Governance and Infrastructure
Governance is the invisible architecture behind every infrastructure project. It determines whether roads are built on time, whether power plants reach financial close, and whether public funds deliver value for money. Yet, in Nigeria and across Africa, governance failures at the policy, procurement, and implementation stages remain endemic—and they are the primary reason projects stall.
This episode of Making Infrastructure Happen examines how institutional structures, procurement rules, and accountability frameworks either enable or strangle infrastructure delivery. The conversation is grounded in a stark reality: Nigeria established the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in 2005 to anchor its PPP governance framework, yet project delays, cost overruns, and stalled pipelines remain pervasive. The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators consistently rank Sub-Saharan African countries below global averages on rule of law, regulatory quality, and government effectiveness—metrics that directly determine the bankability of infrastructure projects.
The episode moves beyond standard critique to ask what good governance actually looks like in practice. The discussion unpacks how governance failures manifest at multiple stages: project selection driven by political logic rather than economic rationale; procurement processes that favour relationships over competence; contract administration lacking enforcement teeth; and regulatory frameworks applied inconsistently across administrations. Added to this are weak institutions at the sub-national level, where most infrastructure procurement actually happens, and where oversight capacity is most limited.
The episode explores five critical questions with expert guests. First, how does weak governance translate into specific project delays, with firsthand examples from the field? Second, what governance reforms have had the most measurable impact on project delivery across the continent? Third, how should PPP frameworks be structured to hold both public and private actors accountable to agreed timelines and standards? Fourth, where does governance failure most often occur—at the policy, procurement, or implementation stage? Finally, what one governance change, if enacted today, would have the greatest positive impact on infrastructure delivery in the next five years?
The African Development Bank estimates Africa's infrastructure deficit at 2–3% of GDP annually, with governance failure at its core. This episode confronts that reality head-on, offering practitioners' perspectives on what reforms are achievable within real political constraints. It identifies bright spots, practical reforms, and the accountability mechanisms that can transform how infrastructure is delivered across the continent.
Essential listening for policymakers, procurement officials, project sponsors, and anyone who wants to understand why governance—not financing—is often the real bottleneck in African infrastructure development.
Guest Speakers’ Profiles
Ibukun Osoba
Ibukun Osoba is a distinguished corporate governance professional whose expertise has earned her the well-deserved title of the Queen of Governance. Armed with an LLM from Northwestern University, she has established herself as a preeminent authority on corporate governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, and institutional resilience across Africa .
Her influence extends across multiple dimensions of the governance landscape. Through initiatives like the Nigerian Corporate Governance Series, she has made it her mission to demystify the provisions of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018 and empower small and medium enterprises to implement its principles . Her work ensures that businesses of all sizes understand how robust governance structures promote growth and longevity.
Ibukun is a sharp analyst of regulatory developments, providing timely insights on critical matters such as Nigeria's Withholding Tax Regulations 2024 . She is also a student of enduring institutions, drawing strategic lessons from century-old organizations like Lloyds Banking Group to illustrate how governance underpins institutional resilience . Her advocacy spans diversity and inclusion, championing board compositions that benefit from independent thought and a minimum of 30% female participation . Further, she passionately advocates for startups, emphasizing that integrating good governance from the outset is not a burden but a strategic advantage .
As the Queen of Governance, Ibukun Osoba is not merely a practitioner but a visionary shaping a future where strong governance is the bedrock of sustainable and ethical business across Nigeria and beyond.
Key Discussion Points
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Governance Failures at Every Stage: Weak governance translates into specific project delays across policy, procurement, and implementation. Project selection is often driven by political rather than economic logic, procurement favours relationships over competence, and contract administration lacks enforcement teeth.
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Measurable Impact of Reforms: Certain governance reforms have demonstrated measurable impact on infrastructure delivery—including transparent procurement frameworks, independent regulatory oversight, and performance-based contract management. Examples from across Africa offer replicable lessons.
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Accountability in PPP Frameworks: PPP frameworks must be structured to hold both public and private actors accountable to agreed timelines and standards. This requires clear performance metrics, penalty regimes, dispute resolution mechanisms, and independent monitoring.
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The Most Impactful Reform: Experts identify one governance change that would have the greatest positive impact on infrastructure delivery in the next five years—often centred on procurement reform, institutional capacity building, or consistent regulatory enforcement at the sub-national level.
Produced by The Africa Catalyst Podcast Team within BRAC Studio, the episode was moderated by Femi Awofala.
