By Nkechi Eze
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, has reaffirmed that infrastructure development remains the cornerstone of economic growth and sustainable national development, stressing that no nation can achieve meaningful progress without sustained investment in critical infrastructure.
According to an official signed statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammed A. Ahmed, Adeladan made the remarks on Thursday while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference 2026 held in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary described infrastructure as a major catalyst for economic transformation, noting that the present administration has continued to prioritise infrastructure and transportation as central components of its national development agenda.
He stated that countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and South Africa have recorded significant economic advancement through deliberate and sustained investments in roads, railways, power, and other strategic infrastructure.
Adeladan explained that infrastructure serves as a critical enabler across various sectors of the economy, including agriculture, transportation, commerce, and oil and gas, by improving the movement of goods and services, boosting productivity, attracting investments, and enhancing citizens’ quality of life.
He further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Works has adopted modern and resilient road construction technology known as Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) in line with global best practices and in response to the growing impact of climate change on road infrastructure.
According to him, although CRCP roads require higher initial construction costs, they offer greater durability, environmental sustainability, and long-term cost efficiency, with the capacity to withstand heavy traffic loads for up to 50 years with minimal maintenance.
The Permanent Secretary added that the adoption of concrete pavement technology would also promote local content development through the utilisation of locally sourced materials and labour, thereby creating employment opportunities and stimulating economic activities nationwide.
Addressing the challenges confronting infrastructure delivery in Nigeria, Adeladan identified inadequate funding as a major obstacle, noting that the enormous resources required to bridge the nation’s infrastructure deficit make it difficult for government alone to provide the needed financing.
He explained that this challenge has necessitated the growing adoption of Public-Private Partnerships and concession arrangements for major road projects across the country.
Adeladan cited the Benin–Asaba Road and the Abuja–Keffi–Akwanga corridor as examples of projects already concessioned to ensure sustainable maintenance, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced service delivery.
He stressed the need for infrastructure projects to be designed with clear developmental objectives, sustainability considerations, climate resilience, and community needs in mind, adding that infrastructure investments must deliver long-term socio-economic benefits and public value.
Also speaking at the conference, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Temitope Peter Fashedemi, underscored the importance of proper planning and climate-conscious infrastructure delivery to minimise losses caused by flooding, erosion, and poor maintenance culture.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Emanso Umobong, advocated the integration of technology, smart city concepts, community participation, and human capital development in infrastructure planning and implementation.
In his remarks, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission emphasised that Nigeria’s vast infrastructure gap requires stronger private sector participation, noting that sustainable infrastructure financing can only be achieved through an enabling environment that guarantees investor confidence and reasonable returns on investment.
The conference attracted top government officials, policymakers, development experts, and stakeholders who deliberated on strategies for strengthening infrastructure delivery and promoting sustainable national development through innovation, technology, and collaborative partnerships.
