November 27, 2015

THE NIGERIAN INSURANCE MARKET AS GATEWAY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT


                     
The intrinsic values of insurance have been extremely  noted and appraised for millennia in both academic forums and scholarly discussions as a leading pacesetter of sustainable economic growth in most economies of the world .Infact,everywhere its proven integrity and multiplier effect has been glaring or conspicuous  in terms of  general productivity  and productivity payback respectively  ,growing  the standard of living , creation of employment and generating new sources of wealth  for the citizenry and advocate of sustainable economic development over the long haul .
However as economy grows ,ordinarily ,the possibility of risk occurrence on a daily basis also increases and the organization of the society ,incorporation and the economic system that supports modern life is also bound to suffer damage ,incurs loss,injury and termination of life .Such liability horizons bestow the need for insurance and becomes implicit to explore the insurance market as economy inundated  already with its inbuilt buffers pre-empts its possibility  and respond to perceived changes in its immediate environment .

To understand its technical jargon,after definition of insurance ,one needs to come to term with the meaning of risk ,risk coverage and risk recovery as a fundamental concept of insurance .Risk implies uncertainty of loss .As the inevitability of hardwork and ingenuity appreciates in an unpredictable volatile terrain as vital ingredient for the mobilization of business growth and sustenance of organizational progress ,it is assured that  an effective risk  control is vital to salvage this reward and insure the boon of human labour .This shows that the necessity of insurance  as a buffer against the risk of loss can equally  hedge  against the potential outburst and likely cases of eventuality should they occur in an unpredictable free market economy .
According to Wikipedia ,insurance is the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss ,from one entity to another in exchange for money .It is a form of risk management ,primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent uncertain loss ‘’.It also admits it requires three component agents to market insurance such as the insurance carrier or the insurer or the underwriter selling the insurance , ;the insured otherwise known as the policy holder buying the insurance contract and also paying the premium popularly known as the price  or amount to be  charged or paid for a specific form of an insurance services or as a pledge from the insurer  to compensate the insured  as indemnity in case of personal and financial loss.To receive the contracts often called insurance policy that details conditions and regulations ,is a signatory to the adoption of the policy contract by the insured  .The last two are agents and brokers respectively who act as intermediary between the insured and insurer can be regarded as indirect selling agents or intermediaries OR BOND MEDIATORS .  Insurance has become a prominent resource in the risk management practice all over the world and cutting its teeth and carving a niche in the general risk management professionalism in general.
In modern times ,its explosive growth and  predominance cannot be overemphasized  when juxtaposed with the rising rates of uncertainty in modern age .Ordinarily , as the economy grows ,so do the volume of insurable interest ,risk and insurance market respectively .A study group in the United States traced the growth of insurance over a period of three decades -1950-1980.When compared to economic growth in selected nations ,found out when adjusted for inflation ,insurance activity exceeded growth in national GDP or output in each of the three decades of the post war era. But the studies also found out that in the period between 1980-83,real growth had leveled off  or drastically reduced as world economy slow down during the period.
Moreover,the share of North America that previously controlled 88 percent  of the world market later declined to 55 percent between 1950 -1983 as the European and Japanese economies grew exponentially .In 2001 ,the United States controls 56 percent of world life insurance market business being the largest single line of insurance business worldwide in terms of premiums.Still , controls almost half of the world non-life  insurance  market and about 50 percent of global insurance market . .In the past , 40 years or so , the Asian economies had ballooned tremendously and recorded landmark growth in the insurance business worldwide ,most specifically the  miracles of South East Asian including its tigers that took the world by storm with the overwhelming growth impetus.Dramatic growth in exports had fueled 6 percent growth per annum .Their share of world export leapt from mere 9 percent to 21 percent between 1965 to 1990s.
The prevailing macroeconomic stability ,robust fiscal policy ,low inflation, low interest rates ,growth in the level of domestic savings and technology ,stable export promotion strategy ,stable policies ,education ,consistent human capital investment ,robust institutional practices and sustainable capacity building riding on the heels of periodical institutional reforms had led to quatum leap,remarkable feat  and technological progress unprecedented in a world economy . Chukwulozie:2002;ibikunle:2012].Now we are back to the cradle and origin of insurance.
