Causes and Possible Solutions to Road Failure in Nigeria

Abstract

Cracks, defects and potholes characterize Nigerian roads. It is difficult to travel a long kilometer without coming across defects on the road, which has resulted in severe challenges and fatal accidents in Nigeria. The individual road has its life expectancy. In most cases, some roads fail before the expected service life. Some failures are noticed immediately after construction, some are observed after flood ing, and some failures are revealed as a result of a poor drainage system, while a few others could serve their purpose and life expectancy as a result of adequate mainte nance. In Nigeria, transportation via road is an inexpensive and efficient means of transportation for the masses as other transport systems are too expensive or not mature for commercial services. In most cases, the presence of unrestrained axle loads on most of the road networks in Nigeria has resulted in a reduction in the life expectancy of these roads. This chapter briefly reviews the causes of road failure in Nigeria and possible solutions.