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The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has raised concerns that Nigeria’s weak infrastructure is holding back economic growth, limiting productivity, and discouraging investment across key sectors.
This warning comes ahead of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31), scheduled to take place from October 6 to 8, 2025. The summit will focus on the theme “Building Infrastructure for Competitiveness”, highlighting the role of infrastructure in improving efficiency, attracting investment, and enhancing citizens’ quality of life.
In a statement released on Thursday by the acting Head of Strategic Communication and Advocacy, Ayanyinka Ayanlowo, the NESG explained that developed infrastructure systems are crucial to lowering the cost of doing business, expanding market access, and creating jobs.
Ayanlowo noted that Nigeria’s long-standing deficits in transport, energy, water, and digital connectivity have been major obstacles to productivity and private sector participation. He added that without urgent solutions, the country may struggle to achieve its growth targets.
“A well-developed infrastructure system is essential for reducing the cost of doing business, expanding market access, and stimulating job creation across sectors. In Nigeria, inadequate infrastructure in areas such as transport, energy, water, and digital connectivity has constrained productivity and discouraged private sector participation,” the statement read.
The NESG stressed that infrastructure competitiveness is necessary to boost industrial productivity, facilitate regional trade, and enhance the movement of goods, services, and people. It also emphasised that infrastructure development is not only an economic necessity but also a social priority that can improve healthcare, education, and national security.
The group said the upcoming summit will provide a platform for government, private sector leaders, and development partners to discuss innovative financing models, public-private partnerships, and sustainable technologies to close Nigeria’s infrastructure gap.
According to the statement, the discussions at NES #31 will align with Nigeria’s long-term development agenda, focusing on strategies to unlock private sector capital and expertise for infrastructure projects, while also promoting reforms to ensure efficient execution.
The group also highlighted the importance of investing in climate-smart and digital infrastructure to future-proof the economy. It further called for strengthening institutional capacity in infrastructure planning and governance to deliver impactful projects.
The NESG noted that a collaborative approach between the public and private sectors would be necessary to drive large-scale, high-impact infrastructure initiatives capable of transforming the economy and promoting social inclusion.
As Nigeria continues to face challenges in power supply, poor road networks, limited access to clean water, and inadequate broadband penetration, stakeholders at NES #31 are expected to deliberate on practical solutions to unlock the country’s economic potential.
The summit is expected to attract government officials, private sector leaders, policymakers, international partners, and development experts to forge a path towards a more resilient and competitive Nigerian economy.
