Nigeria, Austria to collaborate on infrastructure development, says ICRC

By Abubakar Yunusa

The government of Austria has announced a partnership with Nigeria to develop transportation infrastructure and other public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
The partnership was announced in a statement on Wednesday, signed by Manji Yarling, acting head of media and publicity at the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
The commission said the contract was reached when Thomas Schlesinger, Austrian ambassador to Nigeria, visited Michael Ohiani, director-general of the ICRC, and the management team.
Yarling said the envoy was accompanied by Gerd Grobminger, the vice-president of Global Sales Operations, Kapsch TrafficCom, an Austrian company interested in PPP projects in the transportation sector.
She also said the company has extensive experience in successfully handling various transport-related projects in countries like South Africa, Germany, and Italy.
According to the statement, Ohiani, while receiving the Austrian delegation, emphasised the ICRC’s role as the statutory body overseeing all PPP endeavours undertaken by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He also provided an update on the status of ongoing PPP projects within the transportation sector.
Ohiani highlighted the highway development and management initiative (HDMI) project, with its first phase encompassing nine road corridors, which has finalised agreements with its preferred bidders and is awaiting financial closure.
Additionally, he said the central clearing house (CCH) project is currently in the process of selecting a preferred bidder from a shortlisted group.
Reiterating the ICRC’s dedication to effective regulation, Ohiani assured the Austrian delegation of the commission’s unwavering commitment to fostering successful PPP projects in Nigeria.