Infrastructure In Nigeria Research Articles

The Role of Policy Makers and Institutions in the Energy Sector: The Case of Energy Infrastructure Governance in Nigeria

This paper focuses on investigating the linkages and consequences of the policy decision process in the governance of energy infrastructure in Nigeria. It attempts to gain a better understanding of the role of policy makers and institutions in the provision of energy infrastructure in Nigeria. Using a combination of semi-structured interviews and documentary evidences from published literature, this study reveals three essential areas where the policy-making processes (and therefore policy makers) intervene in the provision of energy infrastructure. These are: (1) granting access to historical data; (2) regulations; and (3) permitting/issuance of licenses. This study also reveals three major unintended consequences of the policy decision processes and institutions in the governance of energy infrastructure provisions in Nigeria, which are: (1) government financing corruption in the energy sector; (2) economic delusion; and (3) uncontrolled growth in energy demand driven more by export and not local internal demand.

Energy Transitions in Nigeria: The Evolution of Energy Infrastructure Provision (1800–2015)

The provision of energy infrastructure is essential for economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability. Understanding the multiple functions and services it provides us requires firstly a deeper understanding of the factors that influence energy infrastructure itself. This paper focusses on the factors that influence the evolution of energy infrastructure in Nigeria. By studying different eras of energy use according to the technologies that were being implemented, resources that were available, and the political practice of the time it is possible to better frame the drivers of energy infrastructure. The paper explores the transitions of how Nigerians managed to obtain the vast majority of energy from food calories and traditional biomass, to the broad portfolio of energy sources that is in use today.

Infrastructure Financing and Urban Development in Nigeria

The availability of adequate infrastructure facilities is imperative for the overall economic development of any country. However, developing countries like Nigeria are particularly bedeviled by issues of adequate infrastructure financing and this has great consequences on its citizenry. The aim of this study is to evaluate infrastructure financing strategies and its effect on urban development in Nigeria with a view to providing information that will guide policy makers in the country particularly and similar developing economies in general in making informed decisions on their infrastructure investment strategies. The theoretical research approach was adopted for this study. The study revealed that inadequate investment in basic infrastructure (due to severe budget constraints) and the rapid rate of urbanization in Nigeria is putting considerable strain on the nation's limited infrastructure. Hence, there is a need for large and continuing amounts of investments in almost all areas of infrastructure in Nigeria. Similarly, investment in maintaining existing infrastructure has suffered gross neglect, leaving the country with degraded and inefficient infrastructure services; this is compounded by unprecedented urban growth in major urban centers such as Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt. This has resulted into the explosion of informal settlements (slums) in and around these major cities. This ugly situation is occasioned by mainly lack of long-term funds for infrastructure financing; uncertain political/economic environment; fear of policy reversals by successive governments as typical infrastructure projects span over long periods, etc. In Nigeria, the government has been the sole financier of infrastructural projects and has often taken responsibility for implementation, operations and maintenance as well. There is a need for paradigm shift in this respect as this may not be the best way to execute/finance these projects. It is obvious that the government alone cannot adequately shoulder the responsibility of infrastructure financing, therefore, to ensure urban development in Nigeria; this study recommends the involvement of the private sector in infrastructure financing. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) offer a promising solution to the financing needs of the country as it could attract foreign investments. It is recommended that infrastructure investments should be made in such a way as to recover the invested resources through a system of user charges. This means that the services of investment projects in the country should no more be continued as a free good.

Benchmarking parties’ obligations in the execution of concession-based PPP projects in Nigeria

Purpose Demand–supply matrices with adverse consequences has occasioned government response to concession initiatives in infrastructure in Nigeria. However, concession-based projects have been trailed by administrative and legal controversies. While this scenario has negatively impacted the acceptability of a concession contract, there is, nevertheless, a paucity of research effort aimed at developing a sustainable framework. The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework for the evaluation and allocation of obligations of parties, thereby enhancing the synergy and cooperation between the public and private sector organization. Design/methodology/approach Data were obtained through a questionnaire administered to professionals in concession-based contracts in southwestern Nigeria, which included architects, estate surveyors, quantity surveyors, engineers and builders, accountants/bankers/economists and lawyers. The respondents were selected using random and respondent driven sampling approaches. The questions were structured to ensure that the respondents have appropriate experience in concession-based projects and hold appropriate positions as decision-makers so as to give credence to the collected data. Findings The study identified 47 contractual obligations in the specific context of developing countries. Based on “half-adjusting principle”, 13 of the obligations notably cost of land acquisition and cost of social disturbances were allocated to the public party; 18 of the obligations notably project design and cost of feasibility study were allocated to the private party; and 16 of the obligations including preparation of terms of a contract and relocation of third party facilities were shared by the parties. Originality/value The framework benchmarked the categorization of public and private parties’ obligations in concession-based public–private partnership (PPP) contracts. The study has the implication for the evaluation and allocation of obligations of parties, which could mitigate the risk of failure of PPP projects in relation to the specific context of developing countries.

