Forum tasks engineers on solutions to transportation, infrastructure challenge

A municipal infrastructure development expert, Engr. Aileme Unuigbe, has urged Engineers to collaborate with the state government to put in place physical development plans to bridge transportation and infrastructure challenges in Lagos State.
Unuigbe, also a member of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) Lagos Chapter, gave the advice during the first webinar series of the Institution to mark Dr Tunde Olatunji’s Distinguished Public Lecture and 66th birthday in Lagos.
Theme of the lecture is: “Practical Solutions to the Acute Road and Transportation Problem in Lagos State’’
The expert said that population and infrastructural development were the most important reflecting elements that form the Lagos Mega City.
According to him, Engineers have vital roles to play in the infrastructural development of the state.
Unuigbe therefore, called for periodic upgrading and rehabilitation of infrastructure across the state to increase their life span, while making plans to provide more infrastructure to accommodate the teaming population of the state.
He said that facilities like roads, bridges, canals and drainages were usually overstretched with urban growth and were often left unattended to over the years.
“Most of the facilities in big cities like Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Kano and Ibadan were already over stretched.
“Irrespective of the overstretch or usage of these facilities due to urban growth, the facilities can still stand the test of time and serve their purposes if properly maintained, upgraded and rehabilitated when necessary.
“Rehabilitation and proper maintenance will have great impact on the infrastructure and can help to elongate its life span,’’ he said.
Also speaking, the Corps Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, urged the road users particularly the commercial drivers to learn to observe and obey traffic signals.
Ogungbemide said that the abuse of road and vehicle by commercial bus operators (Danfo and Keke Drivers) was the main complicating factor of the worsening traffic condition on Lagos roads.
According to him, road infrastructure capacity deficit, design deficiencies of road infrastructure, road pavement failure and collapse, acute shortage of organised Intra-City bus system, illiterate Drivers and Increasing drug and Alcohol use among motorists are other factors contributing to acute road and transportation problem in Lagos State.
“We have not been using our roads in a disciplined manner. We have not been able to monitor the use of the Right of way on our Roads and Highways.
“We have not effectively monitor the axle loads on our roads. Our people apply excessive axle loads on our road pavements and this is the major reason why the pavements fail few years after construction.
“Our road users have not been fair to the roads as they indiscriminately burn rubber and oil products on the pavements.
“We must plan for the road and device means to reduce the traffic gridlock; if everyone will observe and obey the traffic signals, we will be able to manage the traffic well or ease out the traffic at any point in time,” Ogungbemide said.
The Celebrant, Dr Tunde Olatunji in his response appreciated the Institution for honouring his 66th birthday and Distinguished Public Lecture.
Olatunji said that the lecture should be a platform for addressing and proffering solutions to infrastructural challenges facing both the state and the nation at large.
“Our plan is to make Lagos State number one of the most liveable states in the world.
“This can be achieved through enhanced infrastructural development.
“I hope that the workshop will add value to infrastructural development of the state so as to make it a true mega city,” he said.
Earlier, the Institution’s Chairman, Mrs Omolola Adetona, said that Mega City like Lagos always faced with the problem of traffic management and limited road network system.
Adetona noted that transportation was a key enabler of every nation’s economic growth/development and urged the government to ensure provision of the enabling environment to aid smooth operation of the Engineers and transformation of the state’s transportation system.