By Achile Danjuma
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission to guide the implementation of the Federal Government’s National Gas Infrastructure Command Centre strictly under a Public-Private Partnership framework, with zero public funding and no contingent liability to government.
The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, disclosed this at the inaugural meeting of the Project Steering Committee for the NGCC, stressing that the commission would ensure strict adherence to the terms of the presidential approval and laid-down Public-Private Partnership procedures.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Head of Media and Publicity, Ifeanyi Nwoko, who noted that the NGCC, designed as a strategic national platform for real-time monitoring and coordination of Nigeria’s gas infrastructure, must be fully funded by the private proponent without recourse to public funds or sovereign guarantees.
He stressed that the President’s directive reflects a clear commitment to fiscal discipline, private-sector-led infrastructure delivery and protection of public resources.
Ewalefoh said, “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.
“Public interest, value for money, financial prudence and strict regulatory compliance will guide every stage of this process.”
The ICRC boss noted that while the NGCC is of significant strategic importance to Nigeria’s energy architecture, its importance does not override the need for disciplined project preparation and strict adherence to regulatory safeguards.
The NGCC, approved as a PPP initiative, is designed to provide centralised operational coordination across Nigeria’s gas value chain, strengthen emergency response management and enhance transparency in gas infrastructure operations.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Sen. Ekperikpe Ekpo, inaugurated the Project Steering Committee and the Joint Technical Working Group to drive implementation of the initiative in alignment with the presidential directive.
Members of the PSC include representatives of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, and the project promoter.
The proposed National Gas Infrastructure Command Centre is part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to reposition Nigeria’s gas sector as a major driver of economic growth, power generation and industrialisation.
The initiative aligns with the government’s Decade of Gas agenda, which seeks to expand domestic gas utilisation, deepen gas-to-power delivery and boost industrial development. Officials say the command centre is expected to strengthen governance and operational oversight in the gas value chain at a time when Nigeria is working to unlock more value from its vast natural gas reserves.
Conceived as a centralised digital platform, the NGCC is designed to provide real-time monitoring, coordination and optimisation of gas infrastructure across the country, including pipelines, processing facilities and commercial gas flows. The platform is also expected to improve emergency response management, enhance transparency and support more reliable gas supply to the power and manufacturing sectors. Stakeholders believe that improved visibility and coordination across operators will help reduce disruptions, eliminate bottlenecks and build investor confidence in the sector.
The project is anchored on reforms introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act, which promote private sector participation, transparency and improved regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry.
Under the approved framework, the NGCC will be delivered through a Public-Private Partnership model, with full financing from the private sector and no recourse to public funds or sovereign guarantees.