Nigeria Needs Stronger Institutions To Tackle Urbanisation – Balogun

A development specialist and Executive Assistant to the EVC, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Abdul Razaq Balogun, has called for stronger public institutions to manage Nigeria’s rapid urbanisation and tackle persistent challenges, including flooding and climate-related risks.

Balogun said Nigeria’s urban challenges could no longer be addressed through the construction of roads, houses, transport networks and other physical infrastructure alone.

He stressed that the strength of institutions responsible for planning, coordinating and managing cities would determine whether such investments deliver sustainable benefits.

Balogun made the remarks at a national summit in Abuja yesterday, where he warned that the country’s rapid urban growth was placing increasing pressure on housing, transportation, water, sanitation, waste management and other essential services.

Nigeria, he noted, is experiencing one of the fastest rates of urban transition globally, with millions of people moving to cities in search of economic opportunities, education, healthcare and improved living standards.

According to him, more than half of Nigeria’s population now lives in urban areas, with the proportion projected to rise to about 70 per cent by 2050.

He said well-managed cities could become major engines of economic growth, productivity and innovation by bringing people, economic activities and public services closer together.

However, he identified congestion, informal settlements, flooding and inadequate public services as persistent challenges undermining residents’ quality of life and increasing vulnerabilities at the grassroots.

Balogun said, “These challenges are usually framed as infrastructure deficits: problems to be solved with more roads, more housing, more investment. That framing is incomplete.

“The more important question is whether the institutions responsible for planning, coordinating and managing urban growth have the capacity to keep pace with it.”

He explained that behind every housing project, transport network, waste management system and flood-control initiative were institutions responsible for planning, implementation, coordination and oversight.

According to him, effective housing development requires credible data on housing deficits, efficient land administration, transparent planning approvals and strict enforcement of development standards.

He added that improving public transportation involved more than procuring buses or constructing rail infrastructure, noting that effective coordination among agencies and integration of transport planning with land use were equally important.

Similarly, he said waste management and drainage systems depended on institutions capable of managing contracts, enforcing regulations and maintaining infrastructure after construction.

“Urban development, in other words, is not simply about building infrastructure. It is about building the institutions capable of planning, delivering and sustaining it,” he said.

Balogun identified data, coordination, continuity and accountability as four critical qualities required to strengthen institutions responsible for urban development.

He said reliable and up-to-date data on population growth, housing demand, transport patterns and environmental risks would enable governments to anticipate challenges, including flooding, and allocate resources more effectively.

He said urban development was inherently cross-sectoral and required cooperation among the federal, state and local governments.

He warned that institutions operating in isolation, duplication, delays and fragmentation could undermine otherwise sound policies.

Balogun also stressed the importance of continuity, noting that cities develop over decades while political administrations typically change every few years.

He said institutions must therefore be capable of maintaining long-term strategic plans beyond electoral cycles to create a predictable environment for citizens, businesses and investors.

On accountability, he said transparent decision-making, clear regulatory processes, performance monitoring and citizen participation were essential to building public trust and improving service delivery.

He described the 2024 Supreme Court judgement affirming the financial autonomy of local governments as an important opportunity to strengthen the third tier of government.

He, however, stressed that financial autonomy must translate into improved service delivery.

According to him, local governments have responsibilities covering several aspects of everyday urban life, including sanitation, waste management, local roads, markets and primary healthcare.

He called for local governments to be given the authority, resources and accountability mechanisms required to perform these functions effectively while maintaining coordination with state and federal authorities.

Balogun further advocated greater investment in public servants responsible for urban development, including town planners, engineers, architects, transport planners, environmental and climate specialists, as well as geospatial analysts.

He said reliable data would enable governments to plan ahead instead of continually responding to urban crises.

He also called for stronger coordination among ministries, departments and agencies, as well as across the three tiers of government, alongside integrated development plans and medium-term planning and budgeting frameworks.

Such measures, he said, would reduce fragmentation and ensure that urban development priorities remained stable despite changes in political leadership.

Balogun also advocated clear performance indicators, regular reporting, independent evaluation and stronger citizen participation in urban planning.

“He said Nigeria’s urban future would ultimately depend not only on the roads, houses and infrastructure it builds, but on the strength of the institutions responsible for managing and sustaining them.”