Constitutionalising Infrastructure Governance

Legal–Strategic Policy Integration for Sustainable National Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Infrastructure is a foundational pillar of national development; however, the governance architecture underpinning its planning and delivery in Nigeria is often characterised by fragmentation, politicisation, and implementation gaps. This study critically examines whether infrastructural policy in Nigeria is most effective when expressed as a binding legal framework, a strategic master plan, or a hybrid of both. Employing a qualitative, doctrinal, and comparative research design, the paper analyses statutory instruments and planning documents from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. The analysis is framed by Institutional Theory, New Public Management, and Developmental State Theory. Findings reveal that purely strategic blueprints, such as Nigeria's National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP), while visionary, lack the enforceability and continuity required to withstand political transitions and administrative changes. By contrast, legal frameworks such as the UK's Planning Act and Singapore's statutory master plans provide regulatory clarity, cross-party legitimacy, and institutional resilience. The paper proposes that Nigeria adopt a hybrid model by elevating infrastructural policy to a constitutional-like status through the enactment of a National Infrastructure Development Act. This would codify planning instruments into law, institutionalise implementation structures, and secure long-term alignment with national and global development goals. The recommendations include legislative codification, enhanced intergovernmental coordination, targeted capacity building, and judicial recognition of infrastructure as a public good. By advancing a governance model that transcends partisan, ethnic, and administrative divides, the study offers a durable framework for infrastructure-led national transformation in Nigeria and other comparable developmental contexts.