History of ICRC
In 2008, the Federal Government of Nigeria established the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) under the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (establishment, etc) Act, 2005.
The ICRC was established to regulate Public Private Partnership (PPP) endeavours of the Federal government aimed at addressing Nigeria’s physical infrastructure deficit which hampers economic development.
The pioneer Governing Body of ICRC was inaugurated on 27 November, 2008 by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, GCFR. The pioneer Board had a former Nigerian Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, as its Chairman and a seasoned technocrat, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, as its Director General from 2008 – 2012.
The immediate past ICRC Governing Board was constituted in August 2013 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, with former Senate President, Dr. Ken Nnamani, GCON as the Chairman and Barr. Aminu Diko as the Director General of the Commission from 2013 – 2017.
Engr. Chidi K. C. Izuwah is the current Acting Director General of the Commission.
Presidential speech at ICRC inauguration. 27 November 2008 – Download PDF
The nation has a huge infrastructure deficit for which we require foreign capital and expertise to supplement whatever resources we can marshal at home. In essence, increased engagement with the outside world is called for as we seek public private partnerships in our quest for enhanced capital and expertise. This is the way of the new world for all countries in the 21st century. – President Muhammadu Buhari President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Milestones
November, 2008 - ICRC was established
In 2008, the Federal Government of Nigeria established the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) under the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (establishment, etc) Act, 2005.
April 2009 - ICRC issued the National Policy on Public Private Partnership (N4P)
Following approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in April 2009, the ICRC issued the National Policy on Public Private Partnership (N4P). The N4P sets out the policy objectives of federal government and outlines government’s commitment to the creation of an enabling environment for PPPs to thrive in Nigeria.
September 2014 - Draft of a 30-year National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP)
The Commission initiated and partnered with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and other Agencies of Government to draft a 30-year National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP). The ICRC, as Co-chair of the NIIMP Committee, provided technical support at three levels, namely membership of the National Steering Committee (NSC), co-chair for National Technical Working Group (NTWG) and membership in three thematic Technical Working Groups. The NSC provided the overall leadership of the project while the NTWG provided intellectual leadership and direction during the process. The NIIMP document was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in September 2014.
2011 - Establishment of an African PPP Network (AP3N)
In 2011, the Commission championed the establishment of an African PPP Network (AP3N) to serve as a regional platform for sharing experiences and peer-learning and development of best practices for PPP projects in Africa. The inaugural meeting of the network held in Abuja in February 2012 with eight countries in attendance.
2011 - Approved the disclosure, to the general public, of the salient features of all Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract agreements
In line with the global best practice and in conformity with the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the Governing Board of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), after extensive stakeholders’ consultations, approved the disclosure, to the general public, of the salient features of all Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract agreements (under the custody of the Commission) entered into between private entities and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The objective of the disclosure is to open up governance and entrench accountability, integrity and transparency in PPP transactions in Nigeria.
2011 - ICRC had taken custody of and is monitoring for compliance PPP Contracts
In line with Section 20 of the ICRC (Establishment Act,) 2005, the Commission has since its inauguration in November, 2008 taken custody of and is monitoring for compliance, 50 PPP contracts comprising of 3 PPP contracts in the Aviation sector, 25 Port Terminals, 6 Inland Container Depots, 2 Information Technology, 3 Social Infrastructure (complexes), 3 Hydro Electric Power projects, 2 Telecommunication Infrastructure, 1 Health Care Delivery Service, 1 Urban District Infrastructure, 1 Marine Security, 1 Housing Development, and 1 Iron Ore Mining concession project. Out of this number, 4 contracts has been terminated (2 National Identity Card, 1 Port Terminal and 1 Aviation Contract) while 1 is under suspension (Maritime Security Contract). These projects are valued at over N3.2 trillion, representing private capital investment in the provision of public infrastructure.
2011 - ICRC championed the formation and establishment of the Nigerian Public Private Partnership Network (NPPPN)
The Commission championed the formation and establishment of the Nigerian Public Private Partnership Network (NPPPN) in 2011. This Network has as its members, all Heads of State PPPs. The NPPPN was established on 22nd June 2011 to provide a platform for collaboration between ICRC and the States towards the development of a harmonized National PPP Framework and a robust and competitive PPP market.
5th December, 2013 - ICRC inaugurated the Public Private Partnership Unit Consultative Forum (3PUCF)
As part of its hand-holding efforts with MDAs, ICRC inaugurated the Public Private Partnership Unit Consultative Forum (3PUCF) on Thursday 5th December, 2013. The 3PUCF is a Forum initiated by the Commission to provide a knowledge and experience sharing platform for Heads of PPP Units in the Federal MDAs. The Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation is the Chairman of the Forum, the Federal Ministry of Finance is the Co- Chairman and ICRC is the secretariat.