                      THE CRADLE AND EVOLUTION OF INSURANCE 
Insurance as a modern innovation of course originated from west mainly  Europe, and the United States but there were earlier  unpolished version .As far back as the 3rd and  2nd millennia B.C. respectively ,the practice of insurance in its shallowed risk distribution and risk transference methods was prevalent across the world endorsed b y the chinese and the Babylonians .One of the most popular practices as recorded in the famous code of Hammurabi,C.1750 B.C. developed by the Babylonians It was also applied by the sailing merchants of the early Mediterranean region .This practice goes by its variant :’’If a merchant received a loan to fund his shipment,he would pay the lender ,an additional sum in exchange for the lender’s guarantee to cancel the loan should the good or shipment be stolen or lost at sea”.Over the course of times ,this practice has been heavily polished  and reformed to pioneer modern insurance industry.
The Rhodes inhabitants in the 1st millennium B.C. formulated the ‘’general average ‘’  which allowed groups’ merchants to pay for goods insurance when collectively ferried at sea Should there be loss  in case of  storms at sea ,or goods jettisoned during transport or sinkage ,the collected premiums would now be used to compensate for loss by reimbursement of the concerned merchants.
Insurance policies not bundled together known as separate insurance contracts were invented in  Genoa as the first successful attempt came in 1347 .In the following century , Marine insurance evolved rapidly with the ability to intuitively vary markedly premiums with ancillary risk.Loyd Coffee house became the first known marine insurance company in the world .With the dawn of the enlightenment era ,modern insurance grew sophisticated and advanced with varieties of practices and norms.When the great fire of London devoured 13,000 houses in 1666,property insurance as we know it today first emerged .Given the magnitude of the inferno , it was infused with new methods of risk distribution ,growing competencies of convenience into exigencies of necessity .Similarly , when in 1667 ,Sir Christopher Wren included a site for the construction of an insurance office in his novel plan for the city during the period ,this rapture of convenience had given way indeed  to insurance as a matter of necessity .This was after a couple of the failure of previous fire insurance schemes ,according to economist  Nicholas Bourbon and the eleven associates  in 1681 came together to form the first fire insurance company called ‘’the insurance office  for  houses ‘’ located at the back of royal exchange and was saddled with expertise to  insure brick homes and frame homes .It insured the first five thousands people by this office . However this period concided with the time which witnessed the first insurance scheme associated with the underwriting of business ventures   .
With the exit of seventh century ,demand for marine insurance escalated tremendously .Obviously ,the gigantic leap in that sector was catalyzed by immense stature of London as a rapidly growing center of world trade and investment. Consequently , the Coffee house which became the melting point for all firms or the entire shipping industry in particular ,the cargo and shipping insurance ,underwriting of related ventures was opened by Edward Lord in late 1680s to testify to the surging pre-eminence of the new scheme.Such related factors led to the establishment of Loyd’s of London –the oldest insurance group or corporation  in the world ,in addition to several shipping businesses were founded to create a competitive framework for modern insurance society .
Similarly,when Amicable Society for perpetual Assurance Office was born in 1706 in London ,it pioneered a new form of practice in the explosive insurance sector.It  was initiated by  Sir Thomas Tilen and William Talbot as the world first generation of life insurer of the early 18th century .In 1762 ,Edward Rowe Mores founded the society for Equitable Assurrance On Lives and Survivorship This laid a fundamental framework for the emergence of age based premium linked to mortality and related insurance practices .It became a foundation for modern life assurance upon which all life assurance schemes were based  .
Like Benjamin Franklin 225 years ago once noted “:………..in this world ,nothing is certain but death and taxes and so few people ,have had to contend with that submission in the same way in which life insurance companies have had to believe only risk and death is nothing but certain and predictable .Although Franklin principles guide insurance ethics ,still no one can predict ,when a policy holder will die but it is proven ,risk is certain or certainty of risk cannot be denied and hence the in-trends value of insurance and the appreciation of insurable interest is interred in this hiatus.But with findings that can estimate quite accurately from prior statistics on mortality the verifiable number of people and policyholder  that can die every year .Consequently ,insurance expert know with certainty ,the size or quantum of what total benefit can be as time of death –an individual uncertainty aggregate is undeniable and thus becomes an insurance company certainty aggregate.
