The United Kingdom and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to infrastructure development with a new $75 million investment, aimed at accelerating growth, improving governance systems, and unlocking private-sector investment across key sectors. This fresh commitment follows the successful conclusion of a six-year phase by the United Kingdom–Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), which has played a pivotal role in enhancing Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape. The partnership was celebrated in a close-out event on 2 December in Abuja, bringing together over 100 senior stakeholders from the government, development partners, financial institutions, and the private sector.
UKNIAF has made substantial contributions across multiple sectors, including power, infrastructure finance, and roads, by embedding evidence-based reforms, strengthening key institutions, and mobilizing finance. These efforts have created a more transparent, climate-smart, and investor-ready environment for infrastructure delivery at both federal and state levels. Among its achievements, UKNIAF helped Nigeria design its Integrated Resource Plan, which provides a low-carbon pathway for expanding the country’s electricity supply. The programme also facilitated the development of subnational electricity markets, enabling states to better harness local energy resources.
As part of the new commitment, $75 million from the African Development Bank was mobilized for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme. The funding will also support sustainable mini-grids and solar projects, along with a newly designed project preparation facility. This initiative will allocate ₦21 billion in both 2024 and 2025 national budgets to develop a pipeline of bankable infrastructure projects capable of attracting large-scale investment. UKNIAF’s legacy has laid a strong foundation for Nigeria’s infrastructure transformation, and its impact will continue through ongoing reforms and strengthened partnerships.
