Across many African cities, glass towers and luxury apartments are multiplying, projecting an image of modernization and economic progress. However, this rapid vertical expansion is occurring without the necessary corresponding upgrades to essential underground infrastructure, such as sewage, drainage, and water systems, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability and liveability of these burgeoning urban centers. The trend, observed in cities like Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, and Johannesburg, highlights a critical disconnect between visible construction and the fundamental systems that keep cities functioning.
Confusing Construction with Development
Visible construction activity, marked by rising cranes and rapid concrete assembly, is increasingly being mistaken for genuine urban development. While developers advertise modern lifestyles, true urban progress is measured by the resilience and sustainability of the systems supporting growth, not solely by the height of buildings. A twenty-storey building connected to a weak sewage network or unreliable drainage infrastructure signifies fragile progress and transfers future risks to upcoming generations.
This misinterpretation is captured by the adage,
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