visit to the Bureau.

He stressed the importance of setting aside any jurisdictional conflict that could hinder collaboration between the two agencies. “BPE and ICRC have distinct but complementary mandates. It is essential that we work together to improve Nigeria’s infrastructure. Our doors at ICRC are always open for dialogue, and we believe in the potential of a strong partnership to transform our country’s infrastructure,” he added.

The DG of ICRC concluded by urging both agencies to unite in their efforts, saying that cooperation, rather than competition, would be in the best interest of Nigeria. “We need to move forward together, and ICRC is committed to making this partnership work. Let’s build a better future for Nigeria by leveraging our combined strengths,” he said.

The DG of ICRC recalled his days at the BPE, where he started his career as a youth corps member and later worked in the IT Unit. “BPE is like a school; it laid the foundation for my professional growth and development. Returning here feels like coming back home,” he remarked.