Truly speaking , setting premium now becomes the central obligation of the insurance company to enable it cover these actual predictable risks.While policyholder who die prematurely  do get insurance at bargain rate ,for those who live longer ,had to pay insurance part cost of the unlucky ones .Therefore ,the group breaks even ,provided the assumptions about mortality are quite correct .Vast amounts of policy reserves are therefore accumulated by life insurance companies in the process in an attempt to provide death benefits.They therefore charge premiums that exceed the costs of benefit payments during early evolutionary years of a policy .Not until the benefits fall due do they need these reserves which are invested and the accruable income is channeled to reduce net cost of premium payable by a given policyholder .The earnings on reserves back of insured policy is similar to interest on savings and investment returns.Policyholder  enjoy  cumulative savings from  different degree of reserve accumulation based on diverse class of policy inclusiveness .    

Therefore to a larger extent ,it can not be disputed that the growth  of insurance is dependent on how workable polices and institutional reforms are put in place and effectively implemented in such beneficial climes .In such climate, man viewed as the creator of wealth as promoter of technology and productivity can embrace proven growth impetus with the multiplier effect on the economy at large . To a large extent also,the size of the economy is equiproportional to the growth of the insurance  and the nature of policy and legal framework put in place to actualize its goals ,vision and ideals .Insurance here in Nigeria despite the tupsy-turvy has come of age and how is it ?What challenges has it faced  and roles?How has it fared better now than in the pre-independence,and post independence eras?What strategic impact has it made and played in the development of the nation’s economy ?This answer can easily be provided as we navigate thro
The checkered antecedence of the Nigerian insurance industry provides a lot insight to tackle its tumultuous challenges in an economy or industry which has come of age with inbuilt capability to face and surmount these challenges to further and successfully live up to its enviable status as one of the biggest in Africa.Like every sector and subsector of the Nigerian economy ,I repeat-the rise and  fall of Nigerian insurance industry corresponds with the rise and fall of the Nigerian economy .We briefly explore its checkered antecedence or through the pages f history below
                           The Early Insurance Market
In the pre independence era ,the budding insurance At independence ,there are about 23 to 25 insurance companies operating in the country and the insurance premiums been paid were remitted overseas. Out of this lot ,only four were owned by Nigerians and with premiums remitted abroad put so much pressure on the nation’s balance of payments account.This was changed by 1976 indigenisation decree which after promulgation later  streamlined industry activities for improved local retention capacity playing a critical role in the sustainable development of the Nigerian economy .Moreover  between  1970 and 1979 19 new insurance companies were founded in the country and the Nigerian enterprises promotion Decree 1972 was promulgated as fall out of the 2nd national Development plan .According to this Decree government decided to participate in all insurance companies ,and Banks with foreign interest to the tune of 49 percent .The Decree was abolished by the 1995  budget and consequently stimulated further national drive towards private sector led economy .
The main objective of  the new Insurance Decree that came in December 1976 in an attempt to ensure effective supervision and control of insurance business,brokers and agents  in the country was to basically protect the investing and general public . So, the Decree also insurance coverage of all imports to be effected by local insurers only and by 1977 ,the Nigerian Re-insurance Corporation was established .Its main function is to transact all classes of re-insurance business both in the country and abroad and take over from NICON all mandatory re-insurance business by registered  insurers .Three other privately owned re-insurance companies came later .Between 1980-1986 during the period , about 22 new insurance companies came on board and by 1991 the new Decree No.58 of 1991 jerked up the capital base of insurance companies to 5 million naira and 10million naira respectively for both specialist and composite insurance companies .  Consequently ,the number of registered insurance companies in the country rose to 137 firms by April,20,1994,stood at 140 insurance in addition to 429 brokers ,5 reinsurance companies and loss adjusting companies operating in the country  by December ,1994 .In 1995, while the number of underwriters ,brokers and loss adjusters stood at 133;412; and 37 respectively ,the number of reinsurance still remained 5 companies .By 2001 according Nigerian insurers association-NIA ,the figure stood as follows :120;353;33;5 respectively .
Prior to consolidation in the Nigerian insurance industry,there were 100 registered insurance companies,providing diverse form of services from motor insurance to general accident .Following the federal government divestment of interest from the insurance companies .The gross market premium stood at 44.5billion naira;50.2billion naira;and 76.3billion naira in 2002;2003 and 2005 respectively .The Nigerian insurance market was rated the fastest growing and the biggest in Africa and no.65 in the whole world ,according to world insurance ranking .Though the growth of the skilled proffessionals in the industry is disproportionate to the giant explosion of the insurance industry as a whole needing a self-corrective action .According to Mrs Funmi Babinton -Ashaye ,CEO of Risk Analyst insurance brokers ,hear her ..Incidentally ,the number of professionals in the industry ,which is germane to its efficient performance ,is not growing at a proportionate rate thereby creating a managerial gap that calls for urgent action of all stakeholders.
