Nigeria requires $3tn investment on infrastructure to catch up with peers – Moody’s

The credit rating agency, Moody’s said on Sunday Nigeria would require over $3 trillion investment over the next three decades to bridge a yawning infrastructure gap and be at par with its peers in the emerging markets.

In a report released on Sunday, the United States-based firm said feeble institutions and governance frameworks together with a poor tax base are standing in the way of investment in infrastructure in the country.

“Nigeria currently has a significant infrastructure deficit and faces additional pressures from a rapidly growing population.

“Its low government funding capacity and customer affordability have been weakened further by the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices,” Kunal Govindia, vice-president and senior analyst at Moody’s Investors Service said.

Read also: Nigerian banks face forex shortage up to $5bn –Moody’s

Moody’s observed that in Nigeria expansion in infrastructure had been in railways, power, roads, pipelines and ports and foresaw the pattern would persist especially as Nigeria required massive investment to resolve perennial electricity deficit.

“To this effect, Nigeria’s power sector could benefit from renewable energy like solar and wind, with financing also possible from green bonds.

“Funding from multilateral development institutions, the private sector and non-state investors is recommended for addressing budget challenges in Nigeria.

“Financial guarantors, multilateral development banks and local institutional investors will be important in helping finance infrastructure development,” Moody’s said.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now