Public-Private Financed Road Infrastructure Development in North-Central Region of Nigeria

<p>The development and provision of road infrastructure in Nigeria has primarily been through the traditional forms of procurement strategies by the federal, state and local governments through budgetary allocations and door-financed loans and grants this thereby leaves the Nigerian road sector in a precarious situation. In recent time, with the demand for more road infrastructure arising from the population explosion and urban-rural migration coupled with the financial crisis experienced by the Federal Government resulting from global economic and financial crisis the Federal Government of Nigeria therefore sought to involve the private sectors in the development of road infrastructure facilities via Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) like the developed countries so as to meet their economic growth.</p><p>This paper examined the state of road infrastructure development through Public-Private Partnerships in North-Central Region of Nigeria with emphasis on the strengths and limitation of PPPs. The chapter begins with a review of literature on the concept of PPP road infrastructure development in North-Central Region of Nigeria. Academic literatures were also reviewed on PPP objectives, operational and financial characteristics in road infrastructure development in North-Central Region of Nigeria this was followed with the assessment of the PPP road infrastructure development life-cycle process and its challenges.</p>

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) In Nigeria: A Game Theoretic Conjecture of Low-Level Equilibrium in the Power Industry

Given the strategic nature of the relationship between government (state) and the private agents in the provision of electricity infrastructure in Nigeria under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework, a game theoretic framework was used to analyze the economic outcome from the relationship existing between them. Based on the game, as far as the government was able to commit the private agent to staying into the PPP agreement, the private and government returns to capital were in equilibrium and maximized at 19½%. But when the private agent is able to undercut the PPP agreement, he will earn the double (26%) of what the government gets (13%) as the returns on capital. The disequilibrium worsens when government lacked capacity to monitor their private counterpart. When such situation persists, the private earns 78% return on capital while the government’s share will decline to a paltry 3¼%. These outcomes suggest that PPP projects in Nigeria as currently operated maximizes private benefit than the social welfare of the citizenry and represents a contributory factor for the low-level of per capita energy equilibrium.

P14.29 Establishment of health research ethics and capacity building of human resources and infrastructure in nigeria

Background The purpose of this project was to train Health Personnel and Biomedical researchers to design protocols with ethical integrity and to approve the conduct of protocols with scientific merit. Methodology Forty eight (48) biomedical researchers comprising of biomedical researchers and health professionals, legal officers, clergy, community representative were trained on Human subject protection and ethical review of research protocols. This comprises of Basic principles and international guidelines on bioethics, Basics of Research and Clinical Trials, Ethical review of research protocols. Other slides that were presented included: Standard of care and prevention, research protocol, GPP, GCP, Informed consent, HIV treatment, monitoring of research conduct etc. The training modules used for this training was approved by the National Health Research Ethics Committee according to the International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving human subjects. A Pre and Post-test was used to evaluate participants’ performance. The HREC office infrastructure was strengthened and they are now registering with NHREC. Stata 12 statistical software was used for data analysis. Results The pre- and post-test evaluation indicated that participants’ knowledge improved significantly in conduct of ethically sound research (30.3% vs 65.0%, p = 0.001). A 15 membership HREC was constituted by the NHREC and officially handed over to the management of Ambrose Alli Uiversity. Conclusion Training of biomedical researchers, increased their knowledge and skill in reviewing research protocols, and conduct research that is ethically regulated and of international standard. This would maintain public confidence that individuals’ autonomy would be respected.

