\n \n Governments\u2019 focus on infrastructure development in Africa<\/h3><\/a>\n \n <\/i>\n March 5, 2019<\/time>\n <\/li><\/ul> <\/header>\n \n \n Infrastructure development is a key driver of progress across the African continent and a critical enabler for productivity and sustainable economic growth. It contributes significantly to human development, poverty reduction, and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Investment in infrastructure accounts for over half of the recent improvement in economic growth in Africa and has the potential to achieve even more.<\/p>\nAccording to a report by the Global Infrastructure Outlook, <\/em>under current trends scenario, the total infrastructure investment forecast for Africa to 2040 is projected to be US $4.3 trillion, or US $174bn per year. If African economies were able to raise their performance to match that of their best performing peers the total investment need would be US $6.0 trillion, or US $240 bn per year a difference of almost 40%.<\/p>\nIndeed most African countries including Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana have structured their recent national budgets towards the attainment of MDGS by allocating large chunks of their annual expenditures to key infrastructural sectors like transport, energy, and housing.<\/p>\nHowever, some countries like South Africa have cut their infrastructural spend in favour of other sectors which they see a priority at the moment. In the 2018\/19 Fiscal Year (FY) national budget the South African government announced a 12% cut in infrastructure expenditure compared to the previous financial year. This is owing to its commitment to delivering free higher education to its citizens.<\/p>\nBudget allocations to key developmental sectors<\/strong><\/h5>\nTransport<\/strong><\/h5>\nOnly one-third of Africans living in rural areas are within two kilometers of an all-season road, compared with two-thirds of the population in other developing regions. Furthermore, road networks are in deplorable states in many farming communities which is a great setback when it comes to transporting goods to market. Also, the current poor rail systems has meant that the cost of transporting goods to and from the interior is quite high; making export goods very expensive.<\/p>\nIn their 2018\/19 FY budgets, most African governments have prioritized Rail transport as a means to solve the transportation problem. They have allocated billions of dollars to completion of ongoing rail projects and also commencing of ones that are in the planning stages.<\/p>\nAccording to Kenya\u2019s National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Mr. Henry Rotich, to enhance movement ofKenyans, and reduce the cost of transportation of goods, the Kenyan government has allocated a total of US $741.8m for the construction of Phase 2A of the SGR from Nairobi to Naivasha.<\/p>\nAnother East African country Uganda, has also given rail transport significance the 2018\/19 FY. In his budget speech, Ugandan Finance minister MrMatiaKasaija said that the Ugandan Government remains committed to development of the Standard Gauge Railway. 8% of the right of way for the SGR has been acquired with 228 Project Affected Persons in Tororo having been paid.<\/p>\n\u201cIn the next financial year additional land on the Eastern route will be procured to facilitate the Standard Gauge Railway right of way. In addition, 42 Railway wagons will be rehabilitated, bad spots along Port Bell \u2013 Kampala and Kampala \u2013 Malaba line will be repaired. Marking of the railway reserve boundaries will also be undertaken,\u201d he added.<\/p>\nIn West Africa the Nigerian government has allocated US $448.7m Counterpart funding for Railway projects including the Lagos-Kano, and Calabar-Lagos. Part of the money will be used to kick-start the abandoned Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Line. This service will start with 7 standard gauge coaches.<\/p>\nIn addition to that, the government has also commenced the extension of the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail Line to connect Apapa and Tin Can Port Complexes. This project will significantly ease the congestion at the ports and enhance both export and import operations.<\/p>\nRail transport also features in Nigeria\u2019s neighbor Ghana\u2019s budget for the FY 208\/19. In his budget speech Ghana\u2019s Minister ofFinance Mr. Ken Ofori-Attasaid that work has commenced on the 85km Akosombo- Tema railway line from the Tema Port to link the Volta Lake via the Akosombo Port, as part of a multi-modal transport system to facilitate the transfer of containerized cargo by rail to and from the Tema Port.<\/p>\nThis will be continued in 2018. Also, feasibility Studies for the development of Boankra Inland Port and Eastern Railway Line using PPP was completed and approval granted. A market sounding event will be organized for the project to solicit investor interest. \u201cIn 2018, the Ministry\u2019s Railway Master Plan developed in 2013, will be reviewed and new rail line extensions incorporated to guide railway development with a focus on rail safety. In addition, the Ghana Railway Act, 2008 (Act 779) will be reviewed and the Ghana Railway Development Authority re-structured to decouple the Infrastructure development from the Regulatory functions,\u201d he added.