Climate Change: Momoh Urges African Engineers to Rethink Infrastructure

Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has called on African engineers to strengthen professional standards, ensure consistent infrastructure maintenance and expand cooperation across the continent as countries prepare for population growth.

Momoh made the appeal on Monday, September 28, 2026, while addressing the 27th Convention and International Infrastructure Conference of the Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers at the Sheraton Addis Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The conference was held under the theme, “Building Africa 2050: Engineering Resilient, Sustainable, and Smart Infrastructure.”

The minister said Africa’s infrastructure agenda should not be measured solely by the number of projects completed, but also by their durability, accessibility, ability to withstand climate-related risks and long-term maintenance needs.

He noted that the continent must consider where infrastructure is built, who benefits from it and whether it can continue serving communities as environmental conditions change.

Drawing on Nigeria’s experience, Momoh said infrastructure planning must account for the different geographical and environmental conditions across the country, including the wetlands and unstable soils of the Niger Delta and the arid regions in the north.

He warned that flooding, erosion, drought and rising temperatures were already challenging the assumptions traditionally used in designing roads, bridges, water systems and other public infrastructure.

Momoh said the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was pursuing infrastructure development alongside energy security, economic reforms and climate resilience. He pointed to Nigeria’s climate policy framework, initiatives to expand cleaner transport and efforts to improve the resilience of major road corridors.

On regional development, the minister said his ministry was working to ensure that projects undertaken by development commissions were consistent with national priorities. He said the efforts also included improving project preparation and monitoring while reducing duplication.

Momoh urged governments and engineering professionals to use updated climate information when designing infrastructure and to provide reliable funding for the maintenance of major public assets.

He also called for greater use of digital technology, increased African production of engineering materials and equipment, and improved connections between transport, electricity and communications networks across the continent.

The minister said Nigeria was willing to strengthen collaboration with Ethiopia and other African countries through joint research and professional exchanges involving universities, engineering associations and practitioners.

He said the success of Africa’s infrastructure plans towards 2050 should ultimately be assessed by their impact on people’s everyday lives, including farmers’ ability to reach markets during heavy rains, the efficiency of transport in expanding cities and the availability of reliable electricity for households and businesses.

Momoh congratulated the Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers on organising the conference and formally declared the event open.