Nigeria will need about $100 billion in annual infrastructure investment to address its estimated $2.3 trillion infrastructure deficit, according to the Association of Consulting Engineers of Nigeria (ACEN). Kunle Adebajo, ACEN president, made the disclosure at the association's 48th annual conference in Lagos, noting that government spending currently covers less than 30 per cent of the annual need. He stressed that closing such a large gap would require more than money alone, emphasising the importance of better-designed infrastructure, on-time delivery and proper maintenance throughout an asset's lifespan.
Engineers and infrastructure experts at the conference outlined what effective development requires. Ali Rabiu, president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, said roads, railways, ports, airports, electricity, water and digital infrastructure remain critical to economic growth, industrialisation and national competitiveness. He said infrastructure development must rest on proper planning, sound engineering design, sustainable financing, quality construction, effective supervision and disciplined maintenance. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented at the event, pointed to the state's particular pressures, with about 1.6 million road movements daily and 226 vehicles per kilometre, compared with the Nigerian average of fewer than 20 vehicles per kilometre.
Adebajo identified artificial intelligence as a tool to improve infrastructure development by accelerating engineering processes, enhancing project planning and reducing errors. AI-powered tools can test road alignments and drainage designs, analyse construction schedules and identify potential delays, while drones and computer vision can detect structural defects. However, he warned that engineers must retain responsibility for decisions made using the technology, stressing that professional judgment cannot be delegated to algorithms. ACEN plans to establish a task force on AI in consulting engineering to promote responsible adoption while addressing confidentiality, verification and professional liability concerns.
The engineering sector faces significant barriers to AI deployment, Adebajo said, citing inadequate knowledge, poor adoption rates, insufficient infrastructure investment and the absence of locally generated data. He emphasised the need to create local datasets tailored to Nigerian requirements rather than relying solely on Western-based AI models. When used effectively, he argued, AI could level the playing field for Nigerian firms, potentially allowing a company of 30 people to perform work that previously required a firm of 300. Sanwo-Olu echoed that AI offers opportunities for intelligent monitoring and preventive maintenance but cannot replace engineering judgment in decision-making.
Separately, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), represented by Vice-President Olaoluwa Ogunduyile, announced it is working towards Nigeria becoming a permanent member of the International Engineering Alliance by June 2027. Emissaries from Ireland, China and Australia have visited Nigeria to assess its engineering education system, with further assessments conducted at Nile University, Abuja, and Covenant University.