Nigeria's urban future depends on strong institutions, not just infrastructure
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An analysis argues that Nigeria's urban challenges are institutional as much as infrastructural, and that data, coordination, continuity and accountability should drive city development.
Nigeria is undergoing one of the fastest urban transitions in the world, with millions of people moving to cities each year in search of economic opportunities, education, healthcare and better living standards, according to an analysis by The Guardian Nigeria.
The analysis argues that the country's urban challenges are usually framed as infrastructure deficits to be solved with more roads, more housing and more investment, but that the more important question is whether the institutions responsible for planning, coordination and delivery are strong enough.
Using housing as an example, it notes that increasing the supply of homes requires more than construction: it depends on credible data on housing deficits, efficient land administration, transparent planning approval processes and effective enforcement. The same applies to transport, waste management and drainage, which depend on institutions able to plan, deliver and sustain services.
The piece identifies four qualities that define institutional strength: data for decision-making, coordination across sectors and levels of government, continuity across electoral cycles, and accountability through transparent processes and performance monitoring.
Its recommendations include following through on the 2024 Supreme Court judgment affirming local government financial autonomy, investing in the public servants who deliver urban development, building data systems and land administration records, strengthening coordination and long-term planning, and embedding accountability and performance measurement in delivery.
"Nigeria's urban future will not be determined solely by the roads it builds or the housing it finances," the analysis concludes. "It will be determined by the strength of the institutions responsible for planning, coordinating and sustaining that growth."