In the industry performance review reported  several years ago ,or in 2005 as noted in the FSS vision 2010 document ,to make the industry ‘’…the first choice in Africa noted for high level capacity ,transparency ,efficiency and safety and attain 15 th position in world insurance premium generation by the year 2020’’ showed the following:Contribute 0.71percent to the Nigerian GDP;Insurance density ,premium per capital-4.3 dollar ;Life insurance premium income -17 percent of total industry premium income ;Non-life premium income-82.12 percent of total premium income ;No.65 in world insurance ranking ;No.6 out of leading 8 insurance markets in Africa.
Compared to other climes,well, it was considered by industry professionals a grim picture given in the fact that in the same report ,some countries were ranked ahead of Nigeria  like China-11th ;India-19th ;and even Malaysia-33rd in the world insurance ranking .Also in terms of contribution to the GDP ,their contribution stood as follows –China-3.5percent and Malaysia-5.6 percent .In view of this horrendous scenario and the need to redress the bleak picture ,waves of consolidation during the period swept like a tidal wave the entire insurance  industry beginning from the Banking industry as it attempted to play the catch up fever .As part of the reform programme ,NAICOM the regulatory agency set the directive and jerked up capital base for all classes of insurance business in the country .This in line with classes of business ,they undertake and set compliance dates at February 2007 .The directive which was issued on September 6,2005 stipulated the minimum paid up capital requirements at 2billion naira for life insurance business from  previous  150 million naira ;3billion naira for non-life insurance business or general insurance from previous 200million naira ;6billion naira for composite and then jerked up from 350 million naira to 10billion naira for reinsurance business.
Though its market was tardier prior to recapitalization but that has changed anyway as investors became interested in fundamentals like earning and profitability .Infact ,it is one the of fastest growing stocks and for instance an investors who taken position in stocks especially in early 2007 and sold them late in the year had not regretted in making a harvest through capital appreciation.These are some of the gains over the years  and still not yet uhuru for speculators but it is known fact that the insurance market in the country is still small .According to Godfrey Obioma-an insurance expert , over 70 percent of its premium distributed between marine , general accident and motor insurance policies.Similarly ,Afrinvest West Africa study unveiled the fact that the gross premium grew by only 17.5 percent between 1996 and 2005 but it grew rapidly by 15.3 between 2003 and 2007 period with estimated size of 844million dollars or 98.8billion naira  –an indication that the compliance year was more or less a turn around year for the industry .
The challenges of low penetration with the lowest level of market depth especially in life insurance product.Afrinivest research in 2008, also shows that of the formal sector and informal sector workforce ,only 1million people hold personal insurance policy .Given the fact that the potential policy holders in the country are employed youths unfortunately 80 percent of them are unemployed .Also when compared to other sectors such as banking ,securities market and asset management business,the insurance sector when adjusted for population between the 1993 to 2008 recorded low growth .Little wonder,in an attempt to correct this lapses ,the recapitalization program was proposed changing its stausquo completely into the next level .Following the consolidation,the insurance companies have  grown their shareholders funds and as at 2008 paraded growth in the following –Leadway Assurance-9.4billion naira;WAPIC International-9.3billion naira;AIICO-5.9billion naira ;Niger insurance-5.5billion naira;Goldlink-5.4billion naira;and Mutual Benefit-4billion naira respectively-Obioma-2008].
