At the 2025 South-West Summit in Lagos, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) raised alarm over Nigeria’s staggering infrastructure deficit, revealing that the country would require an estimated $120 billion to build a comprehensive federal road network—four times its current annual budget. TUC President Festus Osifo lamented that despite decades of economic potential, successive administrations have failed to diversify the economy or prioritize long-term capital projects.
Osifo attributed the persistent infrastructure gap not only to limited revenues but also to uninspired leadership at all levels of government. He urged a shift from oil dependency toward strategic investments in agriculture, solid minerals, and industrial productivity. Echoing these concerns, Lagos Commissioner Afolabi Ayantayo, representing Governor Sanwo-Olu, emphasized the need for stronger government-labor partnerships and more proactive use of diplomatic channels to support local exports.
The summit focused on strategies for inclusive growth, regional development, and workers’ welfare across the South-West.