<\/p>\nEnergy<\/strong><\/p>\nAccess to electricity is key to Africa\u2019s future. It is the springboard to increased prosperity and a better quality of life. Without it, children struggle to study, ideas won\u2019t be transformed into thriving businesses and the continent will never completely plug into the global economy. However, the Energy Deficit in Africa is clear for all to see, with 620 million people and two thirds of households without access to power.<\/p>\nA key challenge with access to power in Africa is the lack of an efficient grid network outside of urban areas and the large populations living in hard to reach rural areas. In their 2018\/19 budgets, the governments have prioritized electricity transmission to ensure universal access. They have allocated billions of dollars in the distribution of electricity to remote areas of their countries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nTo connect more Kenyans to affordable electricity, the Kenyan government has set aside, US $58.5m for rural electrification and connection of public facilities; US $66.5m for Last Mile Connectivity; US $9.9m for the national street lightning programme; US $54.6m for Eastern Electricity Highway Project (Ethiopia \u2013 Kenya Interconnector); US $9.9m for substation installation, US $9.9m for installation of transformers in constituencies; US $9.9m for Connectivity Subsidy; US $125m for Loiyangalani \u2013 Suswa transmission line, land compensation and counterpart funding; and US $30.7m for Nairobi 220KV Ring.<\/p>\nIn neighboring Uganda, the Finance minister mentioned that, it is now critical to invest in the power transmission and distribution network to supply power to industries and other consumers.<\/p>\nThe energy mix will also be further diversified to scale up provision of renewable energy such as solar to off-grid areas. \u201cIn the next financial year, priority will therefore be given to expansion of the transmission and distribution networks to industrial zones and rural growth centers to support our industrialization programme. We shall, in addition, replace parts of the dilapidated network that accounts for about 30% of power losses,\u201d he added<\/p>\nIn his budget speech Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged that the country\u2019s Power Sector Reforms still remain a work in progress. \u201cAlthough we have increased generation capacity significantly, we still have challenges with the Transmission and Distribution Networks.<\/p>\nThe key bottleneck now is the Distribution Network where the substations cannot take more than 5,000 MW. This is constraining power delivery to consumers. We are working with the privatized Distribution Companies to see how to overcome this challenge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\nTo sustain the continued expansion of generation capacity and enhance evacuation, the Nigerian government has approved a Payment Assurance Guarantee Scheme which enabled the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) to raise US $1.9bn. This assures the Generation Companies of up to 80% payment on their invoices. With regards to monetary allocations in the 2018\/19 FY, the government has allocated US $26.8m counterpart funding for earmarked transmission lines and substations, US $9.4m for Kashimbilla transmission, US $19.6m for rural electrification access program in federal universities and US $535.4m to the power Sector Recovery Progamme.<\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/ins><\/ins><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>Ghana also plans to connect a total of 1,796 communities to the national grid in 2018 with the Aboadze-Prestea and Prestea-Kumasi 330kV Transmission Lines about 70% complete and the Kumasi-Bolgatanga 330kV Transmission Line about 50% complete under the Transmission System Improvement Projects, GRIDCo.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Housing<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Africa is rapidly urbanizing and will lead the world\u2019s urban growth in the coming decades. Currently, Africa is the least\u2010urbanized continent, accommodating 11.3 percent of the world\u2019s urban population, and the Sub\u2010Saharan region is the continent\u2019s least\u2010urbanized area. However, the region\u2019s cities are expanding rapidly; by 2050, Africa\u2019s urban population is projected to reach 1.2 billion, with an urbanization rate of 58 percent.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless Housing is a major problem in urban areas where most people live in slums with poor sanitation. Affordable housing is a synonymous term in the African housing sector as most look to provide low cost housing for their ever growing urban population.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, access to adequate and affordable housing remains a key concern in Kenya. It is estimated that the country\u2019s urban centres face a shortage of 200,000 housing units annually and this shortage will rise to 300,000 units by the year 2020 on current policies. At the moment, only about 50,000 new housing units are being constructed every year. Nevertheless, in the 2018\/19 FY, the government has allocated US 64.5m to Provision of Affordable and Decent Housing for all Kenyans.