In the 2011 annual report of the BusinessWorld top 100 biggest companies in the country,dominated by Banks which towered with almost 16 trillion naira worth  ,followed by the manufacturing sector,the insurance still recorded sterling performance with about 12 companies ranked in the report came fourth with over 121billion naira-about 0.67 percent of the total .AIICO dominated the market as one of the oldest insurance companies in the country made giant strides and reenacted its winning streaks .In 2010 ,it emerged as the largest insurance company in Nigeria with total asset base of 29.22billion ,beating Custodian and Alliance Insurance plc with total asset of 15.77billion naira to the second place and Guaranty trust assurance plc. –a subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Bank to the third position with 14.79billion naira worth total assets. Others include Cornerstone-10.5billion naira;Unity Kapital capital Assurance-8.88billion naira;  
Despite the dissatisfaction of the industry critics ,compliance was achieved to basically  enhance the capacity of the industry in delivering optimal value and defend public interest. There are several factors hindering the industry progress and some of them include poor public perception, poor skilled labour ,poor technology investment and deployment and above all,poor capital base .Given the need to realize its immense potentials ,consolidation became a timely pill and eventually only 49 insurance companies made the compliance list about 47 percent out of 104 insurance mushroom companies that hibernated the industry hemisphere prior to recapitalization exercise. Aggregate  amount realized was put at over 200billion naira compared to a precapitalization base of 30bilion naira and its success was linked to its fast growing appeal.
The Nigerian insurance industry plays a vital role in deposit moibilisation and utilization of the investible resources in our domestic economy ,the biggest in Africa and a major contributing force to sustainable economic development as members are afforded the rare opportunities of undertaking all forms of insurance ,for its clients .Insurance can be done directly through the insurance company or indirectly through brokers ,agents and other  intermediaries  working closely together with insuring public to obtain the best judgement .The market as free environment promotes healthy competition and participation  between local and foreign companies and investors.
The structure of an industry our insurance market includes the sellers that is the underwriters –the insurance companies and reinsurance companies ;the intermediaries such as brokers and agents ;the buying clients –the insurable public;actuarial science;market association such as the chartered insurance institute of Nigeria,the Nigerian corporation of insurance brokers ,institute of loss adjusters of Nigeria;National insurance commission –NAICOM.With this structure  ,the maintenance of ethical standard remains the principal goal of the industry  regulation and the regulatory regime is poised towards sustaining also the confidence in the insurance market .
                                 The National Insurance Commission-NAICOM
The mandate of National insurance commission when it  was set up by Decree No.1 of 1997 was to ensure the effective administration ,supervision ,regulation and control of insurance industry in the country.The former Decree No.62 of 1992 that established the National Insurance Supervisory Board –NISB was replaced by the new Decree .
The primary functions of insurance as included in section 7 of the Insurance act 1997 which empowers NAICOM to supervise , administer ,regulate and control insurance business in the country as vested in the commission is saddled with the responsibility  include the following-:
---Establish standards for the insurance practices and business in the country ;
---Set rates of commissions premiums payable in all aspect of the business of  insurance classes in the country;
----Make sure strategic government assets and a host of other properties are adequately protected ;
-----Regulates deals between insurer and reinsurer in the country and diaspora ;
-----On all insurance matters ,to act as federal government adviser ;
------Approve standards ,conditions and warranties applicable to the industry and to protect policy holders ,beneficiaries and third party to the contracts;
------Carry out sale and distribution publication to the public ,preparation of annual reports  and statistics to the industry ;
To be contd






November 24, 2015

CHALLENGES FACING INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA-PART ONE



                                   
 Infrastructure in general is the backbone of the economy but  much more man that is a sustainable indicator of a growing economy and its lagging behind cannot be detached from the prism of a poor planned economy .By and large ,since development is a binding factor for all homosapiens ,indeed,the true binding factor of  existence is also the breath of mankind  and the nature of existence respectively   .In this incendiary piece this author  gave perspectives in the most suistable manner and environment and our battle  to live on  to mark diseases. .


First and foremost ,the state of infrastructure  in any clime is a major catalyst for capacity building ,sustainable capacity building ,economic development and sustainable economic development respectively .Obviously  ,it cannot be disputed that  infrastructure plays an extremely  important role in nation building and the practice of development cannot be easily detached from the realm of long term  infrastructural development .It is also a symbolic evidence and a signatory to the level of development in an economy as well as a sole indicator of the development velocity mass at a particular period . Development can be measured by its robustness , quantity and quality especially in the provision of social services as may be desired by the state at a given period.This indicates thoroughly that to raise the level of development velocity and the practice of development including  development regime respectively in an economy of a nation  is to optimally maximizes the proportion of sustainable growth  via infrastructural development at a particular period.Infact ,the mechanization of industrial system,industrialization and the so called evolution of modern information technology age  cannot be possible without its welfare and providence .It is therefore a principal agent and apex gauge of  national development and modern civilisation.
