Delayed execution: Fast tracking key infrastructure projects for wide economic networks
The state of infrastructure in Nigeria remains one key subject in the discourse of the Country’s profile of economy. The relevance of the subject in the appraisal of the status of the economy pragmatically finds the expression of thought by definitions of the relativity of the state of infrastructures as one propelling factor for the workings of the economy. Hence, it has been established how strong the connectivity of the profile of infrastructure conditions the well being or otherwise of the economy.
The incontrovertible feeble state of the Nigerian economy has over time posed before the Country the need to invest significantly to develop a robust infrastructure base upon which the economy can ride for significant growth and development. The poor profile of infrastructure in the Country has therefore posed a situation where the strains posed before the Country’s economy are too deep seated, such that contributes to the wobbling state of the economy with huge negativities. Hence, the need for capital investment to heavily cover the elaborate deficits in infrastructures has remained an incontrovertible necessity if the Country’s economy is to be vitalised by the propelling effects of a robust infrastructure base for growth.
The past six years have seen Nigeria’s budget size enlarging from N4.5trillion in 2015 to the over N10.8trillion 2020 budget and the recently proposed 2021 N16.39trillion budget. The gradual enlargement of the budget size with over 300 per cent expansion within the space of six years to give more prominence to capital projects in the Country, has however not translated into a formidable profile of infrastructure for the economy to thrive on, rather situations appear to be growing tougher for the economy.
The narratives of the retardation of key projects still wading through the state of incompletion is a subject that doesn’t give commensurate reflection to neither the necessity to cover the huge deficits of infrastructure in the Country, nor the enlargement of the budget size for capital projects. It appears even those projects for which loans were acquired for have not actualised their objectives. The case of the overstretched reconstruction of the 120 km Lagos-Ibadan expressway beyond reasonable time limit is one instance among many which do not depict any close resemblance to the pace needed to cover up deficits in infrastructures across the Country. Others as the 11.9km Second Niger Bridge, 375km Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway and the East West Road do not present any better narrative.
The overstretched reconstruction of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway has remained an eyesore to commuters as the lamentable slow pace of the works leave commuters frustrated along the route, with the experience of anger evoking gridlock which the barricades of slow reconstruction pose before them. The impacts of the shortcomings continue to pose strains of crumbling economic activities around the affected zones. The reconstruction of the Badagry expressway which also has remained an eyesore to commuters, portends similar reflections of straining and grounding economic activities. The area which used to be known for its tourist ventures have had the industry crumbling within the zone. The impacts of the deficiencies do not give resemblance to the alarming necessity to cover up the gaps of infrastructure deficits hostile to growth in the Country’s economy. Among other sectors, the plight of the conditions is such stressing manufacturing companies out of relevance, just as agriculture remains highly debilitated by the surrounding circumstances. The transportation sector remains at the mercy of the defects.
The resultant effect has been creating hostile environment for business to thrive; thus calling for responsive intervention. Commenting on the uncompleted overstretched projects, President Muhammadu Buhari has promised Nigerians that the 11.9km Second Niger Bridge, 120km Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other key projects across the Country would be completed within the second term of this administration. Emphasizing key projects executed under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), Buhari who stated this at the opening of a two-day Mid-Term Ministerial Performance Review Retreat organised to assess progress made towards the achievement of the nine key priorities of his Administration, said in quote: ‘‘On transportation, we are growing the stock and quality of our road, rail, air and water transport infrastructure. The PIDF projects are also advancing remarkably. These include the 11.9km Second Niger Bridge, 120 km Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, 375 km Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Expressway and the East West Road. Most of these projects are expected to be completed within this 2nd term of our Administration. Work is expected to commence very soon on the Port-Harcourt Maiduguri line and Calabar – Lagos Coastal Line to connect the Southern and Eastern States of our Country Progress is also being made on the upgrading of our Airports, with the state-of-the-art facilities in line with world class safety standards.’’
The relative significance of infrastructure to economic growth cannot less be emphasized. The deep seated deficit profile in infrastructure calls for concern. The slow pace of project execution across the Country, particularly those with strong networks holding key bearings to connectivity of economic activities, is largely undesirable to the desideratum of growth highly of necessity to redeem the economy from the wobbling state, borne by the compounding strains from clogs of administrative deficiencies. The need for the President Buhari-led government to go beyond mere promise to “working the talk” by actualising the completion of retarded project execution is imperative. Rejigging and vitalising the administrative processes with firm monitoring and seasoned appraisal measures have become a subject of necessity. The economy is deeply strained and by this reason can no longer afford more laxity if a change in narrative is to be actualised.
