President Bola Tinubu has directed the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to oversee the implementation of the Federal Government’s National Gas Infrastructure Command Centre (NGCC) strictly under a Public-Private Partnership framework, with no public funding or contingent liability to government.
The directive was disclosed by ICRC Director-General Jobson Ewalefoh at the inaugural meeting of the Project Steering Committee for the NGCC. He emphasised that the commission will ensure strict compliance with the presidential approval and PPP procedures.
According to a statement issued by ICRC Head of Media and Publicity, Ifeanyi Nwoko, the NGCC is designed as a strategic national platform for real-time monitoring and coordination of Nigeria’s gas infrastructure, and it must be fully funded by the private proponent without recourse to public funds or sovereign guarantees.
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 NGCC, approved as a PPP initiative, will provide centralised operational coordination across Nigeria’s gas value chain, strengthen emergency response management, and enhance transparency in gas infrastructure operations.
Sen. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), inaugurated the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and the Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) to drive the initiative’s implementation in line with the presidential directive.
Members of the PSC include representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the ICRC, and the project promoter.
The NGCC is part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to reposition Nigeria’s gas sector as a driver of economic growth, power generation, and industrialisation, in line with the government’s Decade of Gas agenda.
Conceived as a centralised digital platform, the command centre will provide real-time monitoring, coordination, and optimisation of gas infrastructure nationwide, including pipelines, processing facilities, and commercial gas flows. The platform is expected to improve emergency response, enhance transparency, reduce bottlenecks, and build investor confidence in the sector.
Anchored on reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act, the NGCC project promotes private sector participation, transparency, and improved regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry.
The Joint Technical Working Group, comprising technical, legal, and institutional representatives from relevant agencies and the private proponent, will advance preparatory processes in compliance with PPP regulatory requirements.
