Jobson Ewalefoh: Putting Public Interest at the Heart of PPPs

Hammed Shittu, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), emphasizes that public-private partnerships (PPPs) are about delivering tangible value to ordinary Nigerians. This philosophy is particularly evident in healthcare PPPs such as MEDIPOOL, which focuses on bulk procurement and distribution of medicines.

The ICRC ensures that PPPs meet public interest by subjecting Outline Business Cases to rigorous testing, including viability, bankability, value for money, procurement transparency, and most importantly, public interest. Ewalefoh believes that commercial viability and public benefit are not competing objectives but can coexist in a properly structured PPP.

MEDIPOOL not only aims to reduce the cost of medicines through bulk procurement but also seeks to support local manufacturing of some medicines currently imported by Nigeria. This could lower costs over the long term and create jobs, strengthening the local economy. For Ewalefoh, the success of a PPP is measured not only by financial returns for investors but by whether Nigerians can afford essential medicines.

Ewalefoh also defends tolling under the Highway Development and Management Initiative, arguing that motorists should understand the value they receive for their toll payments. He highlights the Akwanga–Makurdi road as an example of a successful PPP, where the costs of traffic, wear and tear, and accidents are outweighed by the benefits of improved infrastructure.

Toll revenue is also used for road maintenance, ensuring the road's longevity. Ewalefoh envisions PPPs extending beyond individual projects and even beyond Nigeria, advocating for stronger PPP collaboration across ECOWAS. He cites the Customs Modernisation Project, known as B’Odogwu, as a source of national pride, highlighting that Nigeria can develop models that other countries want to adopt.

For Ewalefoh, PPPs can produce innovations that travel beyond national borders, contributing to Africa's economic integration.