AN EVALUATION OF GOVERNMENT PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURES IN NIGERIA: THE CASE OF ROAD TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

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AN EVALUATION OF GOVERNMENT PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURES IN NIGERIA: THE CASE OF ROAD TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

ABSTRACT

Freight and passenger movement have become increasingly dependent on the road system to meet virtually all inland transport needs in Nigeria. Three major issues were identified to affect the Nigerian road network; axle overloading, neglect of routine maintenance and inadequate design and construction. However, the decline in road infrastructure vis a vis the boom in government expenditure between 1999 and 2011 raises several questions. This study analysed the trend in government budget and spending on road infrastructure between 1999 and 2011. The study also evaluated the effectiveness of government spending on the quality and quantity of Nigerian federal roads. First, data on government budget and spending on highway construction and rehabilitation for the period 1999 to 2011 was collected from the Federal Ministry of Works and analysed. A deviation between budget estimates and spending was also calculated to evaluate the budget process. To evaluate the effectiveness of government spending on the quantity and quality of federal roads, a case study of Bida-Sacci-Nupeko-Pategi Fedral Road was carried out using data of government funding for the road from years 2000 to 2011. Government Budget and Spending on the road served as input while the output on the road and outcome (benefit) that accrue through the use of this federal road were analysed using graph showing the present condition of the road and data from questionnaire administered on a sample of thirty road users including drivers and passengers. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to generate tables for frequencies and percentages. Results were thereafter presented in tables and analysed using simple statistical parameters such as frequencies and percentages. Findings revealed that the federal government spends less than it allocates in its annual budgets for the period of this study. Also, the pattern of allocation was inefficient as they were more likely to increase project cost and increase further the risk of abandonment of projects. Findings also show that although there was budget for the construction and rehabilitation of Bida-Sacci-Nupeko-Pategi federal road from year 2000 to 2011, money was released for spending only for year 2002 to 2008, no fund was released in years 2000 and 2001, and 2009 to 2011. Graphical evidence of the present condition of the road reveals a dilapidated and abandoned road. Sixty percent of the samples of road users agree that the condition of the road has not improved. Rather, that it had declined thereby increasing their traveling time by about thirty six percent. Sixty three percent of the sample feels the road is of poor quality, poor safety design thereby causing their vehicle maintenance cost to increase by about thirty six percent. Sixteen percent of the sample confirmed that the road had been abandoned. The study therefore concludes that iinefficiencies in government budget allocation and spending affects efficiency in output and effectiveness of outcomes. The study further recommends an improvement in the budget process by specifying the spending plans for road infrastructure projects and budget discipline in fund releases.

AN EVALUATION OF GOVERNMENT PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURES IN NIGERIA: THE CASE OF ROAD TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

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