The Federal Government is engaging with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to explore capital market funding options for infrastructure projects through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
According to a statement by Ifeanyi Nwoko, Acting Head of Media and Publicity at the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the discussions were the focus of a recent meeting between the ICRC and the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group.
The IFC delegation visited Nigeria to assess ways to unlock the capital market for infrastructure financing. Jobson Ewalefoh, Director-General of the ICRC, described the visit as a key step in redefining Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape. He stressed that capital market investments in PPPs are central to his innovative financing agenda.
Ewalefoh noted that while Nigerian infrastructure projects are viable, investors remain cautious due to associated risks and limited information on available opportunities. He urged the World Bank to increase its support for Nigerian agencies by providing funding and capacity development to strengthen project pipelines.
Patricia Canziani, head of the World Bank delegation, explained that the meeting aimed to gather insights for introducing the Joint Capital Markets Programme (J-CAP) in Nigeria. The initiative, already active in 20 countries, seeks to enhance the role of capital markets in financing infrastructure.
She highlighted the potential for Nigeria’s capital market to fund PPP projects and pledged support in developing new investment products. Canziani also commended the ICRC for its regulatory role and encouraged collaboration with stakeholders to boost investor confidence.
The IFC’s engagement with the ICRC is part of a broader strategy to enhance infrastructure financing in Nigeria through capital market investments.
Credit: NAN (Text Excluding Headline)