Methane emissions from oil and gas transport facilities – exploring innovative ways to mitigate environmental consequences

Climate change impacts are increasingly becoming more evident e.g. through heavy rainfall episodes and subsequent flooding. Methane is a significant greenhouse gas that has been linked to these impacts and the oil and gas industry is a major source of anthropogenic methane emission. Recent studies have suggested that the tropical region hold some unexpectedly high methane concentration and that the recent changes in the global methane burden are poorly understood. To address this research gap, we present a first effort to quantify methane emissions from one of the most vulnerable oil and gas infrastructures in Nigeria (a tropical country). A combination of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tier-1 approach and an adapted Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation model was used to estimate methane emissions from the system 2C transport pipeline. We then tested the hypothesis of no significant change in methane emissions trend from the pipeline using the between group t-test inferential analysis. Key findings include: (a) a crude oil throughput of 55,143 to 1,500,500 barrels (8767 to 238,561 m3) emitted methane ranging from 0.04734 to 1.288MT (± 50 to 200%) respectively, and (b) surprisingly, methane emissions along the system 2C pipeline seem to have continued without significant change between 2005, and 2008 to 2012 despite the low crude oil throughput in 2009. This indicates the likelihood of continuous but rising methane emissions from the pipeline network over a six-year period; and only further research can ascertain if similar trend can be observed elsewhere in the tropical region. These findings are unique and contribute to the current global debate on methane emissions from the largely unmonitored tropical region. Therefore, we recommend that stakeholders should set up a study plan for the identification and continuous monitoring of methane emissions from the key oil and gas infrastructure and explore opportunities for geoengineering applications as part of climate change mitigation. Coordinated engagement in international schemes such as the Natural Gas STAR program, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Global Methane Initiative amongst others would promote strategic and measurable methane reduction plans in Nigeria and other countries within/outside the tropical region.

Enhancement of health research capacity in Nigeria through north-south and in-country partnerships.

Research productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa has the potential to affect teaching, student quality, faculty career development, and translational country-relevant research as it has in developed countries. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with an academic infrastructure that includes 129 universities and 45 medical schools; however, despite the size, the country has unacceptably poor health status indicators. To further develop the research infrastructure in Nigeria, faculty and research career development topics were identified within the six Nigerian universities of the nine institutions of the Medical Education Partnership Initiative in Nigeria (MEPIN) consortium. The consortium identified a training model that incorporated multi-institutional "train-the-trainers" programs at the University of Ibadan, followed by replication at the other MEPIN universities. More than 140 in-country trainers subsequently presented nine courses to more than 1,600 faculty, graduate students, and resident doctors throughout the consortium during the program's first three years (2011-2013). This model has fostered a new era of collaboration among the major Nigerian research universities, which now have increased capacity for collaborative research initiatives and improved research output. These changes, in turn, have the potential to improve the nation's health outcomes.

Public-private collaboration: A panacea to road assets management in Nigeria

The globalisation of trade and rise in national income has resulted in increased demand for transport infrastructure and services. Given its high and diverse functionality and wide range of beneficiaries, road infrastructure and services have become essential components of national transport systems. However, lack of access to basic all-weather, reliable and safe road infrastructure is a major challenge in developing countries. Therefore, this study focused on public-private collaborative management of road infrastructure in Nigeria. The research methodological approach adopted an extensive review of relevant literature and questionnaire survey. A critical evaluation of secondary data helped to articulate the characteristics of various models of public-private collaboration. The study population comprised public, private sectors and end-user stakeholders purposively selected from the geo-political zones of Nigeria. Primary data were analysed through SPSS version 20 along with inferential (Kruskal-Wallis Test) and descriptive (Relative Importance Index) statistical tools. The study uncovered new meaning and understanding in ‘trust’, and strongly advocated for an effective stakeholders’ collaboration in financing, construction, operation, maintenance and management of viable road infrastructure and services.

The Need to Expand and Modernise the Electricity Transmission Infrastructure in Nigeria

The Need to Expand and Modernise the Electricity Transmission Infrastructure in Nigeria

Public Private Partnership (PPP) and Social Service Reform in Nigeria: 1999-2007

Public Private Partnership is a policy strategy of Yar’adua/Jonathan’s administration to provide, rehabilitate and manage infrastructures in Nigeria. The correlation between infrastructures and economic development is acknowledged, and the problem of slow development in Nigeria is the consequence of its underdeveloped infrastructure. The capacity of Nigeria on exclusive funding of infrastructures was seriously challenged in the early 80s, but when the economy hit the crisis culminating on the adoption of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) requirements were disengaged from social service delivery and infrastructural provision. The global economic recession declined revenue base of Nigeria and sources of revenue as an alternative means of funding infrastructure. Public Private Partnership overcome the challenges posed by the global financial crises, the premise in Nigeria contends that the initiative has prospects in attaining the availability of revenue, improved business environment and regulatory framework management. The paper links the imperative for sustaining the initiative of infrastructural management in Nigeria. The economic downturn remains worst since the depression of 1929, and this constitutes a serious threat to the state as its revenue base adversely affect oil price. Conclusively, the priority of Public Private Partnership cushions harsh effects of revenue shortfall on infrastructural provisions in Nigeria. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n10p101

