Experts Advocate Infrastructure Development to Boost Industrial Growth
Industry experts have issued a strong call for urgent and coordinated infrastructure development to unlock growth in Nigeria's industrial sector. They highlighted persistent gaps in financing, professionalism, and intergovernmental collaboration as critical barriers that must be addressed immediately.
Critical Challenges Identified
Deputy President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Valerie Agberagba, identified several critical challenges hindering progress. She noted a significant financing gap alongside concerns about professionalism, ethics, transparency, and weak communication across ministries and tiers of government.
"Overlaps between federal, state and sub-national projects continue to stall progress," Agberagba warned. "Failure to close these gaps would impede the achievement of our infrastructure goals."
Agberagba also urged stakeholders to look inward for funding, stressing that domestic resources could be effectively harnessed to drive development. On capacity building, she emphasized the need for continuous training to keep pace with evolving technologies.
Addressing Technological Evolution
Highlighting the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation, Agberagba stressed that engineers must remain relevant by staying current with new tools and systems. She disclosed that the NSE, in collaboration with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), has introduced initiatives to bridge the skills gap.
These initiatives include:
- A mandatory one-year post-graduation residency programme for young engineers
- Continuous professional development opportunities
- Technology adaptation training programs
Addressing infrastructural deficits, Agberagba pointed to inefficiencies in road networks, ports, and rail systems that continue to slow the movement of goods and services across the country.
West Africa Infrastructure Expo Platform
The experts made these statements at the inaugural West Africa Infrastructure Expo, co-located with HVACR Nigeria and organized by dmg events. The exhibition aimed to advance investment, collaboration and project delivery in key sectors of the economy.
The exhibition brought together over 35 exhibitors from different countries, showcasing solutions across:
- Infrastructure development
- Smart cities initiatives
- Water management systems
- Climate control solutions
Senior Vice President at dmg events, Josine Heijmans, explained that the event brings together public- and private-sector players to explore solutions and address challenges in infrastructure development and building services across Nigeria and the wider West African region.
Strategic Importance of Nigeria
Heijmans noted that hosting the inaugural edition in Nigeria underscores the country's strategic importance as Africa's largest economy, with over 200 million people in need of critical infrastructure, housing and cooling solutions.
"Discussions at the expo extend beyond attracting investment to ensuring the timely execution and completion of projects," Heijmans explained.
She said the inclusion of HVAC-R Nigeria highlights the growing importance of climate control, cold chain infrastructure and cooling systems in meeting Nigeria's development needs. Describing the platform as critical for industry growth, Heijmans said it fosters partnerships, encourages collaboration and supports knowledge exchange among stakeholders.
Market Potential and Future Projections
Regarding market potential, Heijmans disclosed that Africa's HVAC sector was valued at about $2.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $5.6 billion within the next decade, with Nigeria leading in import value.
The expo features a range of activities, including a summit and ongoing talk programmes that examine opportunities and constraints in sectors such as:
- Transport infrastructure
- Water management systems
- Energy solutions
- Building services
Experts emphasized that without addressing these fundamental infrastructure challenges, Nigeria's industrial growth will remain constrained, affecting economic development and the country's competitive position in the global market.