The World Bank -1994 ]like Kindle Berger in his book ‘Economic Development ‘ defines infrastructure  as ‘Social Overhead Capital ‘ providing services and public amenities as public goods such as telecom ,solid waste disposal services  ,electricity ,water supply  ,Sanitation,sewage   and a host of such public goods .It can also b e regarded as public works such as drainage ,Roads , canals and major Dam works with utility channeled to irrigation and transport facilities  including  urban and inter-urban services  movements ,Airports ,rails and waterways .It is therefore the structural linkage between the arts and practice,developing system and developed system, leadership and followership, urban and rural ,government and the people-governed  and the evidence of  political boons and democracy  dividends –a consensus signatory to development and as a development barometer is invariably  a custodian of social contract and cultural contract respectively between the state and the nation ,nationalities and customs ,demographics and moral exigencies of the state.
Understanding the nature of development system and timely needed development regimes including demographical dispersal and velocity distribution and the strategic impact of widespread circulation of its mutual benefits to both the state and the nation can insulates a nation against social instability .Infact the longevity of the state rests largely on the insurable welfare of this  state of infrastructure adequacy  .Mass investment in infrastructural development closes the gap between government and the people,the governance and the governed .As incentives for capacity building and nation building ,physical infrastructural development has taken a life of his own growing at alarming rate with the advent of modern civilization. Nations that have thrived and enjoyed landmark economic expansion  and accelerates economic growth have had massive influences and  opportunity to be tied  to its apron string as the main catalyst of better standard of living in the international community.The applications of modern technological driven infrastructure tends to produce widespread economic relief and competitive development regimes.
Infrastructure provides a framework for the participation of the people ,demographics and for acceleration of faster  growth in output ,reduces cost of production ,institutional dysnfunctioning ,promotes development , national competitiveness and higher productivity .By increasing the quality of growth and the quality and quantity of outputs ,the gains of higher productivity is transformed into higher competitiveness.This enables competitive growth creating enabling environment for economic agents   and workforce in its surrounding condition .Access to free information disclosure can enhance and optimise its impact on a nation’s external terms of trade .
The objectives of the paper is to lay more emphasis on the role of infrastructure in economic development.Industrialisation as requited by Sanusi-2012] means ;’the totality of relations involving workers ,employers  and the society as they develop to make up  the new machines ,process of building up a nation’s capacity  to connect raw materials and  other inputs into finished goods  and manufactured goods for other production or for final consumption –Anyanwu,et al.,1997].While the United States committee on planning -1974] sees it as not only a means of producing wider variety of products by the application of  modern technology , with the strategic intent and ultimate means of revamping the condition of work and  standard of living of the poverty stricken people of the world .Ibikunle-2012 sees it as the standard definition of industrialization and a radical means of transformation process and transformation management process respectively facilitated and accelerated by the inviolable commerce of cumulative information production  for the purpose of exchange and distribution of tangible and intangible discharge and production  of goods and services It is the middle stage and middle passage of modern civilization and ultimate alibi of standard growth of required standard of living of the citizenry  and development velocity mass as needed to safeguard the task of nation building  .With this platform industrialization distributes and redistributes national income ,potentially banish inequality of wealth and reduces mass poverty  based on the significance and sustainable leverage of the productive sector creating enabling environment for the creation of mass employment and poverty free economy  depending on available macroeconomic strategy at a time.
Industrialization promotes rapid economic development in an economy in which better infrastructure is put in place and infrastructural development can also be seen as an integral part of industrialization process or at best regarded as base metal of industrialization .In terms of its role in infrastructural development  industrialization process economic surplus that further stimulates economic development and therefore as symbolically accelerates faster  growth in output  and diversification function of that output .This could lead to structural change conducive to sustainable income distribution and economic growth.UNIDO;1993],Sanusi:2012].The diversification  functions  also stimulates higher productivity ,better competitiveness ,efficiency and inducing growth for further diversification  of exports ,multiplying capability effect and value added incentives to sustainable revamp the process of the nation’s terms of trade and strengthens development pattern and velocity of a nation .