Waste governance agenda in Nigerian cities: A comparative analysis

Waste is the most visible evidence of inefficiency in any environment. As in many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, the waste problem in Nigeria is of serious concern to stakeholders. While some investigation to understand the nature of the drivers and barriers affecting sustainable solid waste management in Nigeria has been undertaken, there is little understanding of the interface between solid waste management and governance. This paper is based on a study carried out between 2008 and 2010. The study reviews available literature on solid waste governance in Nigerian cities with a view to making some comparisons and proffering new strategies to enhance waste governance. Findings indicate that absence of good governance in the case studied has negatively impacted on solid waste management performance. This situation has tended to influence individuals to resort to self help. Results also indicate that a rethinking of the current top-down approach to waste governance in Nigeria is urgently required. The main lessons from this study are: (1) a number of governance-related barriers currently constrain sustainable solid waste management (2) public–private partnership is an effective waste management strategy in evolving political systems such as Nigeria (3) mainstreaming the informal sector into the waste management infrastructure in Nigeria will enhance efficiency.

A Project Management Perspective to the Management of Federal Roads in Nigeria: A Case Study of Minna-Bida Road

This paper is the report of a study on the improvement of road infrastructure in Nigeria using the Minna- Bida road as a case study. The N1.414 trillion which has been appropriated for the road sector in Nigeria since 1999 is seen as an acknowledgement of the crucial role of road transportation in national development. There are views that inadequate funding has contributed substantially to the deplorable condition of some roads, specifically the Minna-Bida road axis; which is additional to the lack of robust project management strategies capable of sustaining these investments. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Nigeria needs a sustainable framework which would ensure the preservation of her road transportation infrastructure; the attainment of which is affected by the level of funding. This paper highlights the failure of direct conventional tolling and makes a case for Public Private Partnership (PPP), by concessioning, as a means of achieving sustainable preservation of the road transportation infrastructure in Nigeria. The financial viability of both the conventional tolling and the modified shadow-toll concession (STC) models were tested using the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Net Present Value (NPV). The result shows that while the STC model is financially viable, the conventional tolling model is not.

Self-Employed Graduate Entrepreneurs And Management Of Small And Medium Enterprises (SMEs) In Lagos State, Nigeria

This paper examines what enables self-employed entrepreneurial graduates to successfully manage their businesses despite that they never had formal education in any management course(s) but thrive within an environment full of unforeseen uncertainties, such as lack of business incentives, unfavorable government policies, inadequate infrastructures in Nigeria, to mention but a few. In adopting Okalas in-built myths of entrepreneurs, the quantitative approach of research was utilized with a cluster sampling technique to select 427 small and medium scale entrepreneurs in Lagos State, Nigeria. The chi-square method of data analysis used as a method of data analysis indicates that in-born traits, risk-taking and entrepreneurial learning contribute to SME success. Herron and Robinsons (1993) theory was adapted to explain what makes entrepreneurs succeed. It was recommended that to be successful as managers, every unsuccessful SME manager should look inward and attempt to discover some in-born management characteristics that lie within them to be a successful manager.

Assessment of Private Sector Financing of Electricity Infrastructure in Nigeria

Assessment of Private Sector Financing of Electricity Infrastructure in Nigeria

The Mass Media and ICT: Predictable Strategies for Sustainable Extension Services in Nigeria

Extension service in Nigeria is not yet sustained for rural farmers’ competitive advantages. Local farmers have agitated for inclusion and fair play in agric development projects in their abode; but have never gained substantial level of attention from ‘government’. Nigeria can meet up the development indicators entrenched in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by rigorously investing in mass media and ICT for rural development through high level information delivery. Sustainable extension service is a strategic dimension to human development. It saves the natural environment from total degradation by utilizing modern communication technology for gathering, packaging and disseminating agric information to rural farmers. Nigerian government has faltered in the deployment of modern infrastructures to rural areas through inconsistent legislations, neglect and misappropriation of funds. Mobilization of the rural people for agriculture development is quick and cheap through well mounted media campaigns and appropriately installed ICT infrastructures. It is cost effective when deployed en-mass with responsive wider coverage if appropriate channels are exploited. This paper examines the availability and strength of the media and ICT infrastructures in Nigeria and establishes that the maximum utilization of the media and ICT for sustainable extension services in Nigeria is desirable.

