![Over the past 12 years, the African Development Bank has financed nearly US$8 billion’s worth of regional transport projects. [Credit: African Development Bank]](https://quarryingafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Panorama-of-Road-Corridors_005.jpg)
Several African governments are prioritising infrastructure development as a catalyst for economic recovery. This is particularly apparent in West Africa, where well-targeted infrastructure programmes are expected to play a significant role in improving poor economic performance and boosting economic transformation. Quarrying Africa looks at key infrastructure highlights in the region.
17
The region comprises 17 countries, namely Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Liberia, Niger, Mauritania, the Gambia and Sierra Leone.
526-million
West Africa will see its combined population rise from the current 412-million to 526-million over the next decade.
US$380-billion
According to ABiQ, there are more than US$380-billion’s worth of active projects in West Africa, with US$230 billion already under construction and US$150-billion in the pre-execution phase.
76
Deloitte’s recent Africa Construction Trends Report tracked a total of 76 projects of over US$50 million in value, with a total value of US$79 billion.
US$100-billion
Despite having the highest GDP in Africa (US$514-billion in 2021), Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, projected at US$100-billion annually, is astounding.
US$3-trillion
In its 2020 report, Infrastructure in emerging markets: Focus on Nigeria, Moody’s reckons that US$3-trillion in investment is needed over the next 30 years to plug the national infrastructure deficit.
US$11,24-billion
Having contracted by 4,4% in 2019, Ghana’s construction industry expanded marginally by 0,6% in real terms in 2020, with output value increasing from US$11,2-billion to US$11,24-billion during the same period.
US$20-billion
According to ABiQ, Senegal has close to US$20-billion’s worth of active projects. With a population of just over 17 million, which is expected to grow by more than 28% over the next ten years to 22 million.
US$30-million
The African Development Bank recently announced a US$30-million financial package earmarked for projects Guinea-Bissau. Of this amount, US$14-million will be allocated to building road networks between Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, while US$8,7-million and US$7-million will go to budget support and capacity building, and government reforms, respectively.
1 081 km
The African Development Bank is financing the most important infrastructure project in West Africa, the Abidjan-Lagos highway project. The construction of the 1 081-km highway will have a significant impact on the economies of five West African countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.
