Good road network key to Africa’s socio-economic development

Lazarus Sauti

Lack of adequate transport systems is one of the major factors hampering development in countries within and across the African continent.

This is so because without good roads, it is difficult for Africa and her citizenry to have socially inclusive development interventions.

Lilian Kiefer, the executive director of Panos Institute Southern Africa, believes the socio-economic development and subsequent economic growth of any nation is strongly linked to its transport infrastructure.

“The level and quality of transportation systems in any area are of crucial significance in influencing political, economic and social progress, and these must be considered at every stage of local, national and regional development planning,” says Kiefer.

This means improved road networks bring many benefits for local communities and these take in improved accessibility to social infrastructure (schools, churches and health centres), increased access to education and health facilities and improved social interaction and mobility.

Importantly, improved access to social infrastructure is critical so socio-economic development.
Considering all the benefits of good road networks, transport infrastructure should be accorded priority in the catalogue of development projects by African governments in order to transform the living conditions of Africans.