<\/p>\n<p>In his speech, Mr. Kasaijamentioned that the Ugandan government remains committed to reducing the housing deficit through the provision of safe and affordable housing. In this regard, the second phase of the Security Agencies Housing Project comprising 368 housing units for the Ghana Navy was completed and ready for commissioning.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, the Nigerian government has allocated US $10.8m to the federal government mass housing project by Federal Housing Authority (FHA), and US $73.6m allocated to Federal Government National Housing Programme nationwide; while the Ghanaian government has allocated US $19m to the housing sector<\/p>\n<p>According to the report by Global Outlook, in dollar terms, electricity is forecast to receive around $1.6 trillion of investment between 2016 and 2040 under current trends, roads are receiving between US $700 billion and US $900 billion. The gap between the current trends and investment need scenarios is proportionately largest for roads, where the investment need forecast is almost twice the current trends forecast.<\/p>\n<p>Total infrastructure investment in Africa was equivalent to 4.3% of GDP between 2007 and 2015. The continent will need to maintain investment at around this proportion of GDP to accommodate economic and population growth to 2040. This rises to 5.9% under the investment need scenario.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/governments-focus-on-infrastructure-development-in-africa\/\" class=\"btn btn-md btn-gradient btn-shadow\">Read More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-4\">\n <article id=\"post-3023\" class=\"post-3023 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-news\">\n <header class=\"entry-header\">\n <img width=\"980\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/p1-1024x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/p1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/p1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/p1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/p1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/> <a href=\"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/expert-tasks-maritime-engineers-on-infrastructure-development\/\"><h3 class=\"post-title entry-title text-uppercase\">Expert tasks maritime engineers on infrastructure development<\/h3><\/a>\n <ul class='post-meta'><li>\n <i class='fa fa-calendar'><\/i>\n <time datetime='2019-03-04 09:48'>March 4, 2019<\/time>\n <\/li><\/ul> <\/header>\n <div class=\"post-content entry-content\">\n <div class=\"post-desc clearfix\">\n <p>As the country continues to explore new ways to diversify the economy and increase the revenue base of government at all levels, Engineers in the nation have been advised to impact the lives of Nigerians through the application of engineering and technology through investing in infrastructure and modern maritime best practices.<\/p>\n<p>The General Manager, Business Development and Joint Venture, Nigerian Ports Authority, T. O. S. Talabi, made the call while delivering a lecture titled: \u201c The Role of Nigerian Engineers in a Recessed Economy-A Maritime Perspective,\u201d at the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Apapa Branch Annual Dinner held in Lagos recently.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on how the potential of the maritime sector can be harnessed to boost the economy by modernisation and value adding creation, Talabi explained that business opportunities abound in, the nation\u2019s seaports for engineers and other professionals to engage in.<\/p>\n<p>He noted that engineers could engage in value-adding activities inside the port and also applies technology in storage management of produce.<br \/>\nTalabi believed that the country inland waterways are an asset waiting to be optimized in view of its large size and its tremendous resources.<\/p>\n<p>He said this avenue could be used to create new jobs and boost youth employment in the country.<\/p>\n<p>The maritime expert also revealed that engineers could capitalise on the empty ships leaving the nation\u2019s ports after discharging their cargoes to cheaply freight produce from the country to Europe, America and other parts of the world.<\/p>\n<p>Explaining that these ships have collected monies for the return trips back to their port of departure, Talabi said many of them were willing to freight cargo back to their base at very cheap rates for Nigerians.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAbout 90 per cent of containers left this country empty. Nigerians can talk to this shipping companies and obtain discounts to ship out their produce,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Condemning Nigerians failure to strictly observe the standard given to them in packaging produce for European and Asia ports, the Talabi revealed that the Chinese in the country have capitalised on these lapses to use those empty containers to export meats and other edibles at cheaper rate back to their country and other parts of Asia.