Analysis of Socio-Political Implication of Infrastructural Decay in Nigeria

The aim of this paper is to critically analyze the decay in infrastructural facilities in Nigeria. The state of infrastructures and its decay in Nigeria has remained a matter of great concern arising from the fact that infrastructural functionality plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic well being of the populace and the overall growth and development process of the economy. There is no gain saying the fact that adequacy of functional infrastructure is necessary for a growing economy like that of Nigeria. The state of this decay has become so bad that analysis carried on the ratio of „functional infrastructure‟ to the need for it by both the individual and the corporate bodies revealed that it is grossly inadequate. The analysis further reveals that over ninety percent of the corporate institutions and over forty percent of individual now resort to meeting their own infrastructural needs than to depend on the government to provide these basic needs to the generality of the populace. In the light of the aforementioned, this study on the „socio economic implication of infrastructural decay in Nigeria‟ focused attention more on trying to critically appraise the effectiveness of infrastructural facilities in the nation, providing an insight into how weak the various organs of the federal and the state governments are in terms of provision of infrastructures in Nigeria. This study further aimed at reviewing the reasons for the under-funding and failure of the federal government to address the systemic problems and corruption in the Nation that led to a significant infrastructural deficit. This study is divided into several sessions for ease of understanding of the subject matter with a view to succinctly dealing with the issues. Conclusion was drawn based on the findings with few recommendations.Keywords: Nigeria, Decay, Network, Money, Corruption, Infrastructure

Linking the Role of Government to Internet Diffusion in Nigeria: Is the ‘Giant’ of Africa Awakening?

This paper focuses on the role of government in the development of the Internet, as a representative artifact of a National Information Infrastructure (NII) of a country. We consider Nigeria, a developing country that has been attempting to enhance the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in various sectors of her economy over the years. A longitudinal analysis of Internet diffusion, as a representative NII technology was undertaken using the Global Diffusion of the Internet (GDI) framework. As is the typical practice with studies employing the GDI framework, empirical data was gathered from a variety of documentary sources including government/regulatory bodies reports and policies, websites, newspapers and research articles. The analysis reveals that there has been a determined focus on the development of the NII infrastructure in Nigeria. What comes to the fore is the important role that government is playing in ensuring that the Internet contributes to the economic rejuvenation of the country. We pinpoint that the federal government has been ineffective in indirectly facilitating the sector in the roles of strategist, guider and integrator. It is hoped that current and future policy initiatives in the telecommunications industry will change the negative determinants of NII development.

Info-Tech in African Countries! Where are we in Economic Development? (A Critical Examination of the Social, Economic, Technical and Policy Growth, with Respect to the Expansion of Information and Communications Infrastructure in Nigeria)

The trend of globalization and the spread of ICT has taken an important place in the African development agenda; but, more than just a global demand, the presence of information and communication technologies (ICT) has somewhat carved out an alternative path to development. Notwithstanding the urgency and enthusiasm with using this new medium for social and economic change, the Internet has brought about negative as well as positive contributions to development in Africa. “Of about 1000 COMMUNICATION SATELLITES LAUNCHED into Space just few were from Africa while the greatest are from Asian and Europe. Egypt has the highest in Africa with just 4, South Africa has only 2 while Nigeria lunched 2 in 2003 and 2007 but successful in one while the later on November 11, 2008, NigComSat-1 failed in orbit after running out of power due to an anomaly in its solar array.” (NIGCOMSAT 2011 Newsletter). Genuine development cannot take place in a continent that is full of leaders who are indifferent to the plight of its citizens. These leaders are lured by the profit business motives of multinational companies that come to invest in their countries at the expense of local industries struggling to stay afloat. We have to focus on Advanced Information Technology, for ourselves and by ourselves. His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Governor, Imo State Nigeria, said “if we want the future to be bright then education/e-learning must be right”. Therefore, if we must ensure economics stability, adequate and safe food supply for an expanding world of Africa and must develop an Economic System that will intervene in the mechanism of African Growth we have to go ICT in all our dealings. This article examines how Information Technology (IT) will contribute and has contributed in promoting economic development initiatives in Nigeria and African as a whole. The emergence of the new technologies requires quick skill in innovation and integration which is influenced by a profound access to e-assessed economic valuable knowledge.