Tinubu Orders Private Sector to Lead New Gas Infrastructure Centre Without Government Money
By Patience Ikpeme
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given a clear order that the new National Gas Infrastructure Command Centre (NGCC) must be built and run strictly through partnership with private businesses.
The President made it clear that the government will not spend any public money on this project, and it will not take on any debts or financial risks for it.
The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, shared this update during the first meeting of the team in charge of the project.
He said his commission will make sure the project follows the President’s rules and all the official steps for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
According to Dr. Ewalefoh, the NGCC is being set up as a major national platform to watch over and coordinate Nigeria’s gas pipelines and facilities in real-time. He explained that the private company proposing the project must provide all the money needed, as there will be no help from the government’s pocket or special financial guarantees from the state.
The ICRC boss said the President’s decision shows he is serious about managing the country’s money wisely and making sure the private sector takes the lead in building big projects to protect public resources.
“Technology alone does not guarantee viability. Automation in itself does not make a project bankable. Every proposal must pass through a structured PPP framework that rigorously tests feasibility, risk allocation, affordability and sustainability before implementation proceeds,” Dr. Ewalefoh said.
He also said that “public interest, value for money, financial prudence and strict regulatory compliance will guide every stage of this process.”
The head of the ICRC noted that while this gas centre is very important for Nigeria’s energy future, its importance does not mean they will skip the necessary rules. He said they must still prepare the project properly and follow all safety laws.
The NGCC is designed to help organize everything happening in Nigeria’s gas industry from one central place. It will also help the country respond faster to emergencies and make sure that the way gas facilities are run is open and clear to everyone.
To get the work moving, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Senator Ekperikpe Ekpo, has officially set up the Project Steering Committee and a Technical Working Group. These teams will make sure the project stays on track according to the President’s instructions.
The committee includes people from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the NNPC Limited, the ICRC, and the private company behind the project. They will work together with legal and technical experts to make sure everything is done according to the law.
