The Federal Government has been urged to place innovation at the centre of infrastructure development if Nigeria is to overcome its deepening crisis of failing roads and crumbling airport runways. The call was made by Isaac Oyawoye, a Nigerian concrete engineer who is currently engaged in advanced research for the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In a statement shared with The SOURCE, Oyawoye stressed that Nigeria must urgently shift from outdated construction practices to modern, performance-driven methods if the country hopes to achieve lasting infrastructure. “We must move beyond old methods and embrace tools that guarantee durability. Innovation is key to cutting waste and improving safety,” he said.
He noted that much of Nigeria’s infrastructure suffers from early failures because of reliance on traditional prescriptive specifications, which focus on rigid standards like slump and compressive strength tests rather than long-term performance. “We must test the properties that truly matter, and the solution lies in shifting from prescriptive to performance-based specifications. Durability should not be left to chance. We now have the tools to get it right from the very beginning,” Oyawoye explained.
At the heart of his recommendation is the adoption of Performance Engineered Mixtures (PEM), an innovative method in pavement engineering. PEM involves tailoring concrete mixtures to meet specific performance requirements under real-world conditions, ensuring stronger, longer-lasting, and safer pavements. According to him, this approach can help Nigeria build roads and airport runways that endure stress and resist deterioration far better than current methods allow.
Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges are well documented. Across the country, many federal and state roads deteriorate within a few years of construction. Airport runways also face recurring damage, posing safety concerns for airlines and passengers. Experts warn that these failures come at a heavy cost — not only in terms of public spending but also in lost productivity, accidents, and reduced investor confidence.
Oyawoye, who has decades of experience in concrete materials and pavement engineering, has worked with global partners to translate cutting-edge research into practical solutions. His track record in bridging laboratory innovation with field application has made him a respected voice in performance-based infrastructure design. Industry experts describe him as an innovator who does not merely envision better systems but actively develops methods to achieve them.
He emphasised that the economic cost of inaction is too high for Nigeria to ignore. “Every failed pavement comes at a huge cost, not just in money, but in safety and lost productivity,” he said. “If we want lasting value for the billions spent on infrastructure, performance-based design is the way forward.”
His intervention comes at a time when the Federal Government is investing heavily in road construction and airport rehabilitation projects. However, concerns remain that without innovation, much of the spending will fail to deliver lasting results. Nigeria’s road transport sector, which carries more than 90 per cent of passengers and goods, continues to suffer from poor quality pavements that collapse under heavy use. Similarly, Nigeria’s aviation sector is grappling with cracked runways that cost billions to repair and disrupt airline operations.
Oyawoye believes the adoption of PEM could significantly cut long-term maintenance costs while improving safety and reliability. For Nigeria, he said, it offers a pathway to safer and more resilient infrastructure. “As the country modernises its transport systems, PEM could help ensure runways and roads that last longer, cost less to maintain, and better serve the economy,” he said.
By integrating performance-based specifications into road and aviation projects, the government would not only save money but also improve public trust in infrastructure delivery. Experts say that beyond saving billions lost to premature failures, innovative approaches like PEM could position Nigeria as a leader in modern construction practices in Africa.
The call by Oyawoye adds to growing voices urging policymakers to embrace innovation in engineering and construction. For a country battling deteriorating infrastructure and rising repair costs, the choice between old methods and performance-driven solutions may well determine the success of Nigeria’s development agenda.
