Nigeria to Unveil New PPP Investment Pipeline as ICRC Targets Faster Infrastructure Delivery

By: Michael Mike

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, has announced plans by the Federal Government to unveil a new pipeline of eligible Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects aimed at attracting both local and international investors into Nigeria’s infrastructure sector.

Ewalefoh disclosed this on Wednesday while delivering a goodwill message at the 2026 Infrastructure Dialogue held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, warning that Nigeria’s widening infrastructure gap now stands at an alarming $2.3 trillion.

According to him, the country urgently requires innovative financing models and stronger private sector participation to address infrastructure deficits across transportation, energy, ICT, agriculture, aviation, and housing sectors.

He revealed that Nigeria currently requires about $100 billion annually for infrastructure development, while public spending accounts for less than 30 per cent of the funding requirement.

“Traditional procurement models and dwindling budgets are no longer enough. To bridge this gap, the mobilisation of private capital is not just an option — it is an absolute necessity,” Ewalefoh stated.

The ICRC boss explained that the Federal Government had strategically embraced Public-Private Partnerships as a practical solution to bridge the huge financing shortfall, describing PPPs as critical tools for infrastructure renewal, economic growth, and poverty reduction.

He said the 2026 Infrastructure Dialogue, organised by Deutsche Partners Holding and its partners, was particularly important because it focused on moving “from diagnosis to execution” by exploring sustainable financing mechanisms capable of unlocking long-term capital for infrastructure delivery.

According to him, discussions around the role of Development Finance Institutions, Sukuk financing, green bonds, and pension assets are crucial to securing affordable infrastructure funding.

Ewalefoh stressed that the ICRC remained committed to strengthening Nigeria’s PPP ecosystem through reforms designed to improve investor confidence, build bankable project pipelines, and accelerate project implementation.

He recalled that during the 2025 Nigeria PPP Summit hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stakeholders reaffirmed the central role of PPPs in delivering the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit over the next 23 years.

The ICRC Director-General further disclosed that the commission introduced revised PPP guidelines in August 2025 following presidential approval to improve transparency, accelerate infrastructure delivery, and attract private capital.

Under the new framework, ministries can now approve PPP projects worth up to ₦20 billion, while agencies and parastatals can approve projects up to ₦10 billion without seeking Federal Executive Council approval.

Projects above the thresholds or involving multiple agencies would still require FEC approval.

According to Ewalefoh, the decentralisation of approval powers is already helping Ministries, Departments and Agencies deliver projects faster while maintaining transparency and accountability.

He also announced that the commission, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice and PPP experts, plans to unveil a model PPP agreement in June 2026 aimed at shortening transaction timelines and accelerating commercial and financial closure of projects.

“In order to provide relevant guidance to the investing community, we intend to publish in the near future a pipeline of eligible projects for investments in Nigeria’s PPP sphere,” he added.

Ewalefoh expressed optimism that the dialogue would strengthen collaboration between government, investors, development finance institutions, and the private sector toward building sustainable economic resilience and infrastructure-driven growth in Nigeria.

Nigeria to Unveil New PPP Investment Pipeline as ICRC Targets Faster Infrastructure Delivery

Pioneer Airlines Secures NCAA Certification, Set to Connect Southern Nigeria Through Port Harcourt, Yenagoa

By: Michael Mike

An emotional moment unfolded on Wednesday as the management of Pioneer Airlines officially received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC), with the airline’s leadership describing the milestone as the fulfilment of a lifelong dream and a major breakthrough for regional air connectivity in Southern Nigeria.

Speaking shortly after receiving the certification from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the airline’s promoter and Managing Director, Capt Henry Ungbuku expressed deep appreciation to the NCAA, his team, and the Bayelsa State Government for supporting the rigorous certification process.

Overcome with emotion, he revealed that the journey had come with enormous pressure and expectations, particularly from the Bayelsa State Government, which owns the airline’s aircraft assets.

“I’m so excited because a dream as a child has become a reality today,” he said.

