The West Africa Infrastructure Expo has opened in Lagos, alongside the inaugural Nigeria Infrastructure Summit, bringing together policymakers, investors and industry leaders to advance discussions on infrastructure development in Nigeria.
The event, at the Landmark Centre, brings together stakeholders involved in planning, financing, and delivering critical projects across transport, power, water, digital infrastructure, and urban development.
Speaking at the summit, Senior Vice President of dmg events, Josine Heijmans, said the platform is focused on translating infrastructure ambitions into practical, real-world outcomes.
She noted that Nigeria is at a pivotal stage in its development, with increasing emphasis on building reliable transport networks, resilient energy systems and sustainable cities that can support long-term economic growth.
Heijmans added that the co-located events are designed to strengthen collaboration between public and private sector players, while creating opportunities for investment and knowledge sharing.
According to organisers, the summit is also providing a high-level forum for addressing key issues around project delivery, financing and innovation, with a strong focus on actionable solutions.
Also speaking, Deputy President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engineer Valerie Agberagba, highlighted major challenges affecting infrastructure delivery in the country.
She identified funding gaps, poor coordination among government institutions, and the need for improved professionalism and transparency as critical issues.
Agberagba stressed the importance of leveraging domestic resources alongside foreign investment, noting that Nigeria has the capacity to finance key infrastructure projects internally.
She also underscored the need for continuous training and upskilling of engineers to adapt to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The summit is expected to generate practical recommendations aimed at improving project execution, enhancing efficiency and supporting sustainable economic development across Nigeria.