The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute expressed concern about contractors in the country bringing in low-quality construction materials, which they say are a major problem for the quality and durability of roads.
The agency also mentioned that contractors are able to bring in substandard materials because they are not required to undergo testing.
Prof. Samson Duna, the Director General of NBRRI, made this statement during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Highway Institution and Transportation Engineers in Abuja.
Duna noted that the agency, responsible for conducting technical research on suitable building and road construction design, has observed this trend and urged road contractors to stop using such materials.
He mentioned, 'Our roads are failing because we use untested inferior materials. NBRRI has one of the best laboratories in the country for civil engineering equipment, yet these subpar materials are being imported.'
Duna also emphasized NBRRI's advanced laboratories for civil engineering equipment compared to other institutions and research agencies in the country.
He added, 'NBRRI has imported a lot of equipment in the past three years and is reaching out to partner with NHITE to use this material for road construction. Using standard materials will result in longer-lasting, durable roads with lower maintenance needs.'
The DG revealed that the institute has conducted extensive research on various roads such as the Enugu Portharcourt Road, Bauchi-Gombe Road, and Bauchi Kano Road.
He explained, 'We found that low-quality materials were used in the construction of these roads. The construction process was not followed properly, the raw materials and road construction lattice were of poor quality, and the compaction level was not adhered to. The drainage systems have also failed.'
Duna also addressed the importance of maintenance, stating, 'Every structure needs to be maintained. If we neglect maintenance today, it will lead to bigger issues tomorrow. This is crucial for the sustainability of our roads.'
Duna mentioned that the institute will organize a capacity training program to discuss the use of rigid or pavement.
He added, 'We plan to conduct a comprehensive and practical training using our lab equipment to produce and field-test materials. This hands-on training is designed to go beyond theory and include practical demonstrations.'
National Chairman of NHITE, Hassan Saidu, emphasized the importance of collaboration to improve the quality of road construction in the country.
He said, "We are here to strengthen our partnership with NBRRI in terms of local and international training, technical visits to project sites, and career talks to schools involving our team and NBRRI team."
Saidu noted that they also planned to carry out some of the research projects they did with the institute.
