A Professor of Civil Engineering, Engr. Prof. Moses Ogundipe, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the exploration and refining of Nigeria’s vast natural bitumen deposits, saying it holds the key to reducing road construction costs and fast-tracking infrastructure development.
Prof. Ogundipe made the call while delivering the maiden inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti (FUTES-IYIN), titled “Paving the Way to Sustainability: Asphalt Innovations for Safe and Durable Road Pavement.”
The don, who x-rayed sustainable approaches to road pavement planning, design, construction and maintenance in Nigeria, said the country’s natural bitumen resource remains largely untapped despite its potential to revolutionise domestic asphalt production and reduce dependence on imported materials.
He recommended that the government, in collaboration with the private sector, commence deliberate steps towards the exploration and local refining of bitumen to ensure cheaper, reliable supply of the major binder used in asphalt concrete, while creating jobs and boosting the economy.
Ogundipe also advocated increased investment in sustainable pavement technologies, particularly Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA), which he said offers superior resistance to rutting, a common form of pavement failure in Nigeria.
He called on government, through relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, to collaborate with universities and industry players to review existing road construction specifications and adopt sustainable materials that guarantee more durable infrastructure.
The professor further urged the integration of Life Cycle Costing and Life Cycle Assessment into public procurement and tender evaluation processes, noting that contracts should reward contractors who deploy sustainable local materials and technologies.
According to him, infrastructure policy must be driven by credible research and comprehensive data rather than individual opinions, recommending regular collection and analysis of data on road construction, pavement distress, failures and maintenance.
To advance innovation, Ogundipe proposed the establishment of a national pavement test track equipped with Heavy Vehicle Simulators for accelerated testing and validation of innovative pavement materials.
He lamented inadequate research funding and weak academia-industry collaboration as major impediments to translating research findings into national development.
He therefore urged government to increase funding for Research and Development, strengthen partnerships among universities, professional engineering bodies and industries, and equip higher institutions with modern facilities and qualified personnel for effective engineering education.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of FUTES-IYIN, Prof. Gbenga Aribisala, described inaugural lectures as a vital platform for advancing scholarship and providing research-driven solutions to societal challenges.
Aribisala said: “At FUTES-IYIN, we believe that the relevance of a university is measured not only by the quality of its academic programmes but also by its ability to provide practical solutions to the challenges facing society. This inaugural lecture reflects our commitment to knowledge that can translate into meaningful national development.”
He added that the university would continue to promote research, innovation and collaboration to address pressing challenges in infrastructure, technology and environmental sustainability, expressing optimism that the recommendations from the lecture would stimulate further research and inform policy decisions.