The development of  several studies  in the classical literature  and academic development discourse that opine that industrialization brings about  social equality should be debunked not just with a wave of hand but its thematic ambiguity expelled with its undebatable  misrepresentation of convoluted facts .The same with infrastructural development .Rather what it does is to set the pace for the mobilization of social equality using its revolutionary platform as vehicle of social transformation ,promotes higher level of social stability , mass employment and more equitable distribution of disposable income setting the pace for social equality and closes the gap between the rich and the poor ,haves and haves not .This invariably provides the society with the tool to get the there or get the work done .The management of the economy at large  and the predisposition of governance institutions available at the helms of leadership and followership  regimes provides the avenue for the mobilization of raw materials and production of finished goods .Its most important benchmark as evidence of structural change is the alteration or change in the nature of physical ,material ,economic ,human and natural resources  previously deployed in comparison to altered environment .
Anyanwu et al -1997 ]unveiled the significance of industrialization and its multiplier effect on finished goods or intermediate goods .Output expansion  and mass employment reflects diversification of wealth ,boosts human capital and manpower development and generate foreign exchange to the fullest of natural resources potential of the State . This cannot be possible according to Oshikoya  et al.2012] without that critical mass .Obviously it is a causal factor for growth drivers and also a pivotal stalk of  growth sustainability and competitiveness of such growth .Sanusi:2012] also commended it” plays the role of both consumption goods and input into the production process of nearly  every sector “.
It further noted “As a driving factor of economic growth ,there is a strong correlation between the growth of GDP   and economic infrastructure  which tends to work both ways .Growth of infrastructure  can result from the demand  of other sectors e.g.industry that needs ports ,roads and power  supplies to function well”The availability of such facilities tends to stimulate investment for exponential economic growth promoting value added productive and competitive and barrier breaking sustainable economic development .
Infrastructure provides incentives that reduces cost, buoy mass productivity and enhances price competitiveness .It also unleashes unusual growth in  investment , savings ,consumption and increases the investment rate of marginal projects  and allied divestiture by economic agents  who now exploit diverse ranges  to invest in a non-inflationary environment .Consequently growth velocity increases and as a determinant of price and non-price competitiveness in the international markets also enhances  competitiveness among various factors of production mobilisable for every round economic growth .It also improves price and non-price competitiveness as intermediate input  in both low cost ,high and marginal form of infrastructure service.
It accelerates trade in foreign market ,boosting timely and safe delivery of goods and services  and adequately promote free flow of technical information  needed for such trade justifying its essence also as a determinant of non-price competitiveness .As market capacity is governed by a given proportion of development ,so also is the level  of  the capital flows public and private is also determined by the level of convenience entrenched  in the existing infrastructure as an enabling environment  for long run economic growth .In some economies it is faster to recoup mass investment made in infrastructure say telecom  for instance .Whereas in some other countries it can be tedious venture but still in the long run infrastructure risk-reward pay off is often a boon to the economy .
    AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURAL  DEVLOPMENT  CHALLENGES :HISTORICAL PROFILE
Generally speaking the state of infrastructure in Africa is deplorable begging for urgent attention  by policy makers, bureaucrats and politician alike  and parlous in outlook in general .
Although over the last few years Africa has benefitted immensely from some gigantic improvements  in infrastructure .A monumental jump  of over 50 percent  of AFRICANS  who lived with one form of GSM signal in 2006 had redefined the pattern of economic growth on the dark continent .Five African countries and twelve others have either met millennium development targets for universal water access or are on track to achieve same,huge development space still begs for massive attention
Electricity ,motor able roads ,workable rail ,water facilities and a host of other facilities  and  basic amenities are in short supply in the economies under survey .A basket of prepaid mobile phone services  on a monthly basis costs 12 dollars compared to only 2 dollars  in south Asia ;Africans pay twice   as much for basic services like elsewhere around the world   ;more than 20 percent of African population spreading from Ghana , Cameroun, Mauritania Niger ,Tanzania and Mauritania to access basic or primary water supply must travel two kilometers’ and only one out of three Africans in the rural areas have access to  all-season roads  compared to 80 percent of Africa ‘s main road network under good attention …
Sanusi-2011 notes that Africa accounts for 20 percent of global telecom lines  and that there are more telephone lines in Brazil than  the whole of AFRICA. This shortfall nevertheless is  still an improvement than what we had in 2001 when telephone lines in New York alone exceeded the whole of Africa .Nigeria’s teledensity now is 70:100 compared to 0.6 percent  in 2001 when the revolution started.The provision of basic amenities was skewed in favour of the urban areas whereas 80 percent of  Nigerians  live in  blackout with no electricity ,no light.source:ADB/CBN :2003 .The  repairable stage of existing facilities and vandalisation menace ,diversion of funds for capital projects ,maintenance of overbureacreaucy  and construction of new facilitites has led to perennial economic decline ,sabotage of growth ,low productivity  and growing deindustrialization in which the industrial  production and capacity utilization  perpetually declines wobbling tirelessly without lasting resolve .For instance according to CBN annual report  and statement of accounts ,variouis issssues , and index of major industrialization nosedived from 162.9 percent  in 1990 to 131.8 percent in 1998 .Also  in another study the capacity utilization eroded from capacity utilization rose from  73.3 percent  in 1981 to 32.4 percent  in 1998 and 55 percent respectively  in 2009.
