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As Nigeria ramps up investments in roads, housing, commercial buildings and industrial infrastructure, engineering experts have warned that the country’s biggest challenge is no longer funding projects but ensuring they are built to deliver long-term value.

Chief Executive Officer of Lynxx Engineering, Ademola Richards, said infrastructure should be judged by its durability and ability to serve communities and businesses over its intended lifespan, rather than the speed at which projects are completed.

Speaking against the backdrop of increasing public and private sector spending on infrastructure, Richards noted that many projects begin to deteriorate prematurely due to poor planning, inadequate engineering standards and cost-cutting during construction.

“Infrastructure should not be measured by the speed at which it is delivered. It should be measured by how effectively it serves people and businesses over time,” he said.

According to him, while Nigeria continues to channel significant resources into infrastructure development, many roads, drainage systems and buildings fail long before their expected lifespan, resulting in repeated rehabilitation costs, disruptions to economic activities and reduced returns on investment.

Richards attributed the problem to a growing tendency to prioritise short-term cost savings over long-term performance.

“There is often pressure to reduce costs at the beginning of a project. But when critical engineering requirements are ignored, those savings can disappear many times over through maintenance, repairs and reconstruction,” he said.

He urged project developers to view infrastructure as long-term assets, stressing that adequate investment in site investigations, engineering design, quality assurance and project supervision ultimately reduces lifecycle costs.

The engineering expert also expressed concern over the increasing number of building failures across the country, saying many structural defects originate from poor foundation planning.

He explained that proper geotechnical investigations are essential for understanding soil conditions, groundwater levels and load-bearing capacity before construction begins.

“The foundation is where the future performance of a building is determined. If the ground conditions are not properly understood and the foundation system is not appropriately designed, the entire structure is exposed to risk,” Richards said.

He added that deep foundation systems, including piling, are often necessary in coastal and weak soil environments to ensure structural stability.

Richards argued that although geotechnical studies and quality foundation work may appear costly at the initial stage of a project, they significantly reduce the risk of expensive structural failures later.

“The cost of doing things properly at the beginning is almost always lower than the cost of correcting a failure later,” he said.

On transportation infrastructure, Richards said many newly constructed roads deteriorate prematurely because drainage planning is often neglected during project design.

He described water as one of the most destructive forces affecting infrastructure, stressing that effective drainage systems should be integrated into road design from the outset.

“If drainage is treated as an afterthought, the road itself is already vulnerable,” he said.

According to him, adopting an integrated approach that combines pavement engineering, hydrology and topographical analysis would improve road durability, reduce maintenance costs and enhance economic productivity.

Looking ahead, Richards advocated the wider adoption of digital engineering tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), which enables project teams to identify design conflicts, improve coordination and anticipate maintenance needs before construction begins.

“Data allows us to make better decisions. The earlier potential problems are identified, the less costly they become,” he said.

He also called for greater emphasis on sustainability and the efficient use of local materials, noting that engineering innovation should promote both economic efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Richards maintained that as Nigeria’s infrastructure investment continues to grow, attention should shift from the amount being spent to the long-term performance and resilience of completed projects.

“The infrastructure that delivers the greatest value is not necessarily the most expensive. It is the infrastructure that continues to serve its purpose safely and efficiently for generations,” he said.