Our state of road infrastructure has once more come to the fore with the latest report from SB Morgem Intelligence, painting a grim picture of the nation’s roads, which no longer serve the basic transportation needs but has become source of grave danger to lives and the national economy.
This crisis is not just about lives lost in preventable accidents; it is also about national development being stifled by an inadequate infrastructure system. Roads that should facilitate the movement of goods and people are, instead, preventing progress and trapping the country in a round of embarrassing situation.
We are concerned that critical routes, once germane to the nation’s economic flow now rival the infamous Abuja-Kaduna highway in terms of insecurity, undermining the nation’s commitment to infrastructure development. Cities like Lagos, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt, which serve as economic lifelines have become hotspots for insecurity and infrastructure collapse.
It is disturbing that the economic consequences of this horrible road network are worrisome. According to the SBM report, nearly half of transport operators face higher maintenance costs and shorter vehicle life spans due to the appalling state of the roads. These increased costs, compounded by persistent insecurity, have driven transport fares to unsustainable levels, with 85.7% of operators raising prices just to stay afloat.
This is not the only burdens average Nigerians are facing even as same cripple the productivity of businesses, particularly those dependent on road transport for the movement of goods. When roads become impassable, when hours are wasted in traffic due to poor road conditions, and when markets are inaccessible, the country’s economy falters, and growth is stifled.
Perhaps even more alarming is the persistent disconnect between the vast sums of money allocated annually for road construction and maintenance and the increasingly dilapidated state of these vital infrastructures. The government continues to allocate billions of Naira for road projects, yet the results remain largely invisible. This discrepancy raises serious questions about the transparency and accountability in road construction projects. The human cost of this crisis cannot be underestimated. The report’s reference to “countless lives lost in preventable accidents” speaks to the tragedy of the situation. Each fatality is more than just a statistic; it represents families torn apart, businesses disrupted, and communities scarred. Yet these deaths, though preventable, have become a routine part of the Nigerian experience.
We not only respond to this concern but show the urgency deserved. There must be an immediate and comprehensive security response along Nigeria’s most dangerous routes. An increased police presence, alongside the deployment of modern surveillance technologies, can make a significant difference in ensuring the safety of travellers. The successful reduction in security incidents along the Abuja-Kaduna route should serve as a model for other high-risk highways.
However, security alone is not enough. A comprehensive audit of road infrastructure spending over the past decade must be conducted. The findings of this audit should serve as a basis for instituting a transparent, technology-driven system for monitoring road construction and maintenance projects. It is clear that without such accountability, billions of Naira will continue to be wasted, and the roads will remain in their perilous state.
Furthermore, Nigeria must move towards embracing public-private partnerships ,PPPs, for road infrastructure development. The current model of entirely government-funded projects has proven ineffective and inefficient. Additionally, accountability must be instilled at every level. Officials responsible for the state of the roads must be held to the highest standards.
Road maintenance should not be compromised on the flimsy excuse of lack of budgetary provisions . There must be clear consequences for failing to maintain roads to acceptable standards, and the public must see that those responsible are held accountable, especially if funds have been allocated. The path forward requires a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders: government agencies, private companies, local communities, and civil society.
Indeed, we call for collaboration with proper responsibility to check the crisis. We join other stakeholders to stress that the numerous challenges we face should not undermine our commitment to some reasonable road network.
