Nigeria’s worsening road conditions have become a major burden for motorists, transport operators, businesses and travellers, raising fresh questions about the country’s infrastructure priorities.
Across several major highways, motorists face deep potholes, prolonged gridlock, vehicle breakdowns and, in some cases, days of delays before reaching their destinations.
Nigeria has an estimated 195,000 to 200,000 kilometres of roads, but only about 60,000 kilometres are paved. With such a large network requiring maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction, government must carefully prioritise projects that deliver the greatest immediate benefit.
The Bida-Lapai Road in Niger State is one example. The badly deteriorated 70-kilometre route has reportedly left motorists and truck drivers stranded in traffic for several days. In some areas, road users have even contributed money towards emergency repairs.
The consequences go beyond inconvenience. Trucks delayed on major roads increase transport costs, affect the movement of food and raw materials and create losses for businesses that depend on reliable supply chains.
The Federal Government has said more than 80 federal highways are under construction or dualisation, while billions of naira have also been committed to infrastructure.
Large projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway may have long-term economic value, but they should not come at the expense of critical roads already serving millions of Nigerians.
Nigeria must also reduce the pressure on its roads by investing heavily in rail transportation, particularly for long-distance passenger and freight movement.
A stronger rail network would help reduce congestion, lower logistics costs and extend the lifespan of major highways.
The country therefore needs a more balanced infrastructure strategy that combines new projects with aggressive maintenance of existing roads. Federal and state governments must also strengthen oversight of contractors and ensure only technically capable companies are entrusted with major projects.
