By our Reporter
The Federal Executive Council has approved three major Public-Private Partnership projects aimed at improving Nigeria’s transport data management system and boosting electricity supply in key economic hubs, including the Onne Port Complex in Rivers State and the Apapa Port Complex in Lagos.
The approvals were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Acting Head of Media and Publicity, Ifeanyi Nwoko.
According to the statement, the projects include the development of a Smart National Transport Data Bank under the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, alongside two Independent Power Projects designed for the Onne and Apapa port corridors.
The ICRC said the approvals reflect the government’s push to deepen private sector participation in infrastructure delivery, noting that they “further reinforce the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fast-track infrastructure delivery through private sector participation, strengthen economic efficiency, and stimulate sustainable national development.”
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, the Director-General of the ICRC, Jobson Ewalefoh, said the transport data system is expected to address long-standing planning gaps in the sector.
“Nigeria’s biggest transport challenge is not just infrastructure, it is the lack of reliable, usable data,” Ewalefoh said, adding that the approved data bank “will serve as a nationwide digital backbone for transport intelligence, integrating real-time data across road, rail, air, and marine systems.”
He explained that the system would also deploy technologies such as vehicle tagging and automated number plate recognition to support enforcement and traffic management, while improving planning and investment decisions.
On the energy projects, Ewalefoh said the initiatives are designed to tackle persistent power shortages affecting industrial operations at major ports.
“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,” he said.
He also noted that the Apapa project, which will deliver about 36MW through a hybrid energy mix, is expected to improve reliability and reduce operating costs at Nigeria’s busiest port.
“These are not just power projects; they are productivity enablers,” Ewalefoh added. “When you fix power in these critical economic zones, you directly impact trade efficiency and reduce the cost of doing business.”
The ICRC said the projects underwent regulatory scrutiny, including Outline Business Case review and Full Business Case certification, before being presented to the FEC for approval.
It added that the Commission will continue to ensure that all PPP projects comply with due process, stressing its commitment to “value for money, investor confidence, and protection of public interest.”
The approvals come as the government continues to rely on PPP arrangements to address infrastructure deficits across transport, energy, and other key sectors of the economy.
