Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, has said infrastructure development remains critical to economic growth and sustainable national development.
Speaking on Thursday at the International Civil Service Conference 2026 in Abuja, Adeladan said no nation could achieve meaningful progress without substantial investment in roads, railways, power, and other essential infrastructure.
He said the current administration had continued to prioritise infrastructure and transportation as major drivers of economic transformation.
According to him, countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and South Africa achieved rapid development through sustained infrastructure investment.
The permanent secretary explained that infrastructure supports agriculture, transportation, commerce, and the oil and gas sector by facilitating movement of goods and services, improving productivity, attracting investment, and enhancing citizens’ welfare.
Adeladan disclosed that the ministry had adopted Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) technology for road construction to improve durability and address the effects of climate change on infrastructure.
He said although the technology requires higher initial construction costs, it is more durable and can last up to 50 years with minimal maintenance.
He added that the use of concrete pavement technology would encourage local content development through the use of locally sourced materials and labour.
On challenges facing infrastructure development, Adeladan identified inadequate funding as a major problem, noting that government alone could not provide the huge resources required to bridge the country’s infrastructure gap.
He said this informed the increasing adoption of Public-Private Partnerships and concession arrangements for major road projects across the country.
The permanent secretary cited the Benin–Asaba Road and Abuja–Keffi–Akwanga corridor as projects already concessioned to improve maintenance and service delivery.
He stressed the need for infrastructure projects to incorporate sustainability, climate resilience, and community needs to ensure long-term socio-economic benefits.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Temitope Peter Fashedemi, called for proper planning and climate-conscious infrastructure delivery to reduce losses caused by flooding and erosion.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Emanso Umobong, advocated the use of technology, smart city concepts, and community participation in infrastructure planning.
The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission also urged greater private sector participation in infrastructure financing.
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