By Destiny Obinna
Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has attributed the high cost of infrastructure projects in the Niger Delta to its difficult terrain, environmental conditions and construction challenges.
Momoh spoke in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the 27th Convention of the Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers, themed, “Building Africa 2050: Engineering Resilient, Sustainable, and Smart Infrastructure.”
He said road and bridge construction in the Niger Delta often involved crossing creeks, swamps and unstable soils, while construction materials and equipment sometimes had to be transported through narrow waterways.
“The engineering solution suitable for the dry northern corridor may be wholly inadequate in the saturated soils and tidal environment of the Niger Delta,” he said.
The minister explained that such conditions, alongside community access and environmental requirements, could significantly increase project costs.
He, however, stressed that infrastructure remained necessary to connect remote communities to schools, healthcare, markets and investment opportunities.
Momoh also identified flooding, climate change, inflation, foreign exchange pressures, insecurity and poor coordination among government agencies as challenges affecting infrastructure delivery.
He recalled the 2012 and 2022 floods, which damaged roads, bridges and power installations, disrupted livelihoods and exposed weaknesses in drainage and flood management.
The minister said the Federal Government was focusing on sustainable infrastructure, energy security and economic development under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He highlighted the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas, saying its expansion to include electric vehicles and charging infrastructure would help reduce transport costs, encourage local manufacturing and create jobs.
Momoh also called for increased private-sector investment, better project planning and regular maintenance of infrastructure.
He urged African countries to adopt modern engineering technologies, strengthen local production of construction materials and design infrastructure to withstand future climate conditions.
The minister said Nigeria was ready to deepen cooperation with Ethiopia and other African countries in transport, renewable energy, urban development and engineering.
He said the success of infrastructure development should be measured by its impact on people’s lives, including access to markets, reliable electricity, safe roads and economic opportunities.