There can  be no substitute  for infrastructure and industrial development flag  especially its strategic importance in the distribution  of national income and wealth .-a giant missing link to developing countries .Its capacity is predominantly oriented to close the gap between the rich and poor nations in the international community should not be overemphasized .Barrier to capacity building effectively declines through infrastructural development and its impact on sustainable economic development.Consequently industrial development stimulates leverage on existing infrastructure to boost wealth creation and maximum  growth in capacity of the economy at large .
The case of gross under capacity utilization and idle human capacity is symbolic with low index of industrial production  and the inability of the state to put idle capital and labour into production .As long as idle labour exists ,it can be very difficult to stimulate infrastructural development in a low skilled environment which may not necessarily entails putting idle labour into productive use .In other words ,infrastructural development  and human capacity building must be stimulated alongside each other for the enterprise of  human and capacity building via sustainable infrastructural development to reap the reward  and gain of long term  industrial development. Human resources are either clogs  or tools to manage  these machines which when successfully impugned to signify  sectoral decline has been noted as paramount key of industrialization.
Anyanwu et al :1997 ] places more emphasis on the role of infrastructural development vis-a-vis  its strategic impact on economic development .This includes the provision of a channel  for the transformation  of raw materials  into finished goods  .This boosts  mass employment ,grows culture ,diversify the economic base and helps balloons the forex base revenues ,optimize use of raw materials ,reduce external debt burden  dependence and grow local capacity building .
However the concept of infrastructure is a bit  broad based and especially the categorization of infrastructural types ensures the use of optimal analysis for purpose of clarity .The complex competition that infrastructure provides in the stimulation of industrial development for the purpose of economic development  cannot be overemphasized ,thereby motivation the role of infrastructure in nation building .
In fra structure can be divided into public or conventional physical infrastructure  as referred earlier to - by Harvard professor Jeffrey Sachs .Besides we have  anew form of human infrastructure or perhaps the oldest or youngest form ever since they  were deployed in the mill of labor In developing nation’s labour market of course labor is cheap ,less priced and especially the exploitation of brain drain – a plague to developing nation and a brain gain to advanced has reached the neplus ulstra never seen before in history .Though the physical infrastructure is prominent without with industrialization and a modern standard of living cannot be possible ,there is also financial infrastructure that lubricates the financial sector and  economy at large  .

Energy access is critical to African economic growth and poverty reduction .It is the bedrock of modern civilization .Access to abundant energy supplies often in favor of Africa can promote the rebirth of African economies and renaissance of black civilization . About 30 African countries today are been plagued by monumental energy crisis ;while only one in four Africans can boast of sustainable access to electricity .The total electricity generation output of the 48 sub-Saharan Africa countries put at 68 gigawats is still less than that of Spain .Power constraint according to the corporate sector is still the leading nightmare and apart from South Africa power consumption is barely a percent 1% of the high income countries.
                                               THE STATE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN NIGERIA
Mordern infrastructure  development  started way back  in the colonial era  marred with a long winding road of unsteady and uneven development .The main exclusive role of the British colonial masters was to intergrate the national boundaries into external trade through the provision of transport infrasport.This facilitated mass invesmnet in rail,roads ,port  meant to evacuate domestic products from the hinterland to link them to local agricultural produce to foreign market  and ensure in exchange the safe delivery of imported manufactured goods.The total  road network by 1950 stood at 4,400km  while the rail network stood at 3,505km narrow gauge track was completed in 1930 and linked lagoa to kano , and then Port Harcourt ..CBN,2003].The size of domestic trade provides stimulus  for low road network expansion of the period .