Lagos engineers set up highways arm, urge maintenance culture

Apparently to address the problem of road transport infrastructure in the country, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Lagos chapter, has formally inaugurated a new body, Nigerian Institution of Highways and Transportation Engineering (NIHTE).

Although, the body, which was created in 2013 as the 19th Division of the Nigerian society of Engineers, is now saddled with the responsibility of transforming the nation’s highway sector that centered on road safety, compliance monitoring, assets management, financing and capacity building for the professionals.

Speaking at the event held at the University of Lagos, the Managing Director, Delran Nigerian Company, Adenuga Opanuga, an engineer, noted that for effective highway reform, there must be policy formulation that would involve all stakeholders at all levels.

According to Opanuga, who spoke on the theme: “Highway Management and Challenges in Urban areas in Nigeria, Past, Present and Future”, a plan of action must be devised for each department, especially, the planning and construction proper, noting that policies must be reviewed regularly and not in line of political, tribe or religion, but in the interest of the Nigerian people.

Citing his experiences while in public service, Opanuga revealed that politics sometimes was taking pre-eminence over professional advice and competence, noting that urban roads are badly constructed and not maintained at all, with allocated funds being mismanaged.

He listed factors that affecting highway management to include inconsistency of government policy on highway and transportation, indiscipline exhibited by truck drivers, lack of adequate resources and manpower, increase in the intensity of traffic, without corresponding road networks, among others.
Besides, he listed the increase in the number of heavy-duty trucks conveying goods from one part of the country to another, a responsibility that would have been effectively carrying out by using rail transportation.

“With these litany of causes, what one would recommend are that there should be regular assessment of our highways, with missions and objectives of planning, design and construction departments be properly analysed to determine their roles in achieving common goal of good and safe highway for the people of Nigeria”, he advised, noting that one of the essential activities required to ensure that funds devoted for road management can be achieved by effective maintenance of both the highway and drainage structure.

He said delay in maintenance would result not only in expensive reconstruction and rehabilitation, but would also have adverse effect on national development.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of NSE, Mr. Dayo Oluyemi, also an engineer, noted that the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transport Engineering that was finally established in November 2013, was founded upon the principles of Nigerian Society of Engineers’ action and modeled after other society’s divisions.

“There is need to acknowledge the efforts of some key engineers without whose efforts the establishment of this institution would have ended up like a mere dream. The establishment of this institution is timely and necessary.

“Therefore, we seek the support and cooperation of all relevant bodies towards the actualization of her vision aiming at bringing about development of the Nigerian Highway and Transportation Engineering”.

In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of newly inaugurated Lagos Chapter NIHTE, Dr. Adeoye Olowofoyeku, reiterated the determination of his team to ensure that the goal and objective of the body are achieved.

“We realized our mission that NIHTE members plan, design, build, operate and maintain best-in-class transport system and infrastructure. The institution supports its members’ professional aspirations by providing routes to professional qualification, networking opportunities and developmental events. These we are doing and continue to do”.

The newly inaugurated executive members include Ayotunde Ogunoiki, Vice-Chairman, Oluwole Kolade, General secretary, H.A Atukale, assistant secretary.