Lagos and the challenges of infrastructure

“IN the words of Michael Dynes, after decades of neglect and under-investment, Nigerian infrastructure - from roads to railways, from electricity generation to water supplies - is in need of a drastic overhaul and expansion. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the West African giant’s commercial capital, Lagos, where an estimated 18 million people struggle to cope on a daily basis with crumbling roads, antiquated transport services, hopelessly inadequate power generation and a critical shortfall of clean water supplies and housing stock.”


This is a good discussion of the very really challenges and the new infrastructure initiatives in Lagos being put forth by the state’s dynamic new governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Will water ever come to Edo state, Nigeria?

No drop of water in Osunbor's N98m water project —Oshiomhole

“EDO State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole weekend in Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local Government Area of the state revealed that no single drop of water was pumped out from the N98 million Iyakun water works which served Ewohimi and other neighbouring communities executed by the Osunbor administration within the last four months of its administration.”

See full article on the mismanagement of funds for water projects in Edo state at the Vanguard online.

Missionaries from African churches

Missionaries from African churches are evangelizing around the globe. Can a Nigerian Pentecostal movement take root in American soil?


See the full article, Mission from Africa on the New York Times website.

The rise of an African merchant class

From the New Yorker:

Evan Osnos, Letter from China, “The Promised Land,” The New Yorker, February 9, 2009, p. 50


“Guangzhou’s Canaan market and the rise of an African merchant class. Joseph Nwaosu, a Nigerian exporter (the writer has changed his name), has yet to acclimate to the winter damp of Guangzhou, on China’s southern coast.Merchants from Nigeria, Mali, Ghana, and other African countries are arriving in Guangzhou in large numbers. Since the Canaan Export Clothes Trading Center opened, six years ago, similar markets, filled with African buyers and Chinese sellers, have arisen along the same block.”

Read more about the growth in African traders

GHANA: People have a message for G20

“The myth that African economies might be insulated from the global economic downturn was officially dispelled by the International Monetary Fund in early March when it warned the crisis could wipe out African countries’ financial successes of the past decade.
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See full article at IRIN News

Useful web links to online development data and statistics

I just wanted to combine in one place a list of useful links for researching information on water, sanitation and other human development indicators, by country. If you know of other good resources, please post them in the comments!


UN Population data

WHO/Unicef Joint Monitoring Programme on Water and Sanitation


Dimensions of Urban Poverty


Global Distribution of Poverty Map


NationMaster


Poverty Environment Net

The Water Page

Saturday Champion: Lagos set to increase water supply

Recently, a Lagos-based newspaper reported that the Governor Fashiola has announced that the state will generate an additional 30 million gallons of water daily from 15 micro waterworks around the State. The article, posted at the Champion Newspapers website on July 31, 2008 (see http://www.champion-newspapers.com) is very positive about expanding the water resources of the state. The announcement is quite a contrast to a very small article buried in the middle of a the Business Day newspaper on Feburary 11, 2008, when I was recently in Nigeria, announcing that all public water taps would be shut down along with an aggressive expansion of metered water connections. Of course the shut-offs are in the most poverty stricken areas facing the worst in terms of basic amenities and environmental living conditions. We can hope that this expansion of water supply will be channeled to those most in need. Activists in country, especially NGOs part of the National Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) will be working hard to make that promise a reality.