Nigeria faces an estimated $2.3 trillion infrastructure deficit over the next two decades, according to the Africa Infrastructure Development Index, a gap that continues to constrain economic growth and limit development across the country. Experts say Nigeria must invest around $100 billion annually from 2020 to 2043 to address chronic underinvestment and bridge the divide between infrastructure needs and available public funds.
Speaking at the Global Infrastructure Forum during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Washington, DC, Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), stressed that private sector participation is essential. “Private capital is no longer optional; it is critical,” he said, noting that 70 percent of the required funding must come from the private sector.
Ewalefoh emphasized the role of public-private partnerships in developing bankable projects and creating a pipeline of infrastructure investments. He highlighted that the energy sector alone requires approximately $759 billion, while transport infrastructure needs about $595 billion. Other sectors—including ICT, healthcare, education, and agriculture—also demand significant capital, reflecting a widespread infrastructure shortfall that affects both economic productivity and social development.
Nigeria has introduced reforms to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and boost investor confidence, aiming to address concerns about risk that have historically slowed capital inflows. “Capital naturally flows to environments with lower risk and fewer barriers,” Ewalefoh said. “There is appetite to invest in Africa, and particularly in Nigeria, but we are addressing those concerns through policy consistency and reforms.”
The Global Infrastructure Forum has brought together donors, investors, lenders, and public-private partnership stakeholders to identify opportunities worldwide, providing Nigeria with a platform to position itself as an attractive investment destination. “There’s a population of about 250 million people. The gap is there, we are ready, and the government of the day is willing,” Ewalefoh said.
He pointed to the Nigeria Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIMP), which outlines critical needs in energy, transport, and ICT—sectors representing about half of the total investment plan. While these sectors are a priority, Ewalefoh stressed that social infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and agricultural projects must not be neglected.
With the country’s infrastructure ambitions far exceeding public resources, Nigeria is actively pursuing private investment at the IMF meetings as it seeks to narrow its widening $2.3 trillion infrastructure deficit.
