Stakeholders Canvass Adoption of Underground Space to Ease Road Traffic

Peter Uzoho

Policymakers and experts have urged Nigeria and other African nations to embrace tunnelling and underground space development as a strategy to ease road traffic congestion and achieve sustainable economic development of the continent.

The stakeholders made the call at the just-concluded 4th Nigeria Tunnelling and Underground Space Conference in Lagos, with the theme: “Leveraging Tunnelling and Underground Space Use as a Tool for Our Cities in Optimising the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA.”

They noted that tunnelling and underground space development would culminate in better planning and the emergence of compact cities, with huge infrastructure capable of enhancing the movement of persons and goods from one place to another.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi, who was the Special Guest of Honour, acknowledged that  tunnelling and underground space areas were  new in Nigeria and would no doubt  be useful to the nation.

The minister, who was represented by the Director of Highway Development, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Umah Bakare, stated that with more than 20 million people in Lagos, tunnelling and underground space development was required to enhance the movement of persons and goods from one part of the city to another.

The President, Nigerian Tunnelling Association (NTA), Abidemi Agwor, said the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) was a bold vision set forth by the African Union that seeks to create a single continental market for goods and services, fostering economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction across the continent.

He said such an ambitious undertaking necessitated the development of robust infrastructure to facilitate the seamless movement of people, goods, and capital.

Agwor stated: “In this context, the importance of tunnelling and underground spaces cannot be overstated. They can provide efficient transportation links, secure supply chains, and even serve as hubs for logistics and warehousing.

“ Imagine the possibilities of a subterranean network that connects our nations, enabling the free flow of trade, while also addressing congestion and environmental concerns on the surface.

“Nigeria, with its diverse landscape and growing urban centres offers a fertile ground for the multi-sectorial application of tunnelling and underground space technology.

“Consider the challenges of rapid urbanisation, water resource management, and transportation congestion. These issues can be effectively addressed through innovative underground solutions,” he said.

To accomplish the foregoing ambitious goals, he said there was need to draw upon the expertise and knowledge of the international community, adding that the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) plays a pivotal role in connecting Nigeria and Africa with global experts and best practices.

“By engaging with ITA, we can stay at the forefront of technological advancements in tunnelling and underground space use. This partnership ensures that our projects meet global benchmarks for quality, safety, and environmental sustainability,” he added

Also speaking on the occasion, the Global Lead, Hydropower and Dams Global Solution, World Bank Group, Prakin Karki, described Nigeria as the most populated country and largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa with a population of over 200 million.

Karki maintained that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at N477 billion in 2022, adding that about 18 million people face challenges, including a lack of infrastructure, which requires policy actions for development.

“The rural areas need infrastructure even more than the cities based on my observation in Nasarawa state and other places. There is need to give priority to infrastructure, especially water and energy. I was asked to come to Nigeria by the World Bank to assist with water and energy,” the World Bank official stated.

The Vice President, International Commission on Large Dams and Board member of NTA, Imo Ekpo, who examined the activities of the association in the past few years, highlighted the association’s relationship with some universities, to enhance enlightenment, training and capacity building.