It seems that the solution for every problem in Nigeria is 'more funding' 'more commissions' 'more directors' 'more task forces' 'more budget'.
The capacity for critical problem solving seems to be neglected or absent in all junctions and this is why we're facing the exact same problems we've been facing since independence.
Many of them can be solved for free.

We've grown so accustomed to this laziness that we jubilation whenever we hear that the government "increased the budget for (insert a favored department). As if throwing more money at educations creates quality graduates better teachers and a more productive education system. One of the places where critical problem solving seems to evade us is in the department of roads. I'm tired of celebrating someone 'building a road' because clearly that's not enough. We have seen roads arise and roads fall in a matter for months, but the solution always seems to be 'build another one' when in reality nobody is thinking hard enough to say 'build a better one', so that we don't have our entire road infrastructure dilapidated every 11 months.

Here's an example of critical problem solving

Roads

Problem: They don't last, they constantly erode and break, and are seldom fixed on time.
Patterns: roads in southern nigeria last a short amount of time than roads in northern nigeria and roads in south east and south south nigeria last a shorter amount of time than roads in western nigeria
Roads also typically fall apart after rainy season.


theory: with southeast and south south nigeria proving to be the reason with the most recurring problems with roads, and the most moist portion of Nigeria, moisture, not corruption, seems to be the most consistent poor roads in the counter. I also believe that the absorption and rejection of water from going into extreme moisture to dryness (hamattan) causes the cracking and erosion

why: Moisture and humidity (which is a lingering of moisture in the air) cause an osmosis effect whereby our roads actually absorb water and release water frequently. This causes the road to morph and bend more often, breaking the bonds the concert had formed and leading to the roads themselves having a shorter life span. Cultural factors also play part as people in Nigeria are very cost conscious and thus use the cheapest cement possible, and mix in an excessive amount of sand so that a single bag 'lasts longer'. this creates a situation where the roads are more susceptible to rain and humidity because they're made of glorified mud.

possible solutions

Curved roads: If our roads consistently have a slight curve to them water would not be able to build up on top of them and instead roll off to the sides when it comes in large amounts (rain)
Water resistant chemicals: mixing chemicals that reject water in with our cement will ensure the final solution rejects water to a greater extent as well. All of the leaves in our environment have a water persistent coating. this is why leaves in the tropics form bubbles when water hits them, the same way a surface covered in gasoline, plastic or petroleum would do the same, because they're all water resistant


and this is how they have adapted to survive in the tropics. If a plant can figure it out i don't know why we as human beings can't.


This is the value of education. Commission our universities to do this the way we've commissioned them to do national anthems and draw coats of arms. This is how you solve a problem.

Moisture absorption is also the primary factor effecting our

paint (causing cities to look old and run down)
rusting of metals (which if we respected ourselves we wouldn't be using to build when cheaper alloys have been invented that don't rust
crumbling of buildings (especially when we cheat ourselves by using little amounts of cement and lots of sand)
and
our food security (crops that don't originate from tropical environments dont have water resistant genetics that keep them from being destroyed like crops that do causing crop failure and fast rotting)

Thank you for your suggestions on how to make our roads last longer. Unfortunately, we dont get to see many SOLUTION-providing articles or documentaries either in the main stream media or new media. What we see per seconds in Nigeria are criticisms,criticisms and condemnation. No solutions.
In addition to your suggestions, I think the federal ministry of works and FERMA cannot effectively manage the tens of thousands of kilometers of federal roads that cris-cross this country. The power and funds to maintain all roads should be devolved to the states. The states are closer to these roads and will better maintain them. Alternatively, an independent road management authority may be created in the 6 geo-political zones and charged with maintenance of feederal roads in their domain.
However we chose to do it, the present arrangement for management of federal roads is completely DYSFUNCTIONAL and has to be changed.
Also, in terms of materials for road construction, the southeast and southsouth roads will last longer if constructed with cement/concrete. Experts say the cost of constructing concrete roads is only about 10% or so more expensive than bitumen.

In addition to all you wrote above, our failed railway system and consequent 100% use of our "moist" roads for transport of heavy products is a catalyst to eroding our roads.

^very true.

