ICRC, govs’ forum adopt PPP to boost infrastructural development in states

The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) is supporting state governments to adopt Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to boost infrastructural development at the state level.

Acting Director General of the commission, Michael Ohiani, disclosed this during the first meeting of the Nigerian Public Private Partnership Network (NPPPN), a network that brings together all heads of PPP at state level, under the coordination of ICRC and Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Ohiani said as the government agency tasked with the responsibility of regulating all PPPs to foster the nation’s infrastructural development, ICRC had also been supporting Nigerian states to adopt PPP models to boost their infrastructure development.

He commended states that were already adopting PPP models, pledging the commission’s support to all other states to develop and operationalise bankable PPP projects.

He said: “Since its establishment, ICRC has blazed the trail in establishing and institutionalising the use of PPPs in Nigeria for our economic development. The commission has even gone beyond the federal level to partner with states that require guidance and capacity on how to go about the PPP processes.

“ICRC facilitated a World Bank sponsored APMG’s certified PPP practitioners course for 60 Nigerian government staff at federal and state levels, in addition to building PPP capacity. (APM Group International is a reputable global accreditation and examination institute).

“This year, we will encourage global certification through the NII3P, like the APMG Certified PPP Practitioner for our members, until it becomes a routine process for use in Nigeria. With our population and the available market, we are setting our sight on being the PPP knowledge base in Africa.”

Giving a rundown of the commission’s achievement since its inception, Ohiani said that as at April 25, 2022, the commission had issued a total of 105 Outline Business Case Certificates (OBCs), 48 Full Business Case Certificates (FBCs), as well as secured 51 PPP approvals by the Federal Executive Council.

Speaking earlier, NGF Director General, Asishana Okauru, represented by the Executive Director, Strategy, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, said the meeting was part of moves to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 economic downturn.

He said the meeting underscored the fact that access to essential health services is an important aspect of development.

He said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has not only shaped the way we live and interact, it has also exposed the fragility of our healthcare systems. Now, more than ever, we must be innovative in addressing the myriad of healthcare development challenges we face as a nation. 

“While the public sector is responsible to provide key public services, the private sector is critical to harness expertise and realise the value of state-owned resources.”

For Kaduna State, its Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Mohammed Baloni, informed the forum that the state was already implementing two PPP projects in the health sector – Zipline and PMG MAN. 

She explained that Zipline is a logistics network of autonomous delivery drones to improve access and availability of routine emergency medicine to health facilities. The project comprises 30 drones that can serve over 1,000 health facilities.

For PMG MAN, the commissioner said the government conceived the PPP project to ensure supply of quality, affordable and essential drugs to citizens through PMG-MAN local pharmaceutical companies.

She said since implementation of the project, the fill rate of orders by health facilities had grown to 76.85 per cent from 38.41 per cent, while shelf availability of essential medicines in pharmacies had also increased.