Senate confirms Ewalefoh as new DG of ICRC

The Senate confirmed on Tuesday the appointment of Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh as the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

Ewalefoh’s confirmation follows his successful screening by the Committee on Trade and Investment.

President Bola Tinubu initially transmitted his nomination to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requesting consideration and confirmation in accordance with the ICRC Act, 2005.

While responding to questions during the screening by the Committee last week, Ewalefoh assured that he was ready to improve the Commission’s operations and investor confidence in the PPP ecosystem.

He also emphasized the need for the inclusion of a review clause in PPP agreements to ensure the flexibility and sustainability of projects.

Ewalefoh also emphasized the importance of contractual sanctity, advocating for unwavering commitment to fulfilling contractual responsibilities and faithful observance of all stipulated terms and conditions.

During the screening process, the Committee Chairman, Sen. Sadiq Umar, praised the nominee for his impressive academic credentials, expertise in public-private partnerships (PPPs) and infrastructure development, as well as his extensive experience in negotiating PPPs.

The newly appointed DG also received commendations from former Edo State Governor, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, and other committee members, who acknowledged his exceptional qualifications.

In his congratulatory remarks, Akpabio felicitated Ewalefoh on his successful confirmation, urging him to dedicate himself selflessly and sacrificially to advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.

He said: “On behalf of the 10th Senate, I extend warm congratulations and best wishes for success in his endeavours.”

Dr. Ewalefoh is a seasoned expert with over 20 years of experience spanning government institutions and international development organisations, possessing specialized knowledge in key areas including public sector reforms, public-private partnerships, public policy formulation, procurement management, and development strategies.

When making the appointment, the President tasked Ewalefoh with leveraging his extensive experience to drive excellence and uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency in leading the ICRC.

He also urged him to steadfastly pursue the organization’s strategic goal of catalyzing investment in national infrastructure by creatively harnessing private-sector funding.

Until his appointment, Dr. Ewalefoh was the Director of Operations, in charge of the Public Private Partnership Resource Department (P3RD) of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), with responsibility for the development, procurement, and delivery of public infrastructure projects in the energy, agricultural, oil and gas, urban, social, defense, and security sectors.

Prior to his appointment, he held the position of Director of the Contract Compliance Department (CCD) at the ICRC, where he was responsible for supervising the monitoring and compliance of over 100 concession agreements across various sectors, including energy, ports, agriculture, aviation, ICT, healthcare, financial services, telecommunications, manufacturing, and railways.

He also had custody of all PPP contracts executed at the federal level, ensuring their effective management and implementation.

He was the pioneer head of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit of the ICRC, which undertook setting up the ICRC ICT infrastructure by implementing and deploying the ICT backbone of the Commission.

Before joining the ICRC, Dr. Ewalefoh worked as a consultant for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), contributing to the European Union’s (EU) support for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In this role, he was responsible for leading the implementation of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) component of the project, which entailed a comprehensive nationwide deployment of ICT infrastructure to bolster the country’s anti-corruption efforts.

He started his career with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), where he played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s reform and privatization of public enterprises.

Ewalefoh holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Development Studies from the University of South Africa (UNISA), in addition to multiple Master’s degrees in various fields, including Economics (MSc) from Enugu State University of Technology, Information Technology (MIT) from Ladoke Akintola University, Business Administration (MBA), and Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Abuja.

He also possesses a bachelor’s degree in computer science (BSc) from the University of Benin.

Ewalefoh’s deep thirst for knowledge has led him to some of the leading schools in the world, including Harvard University, the Brookings Institute, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of North Carolina, and Lagos Business School, among others.

As a dedicated scholar, he is an avid reader and a published author, with numerous articles featured in prestigious journals and substantial contributions to various publications addressing diverse developmental concerns.