The Plight of Nigerian Roads: Journey Through Neglect, Despair

On the 28th of August, 2024, I embarked on what should have been a routine journey to attend a conference organized by the Global Teachers Assembly at Babcock University in Ogun State. The event, titled: Emerge – Teachers, Technology, and Global Opportunities, was a beacon of hope for educational practitioners across the nation. However, the journey there and back turned into a harrowing experience, revealing the dire state of Nigerian roads.

The roads from Warri to Benin, a stretch of highway that should be a vital artery for commerce and travel, are nothing short of death traps. Potholes large enough to swallow vehicles whole, crumbling asphalt, and treacherous stretches that have been long forgotten by maintenance crews make this route a nightmare for motorists. The journey from Benin to Ogun State, while slightly better, was still marred by poor road conditions that made travel uncomfortable and dangerous.

After the conference, my journey continued to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where I was to be formally inducted as an associate fellow to the Chartered Institute of Educational Practitioners UK (CIEPUK). The roads from Ibadan to Osun State were somewhat better, yet still fraught with challenges. The link to Kogi State, however, was another story—virtually impassable, except for the stretch nearing Abuja.

Choosing to return home by road instead of the train was, in hindsight, a grave mistake. The road from Gwagwalada heading towards Kogi was a continuous series of hazards, with every mile presenting a new danger. The journey from Kogi to Edo State was equally grueling, a test of endurance that would leave any vehicle battered and any traveler mentally and physically drained.

By the time I reached Auchi, it became clear that completing the journey to Benin City was not feasible. The road had simply ceased to exist in any usable form. This left me stranded, as did countless other travelers, forced to navigate alternative routes through villages where the roads were only marginally better. Even after maneuvering through these lesser-known paths, the journey from Benin to Warri was a final, unforgiving trial. The route was clogged with long queues of tanker trucks, each driver trying to find a way through the impassable highways. Many of us, myself included, ended up sleeping in filling stations, unable to continue until the next day.

The core issue that troubles me—and should trouble every Nigerian—is the government’s apparent refusal to address these severe infrastructure problems. Nigerian roads, which should be the lifeblood of national connectivity and economic growth, have been allowed to decay to the point of being dangerous. The situation is untenable; the government must take immediate and decisive action to repair and maintain these roads. They owe this to the people who elected them and who rely on these roads for their daily lives.

The cost of this neglect is not just in damaged vehicles and delayed journeys. It is measured in lives lost to avoidable accidents, in the stress and strain that long and perilous travel inflicts on the body and mind, and in the economic toll of disrupted commerce and travel. Since my return, I have struggled to recover from the exhaustion and trauma of the journey, a toll that no one should have to bear simply for traveling within their own country.

The government must be held accountable for the state of our roads. As they continue to neglect these vital infrastructures, the gap between those who can afford to fly and those who must endure the roads grows ever wider. This is not just about roads; it is about the basic responsibility of governance. It is about the safety, well-being, and dignity of every Nigerian who deserves better than the torment these journeys have become.

The state of Nigerian roads is a crisis that demands immediate attention. Until our leaders prioritize infrastructure, the lives of ordinary Nigerians will remain at risk every time they take to the roads. We must continue to raise our voices and demand the roads we deserve—roads that are safe, well-maintained, and accessible to all.

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