2016 - ICRC partnered with the World Bank on PPP contract disclosure guidance for Nigeria
To ensure Transparency, Competitiveness and Value for Money (VfM) in PPP contract processes, the Commission with support from the World Bank Office in Washington DC, has achieved the following:
- developed a PPP contract disclosure guidance for Nigeria and has commenced the process of disclosing PPP contract information on its website;
- hosted a stakeholders consultative forum on 5th May, 2016 to firm up the customized template for pre-contract and post contract disclosure guidance;
Secured a web hosting for the disclosure of PPP contract information in Nigeria; and facilitated a three (3)-day training programme for selected staff of MDAs to get them acquainted with the use of the disclosure portal for disclosing PPP contract information to the public.
2016 - ICRC hosted 17 capacity building sessions on PPP related subjects
In 2016, the Commission organized and hosted 17 capacity building sessions on PPP related subjects for various MDAs in the Country like the Nigerian Prisons Service, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, Code of Conduct Bureau, Federal Ministry of Health, National Identity Management Card, etc.
Q1 2017 - ICRC conducted about 10 capacity building programmes on PPP
Within the first half of 2017 fiscal year, the Commission has also conducted about 10 capacity building programmes on PPP for staffs of the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Film Corporation, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Federal Ministry of Science & Technology, Federal Ministry of Environment, etc.
30th May, 2017 - ICRC commenced the process of amending its 2005 Act
In order for the Commission to positively impact the PPP market in Nigeria and utilize same to bridge the huge infrastructure gap in the country, the Commission has commenced the process of amending its 2005 Act. The bill to amend the Act has gone through its second reading and a public hearing was held on 30th May, 2017 organized by the House Committee on Special Duties.
2017 - ICRC continued to collaborate with the OHCSF to establish PPP Units
The ICRC has continued to collaborate with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) to establish PPP Units in infrastructure MDAs principally to facilitate infrastructure service delivery through well-prepared and viable PPP projects. The PPP Units were formally inaugurated in MDAs in March 2013 and a host of MDAs now have their PPP units manned by experienced professionals in the field of PPP courtesy of the Commission.
2017 - ICRC had reviewed and issued compliance certificate on 34 Outline Business Cases (OBCs)
The Commission since its inauguration has reviewed several Outline Business Cases (OBCs) on PPP and have issued compliance certificate on 34 of such OBCs. Sixteen (16) OBCs certificates were issued by the Commission in 2016 alone to various MDAs like the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing (FMoPW&H), Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMoWR), Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMoT), Federal Ministry of Interior (FMoI), etc. Ten (10) OBCs Certificates have been issued already as at 31st May, 2017 to other MDAs like the Federal Ministry of Health (FmoH), Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FmoWR), Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Interior (FMoI)/ Nigerian Immigration Service, etc.
Several number of Full Business Cases (FBCs) have equally been reviewed by the Commission, with approval granted to Eleven (11) of them to be presented to FEC for final approval.
22ND SEPTEMBER 2017 - ICRC LAUNCHED THE FIRST EVER PPP CONTRACTS INFORMATION DISCLOSURE WEB PORTAL
ICRC launched the first ever PPP Contracts Information Disclosure Web Portal on 22nd September 2017 in Abuja. One of the key objectives of the disclosure among others is to entrench accountability, integrity and transparency in PPP transactions in Nigeria.
2017 - ICRC was ranked second out of 166 public institutions in the 2017 FOI Compliance
In recognition of the effort of ICRC to adhere to the dictates of the Freedom of Information Act with respect to PPP transactions, the Commission was ranked second out of 166 public institutions in the 2017 FOI Compliance and Transparency Ranking by the Public and Private Development Center. The ranking was based on an assessment of levels of access to procurement related information, specifically procurement plans and processes.
2017 - ICRC initiated steps aimed at mitigating the bottlenecks that impede the successful conclusion of PPP projects
In a bid to give additional push to the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the ICRC initiated steps aimed at mitigating the bottlenecks that impede the successful conclusion of PPP projects. It therefore sought and got approval from the Federal Government to discontinue the collection of Outline Business Case and Full Business Case Compliance Certification Fees starting from October 2017.
2017 - ICRC issued 18 OBC and 3 FBC certificates
In the year 2017, the Commission issued 18 OBC and 3 FBC certificates, and undertook a series of Capacity Building programmes.
2017 - ICRC facilitated APMG Certification Programme
The Commission in collaboration with the World Bank facilitated, the APMG Certification programme at the foundation level, of which 55 out of 64 participants passed.