Abstract
This study examined the effect of infrastructure development on business growth in semi-urban areas of Nigeria, with evidence drawn from selected local government areas in Imo State. The study was motivated by the growing concern that infrastructural deficiencies continue to constrain enterprise expansion despite increasing commercial activities within semi-urban communities. Infrastructure development was operationalized through transportation infrastructure, electricity supply, water and sanitation infrastructure, market infrastructure and digital connectivity, while business growth was measured using sales growth, customer patronage, operational efficiency, employment generation and business sustainability. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A population of 1,734 owners and managers of small and medium-scale enterprises was identified across selected semi-urban local government areas, while a sample size of 325 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression analysis with the aid of SPSS version 26 at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that all dimensions of infrastructure development exert significant positive effects on business growth. Transportation infrastructure (β = 0.301) and digital connectivity (β = 0.274) emerged as the strongest predictors, followed by market infrastructure (β = 0.259), electricity supply (β = 0.238) and water and sanitation infrastructure (β = 0.187). The regression model explained 64.6% of the variation in business growth (R² = 0.646). The study concluded that sustainable business growth in semi-urban Nigeria depends substantially on the availability, reliability and integration of infrastructural facilities. The study recommends increased investment in transportation systems, stable electricity supply, digital infrastructure and integrated infrastructure planning to support enterprise sustainability and inclusive economic development.