The Federal Executive Council has approved three public–private partnership initiatives aimed at boosting Nigeria’s transport and power infrastructure.

The approved projects include a smart national transport data bank to be developed under the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, as well as independent power projects for the Onne Port in Rivers State and the Apapa Port in Lagos.

The approvals followed regulatory scrutiny by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, which conducted outline business case reviews, due diligence, negotiations, and final certification of the full business cases before submission to the FEC.

In a statement on Sunday, the Director-General of ICRC, Jobson Ewalefoh,
said the projects signal a shift toward infrastructure development driven by private sector funding and structured PPP arrangements.

He added that the approvals are in line with the Federal Government’s broader push to enhance economic efficiency and fast-track sustainable development across key sectors.

“These projects represent a deliberate shift towards well-structured PPPs that unlock private capital while delivering measurable economic impact,” he said.

Ewalefoh said the smart national transport data bank is designed to tackle long-standing challenges in transport planning, coordination, and enforcement.

He explained that the platform will integrate real-time data across road, rail, air, and maritime transport systems, while also deploying technologies such as vehicle tagging and automated number plate recognition to improve monitoring and efficiency.

“Nigeria’s biggest transport challenge is not just infrastructure, it is the lack of reliable, usable data,” he said.

“What this administration has done with the approval of the National Transport Data Bank is to lay the foundation for a data-driven transport system that improves planning, enforcement, and overall efficiency across the sector.”

The ICRC DG added that the initiative would enhance the government’s capacity to plan infrastructure investments using data-driven insights, reduce operational inefficiencies, and generate additional revenue through digital compliance systems and automation.

He noted that the transport database would function as a nationwide digital backbone for transport intelligence.

On the approved independent power projects, Ewalefoh said they are expected to improve electricity supply reliability in two of Nigeria’s key economic hubs.

“At Onne, the development of a 50MW power plant will provide stable electricity to the port and the Oil and Gas Free Zone, significantly reducing operational bottlenecks and supporting industrial activities in that corridor,” he noted.

Ewalefoh said the Apapa Port project, which is designed with a hybrid energy mix expected to generate about 36MW, would enhance power reliability within Nigeria’s busiest port corridor.

He added that the project would also reduce energy costs for operators and strengthen the overall competitiveness and efficiency of port operations.