According to him, the NCAA played a crucial supportive role throughout the certification process by guiding the airline on regulatory compliance and operational standards.

“They were there to point us in the right direction — do it this way, this is how it’s supposed to be done. And as obedient operators, we followed the process,” he stated.

The airline boss, a former commercial pilot with Aero Contractors, stressed that Pioneer Airlines would place safety above every other consideration.

“Aero Contractors was known for safety and Pioneer Airlines is 100 per cent in that line. No compromise. I always ask myself, what if I’m the pilot flying that aircraft? We will never cut corners,” he said.

He credited the airline’s progress to teamwork and the guidance of aviation veteran Captain Crosby, whom he described as a father figure to the airline.

He also thanked Bayelsa State Governor for believing in the project and supporting the airline through the certification process.

“The NCAA could easily have told His Excellency that these people do not know what they are doing, but today everyone is excited because we did something right,” he added.

The airline operator further disclosed that Pioneer Airlines completed its certification process in just four and a half months — significantly faster than the industry average of between eight months and two years.firstly

According to him, the airline’s immediate focus is to improve connectivity across Southern Nigeria by operating from Port Harcourt and Yenagoa as strategic hubs.

“We are Pioneer because we are the first to fly out of Port Harcourt and Yenagoa as bases connecting the entire South together,” he explained.

Under the planned route structure, passengers would be able to travel directly between southern cities such as Calabar, Warri, Benin, Enugu, Yenagoa, and other destinations without first transiting through Abuja or Lagos.

“So you don’t need to go to Lagos or Abuja before connecting to another southern state. You can connect directly within the South,” he said.

Although the airline initially applied for non-scheduled operations because it operated only two aircraft, the airline management disclosed that recent regulatory changes by the NCAA reduced the aircraft requirement for scheduled operations from six aircraft to two.

The development, according to the airline, now allows Pioneer Airlines to immediately begin the process of securing approval for full scheduled commercial operations.

“From tomorrow, we are applying for scheduled operations. Very soon people will be able to go on our website and book flights across Southern Nigeria,” he stated.

The airline also clarified its relationship with the Bayelsa State Government, explaining that while the state owns the aircraft, Pioneer Airlines operates as a private airline managing the assets under a dry lease arrangement.

“Bayelsa State Government owns the aircraft and leases them to Pioneer Airlines. We manage the aircraft and generate revenue for the state through lease payments,” the airline boss explained.

He emphasised that Pioneer Airlines is not a state-owned carrier but a private airline partnering with the government to manage and operate the aircraft commercially.

The certification marks a major step for regional aviation development in the Niger Delta and Southern Nigeria, with industry observers saying the airline could significantly improve direct inter-state connectivity and reduce dependence on Lagos and Abuja as transit hubs.

Pioneer Airlines Secures NCAA Certification, Set to Connect Southern Nigeria Through Port Harcourt, Yenagoa

Governor Buni speaks on primary elections where consensus failed

By: Yahaya Wakili

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has revealed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is open to a fair, credible, and transparent primary election if there is no general agreement on the consensus mode.

Governor Buni started this while commenting on the crisis rocking the party over the governor candidate for the 2027 general election. He said the party has not foreclosed direct election to produce its candidates for the contestable offices for the 2027 general election.

According to him, the party is still working on dialogue; “we are talking to each other and reaching out to the stakeholders, including the aspirants, to arrive at an amicable solution.”

“As the governor of Yobe state, I will be the happiest person to see that the state and party are peaceful and united, noting that we remain citizens of Yobe state and members of APC.

“My expectation is to see us more united and collectively working for our candidates to win the 2027 general elections,” Governor Buni said.

Governor Buni further said, “As a founding member, former secretary, and national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the unity and progress of the party mean so much to me personally; therefore, I will continue to support and protect the ideals of the party to remain Nigeria’s ruling political party.”

He expressed optimism that the aspirations for public offices in the state are driven by the desire to serve the people for a better and improved life.

Governor Buni speaks on primary elections where consensus failed