September 1, 2022 by okeoghene.oghenekaro

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), says government collaboration with the private sector is critical to enable important bankable projects “come alive”.

Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan said this at the third quarter Public Private Partnership Consultative Forum (3PUCF) meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.

The meeting was organised by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission ( ICRC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Q3, 2022 meeting was hosted by the Nigeria Shippers Council.

Represented by Mr Farouk Yabo, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office on the HCSF, said the collaboration would ensure a win-win situation where the government, private sector and end users benefit from the services of such projects.

“With the current situation of the Nigerian economy in recent times and increasing expectations for government to provide needed infrastructure, PPP is much needed to help the economy grow.

“My dear partners in progress, the era of monotony of work is gone, as we are to think outside the box to be able to have landmarks that generations unborn will build upon.

” It is globally known that today, PPP is the way to go to be able to close the gap in infrastructural deficits. Therefore, all hands must be on deck to help put the country where it should be in relation to provision of necessary infrastructure.”

She said one of the key pillars of the Successor Plan of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP25) was digitisation.

Yemi-Esan said the Office of the HCSF(OHCSF) had ensured the commencement of the realisation of this pillar through the development of Standard Operating Procedures in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“However, we all know that the success of digitisation depends on sustainable power supply and dependable communication network. The importance of having such necessary infrastructure cannot be overemphasised.

“Thus, in the coming days, the Office of the HCSF shall be working toward encouraging MDAS to provide the necessary infrastructure for the realisation of this pillar.”

According to her, the Lekki Deep Port project, as reported, is expected to have a direct economic impact by creating 169,972 jobs from port operations and expected revenue to state and federal agencies.

Yemi-Esan said the revenue which would be gotten from taxes, royalties and duties, would amount to 201 billion dollars.

“As we have also been informed, the Lekki Deep Sea Port has recently received the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for commercial operations commencing in the 4th quarter.”

The Director-General, ICRC, Michael Ohiani, said the commission had issued 58 Full Business Case Compliance Certificates (FBCs) and 136 Outline Business Case certificates (OBCs) so far.

Ohiani said the commission recently issued three FBCs, one to the National Space Research and Development Agency for the research and development of satellite technology and equipment.

The director-general said this would be for the provision of cost-effective satellite broadband to rural Nigeria.
Ohiani said the second FBCs was issued for the concession of planetarium and museum at the Obasanjo Space Centre Abuja.

He said the third was to the Nigeria Police Force for the re-development of senior police officers’ quarters at Ikeja, Lagos.

He said OBCs were also recently issued to the Federal Ministry of Health, for the development of Oncology Centre of Excellence for cancer care in eight teaching hospitals across the six geo-political zones.

“The commission issued OBCs to the Federal Housing Authority for the development of a 200-hectare land at Lugbe, through PPP.

“Also to NNPC Medical Services Limited for three projects which include Kano Intravenous Fluid (IVF) Plant project, Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos and Multi Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.

“This brings the total number of OBCs issued so far to 136.”

Ohiani said the commission hoped to rejuvenate its 3PUCF Monitoring and Evaluation Committee so that visits that were derailed due to the pandemic and other logistical setbacks can be undertaken as scheduled.

He highlighted some other achievements of the commission to include the hosting of the two-day Africa Public Private Partnership Network (AP3N) Investment programme held in July.

Ohiani said the programme with the theme, “Financing Africa’s Infrastructure through PPP”, brought to the fore the real and urgent need for investments through PPP in Nigeria.

He congratulated the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Ports Authority for obtaining the Federal Executive Council’s approval on the FBC for the development of the Badagry Deep Sea Port in Lagos on Aug. 3, 2022.

NAN reports that the 3PUCF which was established in 2013, provides a platform for members to showcase the PPP projects being undertaken by their various MDAs.

It is also aimed at sharing experiences on challenges encountered with possible solutions to identified problems. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)