Nigeria's Road Construction Needs Urgent Reevaluation

The article discusses the need for Nigeria to reassess its road construction methods, particularly for long-distance projects like the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway, awarded to Juliu Berger Nigeria PLC on December 20, 2017, with a completion date set for November 2024. Delays and cost disputes have plagued the project, prompting the federal government to re-award the contract to Infoquest Infouest Nigeria Ltd, which is reportedly progressing at a faster pace.

Similarly, the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, awarded in July 2013 to Juliu Berger Nigeria PLC and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) for a cost of 167 billion Naira, has not been fully completed after 13 years, causing significant traffic congestion. The article suggests adopting a segmented approach to road construction, allowing multiple contractors to work simultaneously on different sections, which could improve efficiency, reduce delays, and enhance competition among firms.

This method could also strengthen local construction capacity and improve overall road quality, thereby accelerating economic growth.