Nigeria Needs $100bn Annually to Bridge Infrastructure Gap, Says ACEN

The Association of Consulting Engineers of Nigeria (ACEN) has reported that Nigeria requires approximately $100 billion in annual infrastructure investment to tackle its estimated $2.3 trillion infrastructure deficit. ACEN President Kunle Adebajo made this disclosure at the association's 48th annual conference and dinner in Lagos.

He emphasized that government spending covers less than 30 percent of the annual need, resulting in a significant gap that cannot be bridged solely by financial resources. Instead, it can only be closed through increased productivity, enhanced infrastructure, timely delivery, and proper maintenance. Adebajo also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving infrastructure development by streamlining engineering processes, enhancing project planning, minimizing errors, and facilitating tasks such as road alignment and drainage design analysis.

However, he cautioned that AI should not replace professional judgment, and engineers should retain responsibility for decisions made using AI technology. ACEN plans to establish a task force on AI in consulting engineering to promote responsible adoption and address concerns like confidentiality, verification, and professional liability.

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) aims to secure Nigeria's permanent membership in the International Engineering Alliance by June 2027. The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) emphasized the importance of proper planning, sound engineering design, sustainable financing, quality construction, effective supervision, and disciplined maintenance for infrastructure development.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the potential of AI in infrastructure management, citing Lagos' high number of road movements daily and the necessity of intelligent monitoring and preventive maintenance to enhance infrastructure management.