Idealising Step Change Towards Achieving Value for Money in Niger Delta’s Highway Infrastructure Delivery

Alolote Ibim Amadi

Abstract

This paper idealises step changes proffered, given the repeated calls, to ensure value for money in highway infrastructure investment. The study reiterates the need for highway agencies to adequately evaluate the geomorphology of the Niger Delta, as a prerequisite to the cost-effective delivery of highway infrastructure in the region. Such prescriptive measures necessary to entrench geotechnical principles for the efficient development in road infrastructure have been identified from best practices in the literature. This is presented as a synthesis of solutions which have direct relevance and applicability to enhance the practice of highway agencies in the Niger Delta, as a pathway to achieve value for money in highway infrastructure investment. Relevant referrals to the literature advocating for geotechnical best practices are thus made, to serve as technical recommendations necessary to align the practices of the highway agencies at various phases of project development. The study submits that creating a supportive technical organisational platform is necessary to ensure value for money in the investment in highway development, in the peculiar geologic setting of the Niger Delta region.Keywords:Geotechnical evaluations; Best practices; Highway agencies; Infrastructure investments; Niger Delta.