Nigeria's Transportation Infrastructure: An Elitization Issue

The article by Dipo Baruwa addresses the elitization of transportation infrastructure in Nigeria, emphasizing the country's economic challenges despite its large size and resource wealth. It notes that Nigeria's economy lacks the structural depth to attract and retain the necessary investment for transformation.

The 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index estimated that 133 million Nigerians, approximately 63% of the population, are multidimensionally poor, with rural poverty significantly higher than urban poverty. Agriculture remains the largest employment source, accounting for 25 million jobs, or 30.1% of total employment.

However, the article argues that state governments are increasingly allocating scarce public resources to aviation infrastructure projects that primarily benefit a narrow upper-income segment, rather than addressing the broader structural needs of the economy. The disconnect between investment priorities and the actual economic realities of the majority of the population raises concerns about the sustainability of Nigeria's economic model.