Highway, Transportation Engineers proffer solution to bad road network in Nigeria

… Task Govt to localize roads construction, infrastructure management in reference to standardised codes

By Matthew Denis

The Nigeria Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) has fine-tuned solutions to the problem of bad roads in Nigeria.

Speaking to Journalists at the end of the four days training workshop on “Managing Road Infrastructure Assets” by the Nigeria Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) in collaboration with the International Road Federation (IRF) on Friday, the National Chairman of NIHTE, Engr. Saidu Hassan said, “We have capable trained engineers that can manage the road assets but our basic problem that we highlighted in this seasoned and thought-provoking programme is funding because it’s the major constraint and we’ll not get the right funding on the road until we have done the road reforms.

“If the road reforms are done then we’ll get the right funding and when we get the right funding our roads will be in good shape. Just like any infrastructure we allow our roads to wind off their lifecycle before we start thinking of maintenance.

“Road Maintenance starts from day one but our policy makers and leaders have not paid so much attention to maintenance. We, as engineers don’t provide the funds but work for government agencies and the private sectors therefore, the government budgetary provision should make provision for maintenance.

“Why we are talking about road reforms is because it will provide an opportunity for the private sector to be involved in maintenance and construction so that it won’t be the issue of the government alone.”

The Chairman compared the road situation to the previous NITEL and MTEL in the telecommunication sector noting that everybody today has access to telecommunication when it was unbundled as private sectors invested for profit delivery with effective and efficiency through reformation.

He said, “if road reforms are done the private sector will be interested in investing to ensure monitoring and maintenance for service delivery. There is no way you can run from bad road if the right thing is not done.”

The NIHTE Boss tasked engineers to operate within the ethical standard of the profession in ensuring that road projects are executed within the specifications.

He said, “In all our practices we are guided by codes, standard and specifications, contracts agreement and scope. All Engineers should operate within this framework to ensure road projects are qualitative to meet the durable time in such a way that they don’t compromise, but do the right thing. We are guided by standard, that’s the gospel we’re always preaching to them.”

The National Secretary General, NIHTE, Engr. Bola Mudasiru, said, “We had a very deep and robust brainstorming training session during the programme, and so I expected every participant to have increased their knowledge in terms of Roads Infrastructure Assets Management (RIAM).

“This is based on analysis of road data in relation to inventory, condition, traffic, cost, road deterioration models, expectancy of roads design life; and what is deliverable expectation in reference to the past, present and the future of roads and infrastructures.”

In comparison of Nigerian roads with global standards, Pioneer National Chairman of NIHTE, Engr. Dr. Isa Emoabino said, “on highway acquisition the problem we discovered is that our roads Infrastructures are below the international standards, and so we meet to proffer remedies to meet that standard.

“It is obvious that you cannot compare the roads that were constructed about 10 years ago to now but we are working assiduously and collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that our roads contracts are qualitative and meet the standard.”

On the expectations of Nigerians on experiencing better roads network in the future, Engineer Mudasiru emphasised, “We expect that the public demand for more in terms of professionalism and I want to say that we are capable of managing any form of road project in terms of construction and maintenance; and we are ready for any form of professional challenges in terms of contracts executions with the full backing from the government at all level.”

He stressed that Nigerian Engineers are recognised internationally and have what it takes for any design and construction, therefore solutions to solving  road and infrastructure challenges should be localised by government agencies thereby patronising the indigenous engineers.

“Of course, construction and managing road infrastructure should be localised in reference to codes and standards. The adherence to professionalism, specifications, codes, standards are the basic ingredients for sustainable road infrastructure delivery.

“As situation here are conditioned with regards to climate change, environment, axle loads, prevailing subgrade conditions, maintenance scheme during the pavement lifecycle, construction processes and supervision, funding for project/disbursement and construction materials selection are different from other climes, so it’s important that we localise solutions to Nigerian problems in projects delivery.”