There are a lot of commuters in Nigeria with no option than to drive. Cargo, humans, etc.
There's hardly ever sidewalks even for them to walk. Common sidewalks.
Everyone has to drive or walk on the road, and there's not enough roads to even hold the amount of ppl we have and need them.

There are technical solutions to these problems - at least in terms of roads. This is what happens when you allow racist germany to build nigga roads. Keep deceiving yourselves. Nigeria's folly would kill Nigerians only. You don't want to study your environment but you want to copy everything. These people know nothing about our environment; and they dont give a fvck. In a year, it costs you billions to completely rebuild a road, you built last year. And you don't see a problem with that. Is it so hard to build proper drainage systems; and use materials adapted to your climate for construction of your roads. What has your schools being doing for the past fvcking 60 years. Your young men are jobless, though there is a lot of work to be done. CHUKWU would punish us, the educated/middle class/ or rich Nigerians; for wasting our meagre resources and condemning other Nigerians to extreme poverty. I have repented, have you. KELE CHUKWU.

ebere1712: There are technical solutions to these problems - at least in terms of roads. This is what happens when you allow racist germany to build nigga roads. Keep deceiving yourselves. Nigeria's folly would kill Nigerians only. You don't want to study your environment but you want to copy everything. These people know nothing about our environment; and they dont give a fvck. In a year, it costs you billions to completely rebuild a road, you built last year. And you don't see a problem with that. Is it so hard to build proper drainage systems; and use materials adapted to your climate for construction of your roads. What has your schools being doing for the past fvcking 60 years. Your young men are jobless, though there is a lot of work to be done. CHUKWU would punish us, the educated/middle class/ or rich Nigerians; for wasting our meagre resources and condemning other Nigerians to extreme poverty. I have repented, have you. KELE CHUKWU.

I KNOW!
Our 'academics' and 'intellectuals' are just as useless as our leaders!!
How many engineering students are produced per annum and why hasn't a single one of them been able to ENGINEER a solution to simple problems that anyone with 2 eyes can see!?
People keep talking about education, education. Only 2% of our graduates are educated, the rest are just using their degree to do chieftancy titles by force. It means nothing.

With all the medical students we have there are little to no medical breakthroughs. My state alone can boast more universities than many african states, yet nothing has been researched, invented, innovated, let alone SOLVED.


Even the biafran army was able to make refineries with 0 resources, and we banished their scientists so that they can go to the US and innovate while we sit at home and pay germans 1 billion dollars something that a nigerian did for free once upon a time.





We don't know how to think. That's the problem. Corruption and the rest are just a detail. Even if the government was honest and accountable, if it's too stupid to build a common sidewalk we're still doomed.

ebere1712: There are technical solutions to these problems - at least in terms of roads. This is what happens when you allow racist germany to build nigga roads. Keep deceiving yourselves. Nigeria's folly would kill Nigerians only. You don't want to study your environment but you want to copy everything. These people know nothing about our environment; and they dont give a fvck. In a year, it costs you billions to completely rebuild a road, you built last year. And you don't see a problem with that. Is it so hard to build proper drainage systems; and use materials adapted to your climate for construction of your roads. What has your schools being doing for the past fvcking 60 years. Your young men are jobless, though there is a lot of work to be done. CHUKWU would punish us, the educated/middle class/ or rich Nigerians; for wasting our meagre resources and condemning other Nigerians to extreme poverty. I have repented, have you. KELE CHUKWU.

Until we start demanding respect from these people. There would be no progress. Until we demand an open, fair and completely published bidding process for all government contracts; we would continue to pay premium for sub-standard infrastructure. Until we demand equal opportunities for both small and large firms in bidding design; we would continue to be dependent on foreign firms to prosecute contracts. Everything in Nigeria is more expensive than is obtainable else where (especially when it comes to government contracts). We have designed our systems to be dependent on others. We have excluded ourselves. We have done all these things by failing in the responsibility of taking back our country. We have left it to the hands of foreign God's (their smartest tool). We have accepted poverty. If we don't change these things, because of our fear or small-mindedness; we would pass down the same dysfunctional systems of servitude to our kids. Violent revolution - NO (They have more guns in pentagon). Social revolution - YES (our minds are our greatest might). Stop worshipping pink jesus or pink moh. When we rediscover ourselves; we would by default be free. No body can kill a mighty mind. KELE CHUKWU