The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has called on the Federal Government, sub-national authorities, the private sector, and all players in the infrastructure delivery value chain to work in concert toward achieving sustainable infrastructure development across the country.
This appeal formed the centrepiece of the NSE’s engagement at the maiden Nigeria Infrastructure Summit, held recently in Lagos. Representing the NSE President, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, the Deputy President, Engr. Valerie Ifueko Agberagba, conveyed the Society’s firm conviction that collective action remains the most practical and effective pathway to delivering durable infrastructure and improving the quality of life for all Nigerians.
Engr. Agberagba stressed that realising this vision demands well-defined responsibilities across every sector. Government must guarantee policy stability and provide credible assurances; the private sector must contribute capital, efficiency, and innovation; engineering professionals must uphold ethical standards and maintain quality; and development partners must align their programmes with Nigeria’s national development priorities.
Driving home the urgency of this collaborative imperative, she declared that no single actor possesses the capacity to resolve Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges in isolation.
“Let us co-create solutions. Let us ensure our infrastructure serves all Nigerians, drives economic growth, and positions Nigeria as the regional hub we know it can be… No single entity can solve this alone,” she stated.
On the scale of opportunity, the Deputy President described Nigeria as a giant within the West African sub-region — the largest economy in the region, with a road network exceeding 195,000 kilometres and a pivotal role in regional power supply. She, however, acknowledged a daunting infrastructure deficit estimated at over $2.3 trillion, and argued that bridging this gap could usher in a new era of productivity, job creation, and shared prosperity for more than 220 million Nigerians.
At the same time, Engr. Agberagba did not shy away from the sector’s persistent failures. She drew attention to poorly executed road projects, congested and inefficient ports despite their handling of roughly 70 per cent of ECOWAS trade, and an underperforming power sector generating only about 5,400 megawatts — a figure well short of the country’s actual needs.
The NSE reaffirmed its commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to champion sustainable, high-quality infrastructure development as an engine for national growth and improved citizen welfare.
The Nigeria Infrastructure Summit was held as a CPD-certified, high-level forum co-located with the West Africa Infrastructure Expo at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The summit’s inauguration ceremony was led by Engr. Agberagba in the presence of distinguished engineering leaders and international industry representatives, and featured expert panels exploring Nigeria’s evolving project finance landscape, with discussions centred on de-risking investment, developing investor-ready project structures, and building the execution frameworks needed to move projects from planning to delivery.
Organised by dmg events, the three-day event drew over 2,000 attendees and brought together 35 exhibiting companies from countries including Austria, China, Ghana, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Expo aligns with Nigeria’s National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, which targets raising the country’s infrastructure stock to 70 per cent of GDP by 2043, and reflects a growing regional consensus that West Africa’s $668 billion infrastructure market opportunity demands accelerated cross-sector collaboration and international partnerships.