How lack of infrastructure stymies Africa’s development
Dr. Lanre Towry-Coker, FRIBA, FNIA, MA Law (UL), Ph.D, a former commissioner for housing in Lagos State, with a doctorate from Lagos State University, is founder of Towry-Coker Associates since 1976, and a professional architect with a postgraduate qualification in Architecture from the University of North East London. He had his professional training at the world famous Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the United Kingdom (ACI.Arb.); a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA), he was elected Fellow of The Royal Institute of British Architects, (founded 1834), in November 2016, and is one of only forty architects worldwide to be so honoured. He is also the author of the book, “Housing Policy And The Dynamics Of Housing Delivery In Nigeria: Lagos State As Case Study” published by Makeway Publishers, and available on Amazon and also at The Royal Institute of British Architects, Portland Place. London.
You can’t help but wonder at the high level of infrastructure in a country like Ukraine despite two years of relentless bombardment by Russian forces.
The high rise housing dotting literally everywhere, still standing in most cases, but heavily degraded nonetheless.
Contrast this picture with any country in sub-Saharan Africa (maybe with the notable exception of some parts of South Africa) and you’ll see nothing but decrepit schools, unkempt and dirty streets with gutters filled to the brim, all leaving you to just wonder where all the development money has gone in all these countries?
The lack of infrastructure in Africa poses a significant barrier to its development for several reasons, including the following points highlighted below:
Economic growth: Insufficient infrastructure limits productivity and efficiency, hindering economic growth and investment opportunities.
Trade: Inadequate transportation networks impede trade both domestically and internationally, limiting market access and economic integration.
Education and healthcare: Poor infrastructure affects access to education and healthcare services, exacerbating social inequalities and inhibiting human capital development. For example, you can hardly find any major city or conurbation anywhere on the continent with potable pipe borne water or sewage treatment facilities. Lagos Island and other parts of Lagos once boasted of potable pipe borne water. Sadly that’s all now a thing of the past.
Energy access: Limited access to reliable energy sources hampers industrialization and modernization efforts, hindering economic diversification and innovation.
Rural development: Many rural areas lack basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and clean water, constraining agricultural productivity and rural development initiatives.
Addressing these infrastructure gaps is essential for Africa to unlock its economic potential and improve the well-being of its people. It requires significant investment, effective governance, and innovative solutions tailored to the continent’s unique challenges.
In consideration of the above factors which are not unique to sub-Saharan Africa, here are some additional implications of the lack of infrastructure in our continent:
Urbanisation challenges: Rapid urbanisation without adequate infrastructure leads to overcrowding, informal settlements, and increased pressure on limited resources, resulting in social tensions and environmental degradation.
Climate resilience: Weak infrastructure exacerbates vulnerability to climate change impacts such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and droughts, undermining sustainable development efforts and increasing humanitarian crises.
Digital divide: As the world is increasingly dependent on digital transformation the limited access to reliable internet connectivity and ICT infrastructure hinders digital inclusion, e-commerce growth, and participation in the global digital economy, perpetuating disparities in access to information and opportunities. In other words, lack of action has long term consequences.
Industrialisation barriers: Insufficient infrastructure, including transportation, power, and water supply, impedes industrialisation efforts and limits the ability of African countries to attract foreign investment, diversify their economies, and create jobs.
Governance and corruption: Inadequate infrastructure often reflects governance challenges, including corruption, inefficiency, and lack of transparency in public spending and project implementation, further undermining development efforts and eroding public trust.
Regional integration: Infrastructure deficits inhibit regional trade and cooperation by creating barriers to cross-border connectivity, hindering the development of regional markets, and limiting the potential benefits of economic integration initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Sadly foreign actors (countries) still play a pivotal role in destabilising many countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Conclusion
Addressing all these implications requires coordinated efforts from governments, international organisations, private sector stakeholders, and civil society to invest in infrastructure development, improve governance and regulatory frameworks, and promote sustainable and inclusive development strategies tailored to the needs of African countries and communities.
From my own experience, governments cannot do it alone and must be reminded on a regular basis of their responsibilities at all levels, including all the tiers of governance.
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