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Pioneer Chairman, Apapa Branch, Chief Tunde Izedome, has thrown his weight behind the ban on importation of vehicles through the land borders, saying neighbouring countries have capitalised on the country\u2019s port inefficiency in the past to attract landing cost to themselves thereby depriving the nation of income.<\/p>\n<p>He said with the port reform, the federal government\u2019s objective is to ensure that vehicles are henceforth shipped to the nation\u2019 ports instead of those of neigbouring countries.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/expert-tasks-maritime-engineers-on-infrastructure-development\/\" class=\"btn btn-md btn-gradient btn-shadow\">Read More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-4\">\n <article id=\"post-2693\" class=\"post-2693 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-news\">\n <header class=\"entry-header\">\n <img width=\"980\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/in3-1024x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/in3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/in3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/in3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/in3.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/> <a href=\"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/ghana-to-receive-us-147m-infrastructure-projects-support\/\"><h3 class=\"post-title entry-title text-uppercase\">Ghana to receive US $147m infrastructure projects support<\/h3><\/a>\n <ul class='post-meta'><li>\n <i class='fa fa-calendar'><\/i>\n <time datetime='2019-03-03 05:46'>March 3, 2019<\/time>\n <\/li><\/ul> <\/header>\n <div class=\"post-content entry-content\">\n <div class=\"post-desc clearfix\">\n <p>The government of Ghana is set to receive\u00a0US $147m support from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/organisations\/uk-export-finance\">UK Export Finance (UKEF)<\/a> for\u00a0three projects in bid to impact on the country\u2019s infrastructure and economic development.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGhana is an increasingly dynamic economy and I am delighted that\u00a0UKEF\u00a0is supporting the development of the vital infrastructure that will underpin this growth. These projects will have a dramatic impact on trade, healthcare and transport in the country and demonstrate how British expertise across a number of sectors is improving vital infrastructure all over the world,\u201d said International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox MP.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/constructionreviewonline.com\/2019\/02\/us-7bn-to-be-injected-into-infrastructure-fund-in-south-africa\/\">Also Read:US $7bn to be injected into infrastructure fund in South Africa<\/a><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Development projects<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Out the US $147m, US $80m\u00a0will go towards a contract for Contracta Construction UK to develop and modernise Kumasi Central Market, a major trading centre in the Ashanti region which is currently visited by up to 800,000 people daily.<\/p>\n<p>UKEF\u00a0will provide a direct loan and bank guarantee to Ghana\u2019s Ministry of Finance to fund the contract, which will include improvements to electrical networks, water supplies, generators, fire detection systems and public transport.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p>US 50m$ will be awarded to\u00a0QG Construction UK to undertake the\u00a0 modernization of Tamale Airport in the northern region of Ghana. The project will include the construction of a modern new international terminal building, access roads and ancillary facilities exclusive for civil aviation in the existing airport space.<\/p>\n<p>The expansion is designed to promote economic growth, to increase tourism and to boost socio-economic development by improving connections to the north of Ghana. It will also benefit Hajj pilgrims with the new Multipurpose Facility serving as a terminal building during the Hajj Season.<\/p>\n<p>The third project, the\u00a0Bekwai hospital will receive the remaining US $20m to support\u00a0 a contract between Ellipse UK and the Eurofinsa group. The companies will manage every aspect of the hospital\u2019s completion including the supply and installation of medical equipment.<\/p>\n<p>Upon completion, the hospital will have 120 beds, an emergency department, a maternity ward and an operating theatre.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <a href=\"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/ghana-to-receive-us-147m-infrastructure-projects-support\/\" class=\"btn btn-md btn-gradient btn-shadow\">Read More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1635"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1635"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3426,"href":"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1635\/revisions\/3426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reroygroup.com\/ri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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