Road Construction Material Quality, Pavement Performance and Service Life in Nigeria: Evidence from Civil Engineering Projects

Abstract

Premature road deterioration remains a major challenge to sustainable infrastructure development in Nigeria. This study assessed commonly used road construction materials based on durability, strength and resistance to failure; examined factors influencing their effectiveness; and determined the relationship between material quality and road lifespan. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were obtained from independently collected responses of 82 records. Responses were measured on a five-point Likert scale and analysed using means, standard deviations, Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson correlation and multiple regression. Cement concrete recorded the highest performance rating (M = 4.49, SD = 0.86), followed by crushed stone aggregates (M = 4.40) and granite chippings (M = 4.38). Inadequate supervision (M = 4.60, SD = 0.80), inadequate compaction (M = 4.59), poor maintenance culture (M = 4.56) and failure to follow design specifications (M = 4.56) were the most influential factors affecting material effectiveness. The measurement scales demonstrated high internal consistency (α = 0.930–0.982). Material quality had a strong positive relationship with perceived road lifespan (r = 0.694, p < 0.001). The regression model was statistically significant and explained 90.9% of the variance in road-lifespan perceptions (R² = 0.909; F = 259.603, p < 0.001). The study concludes that durable, tested and specification-compliant materials, supported by effective supervision, compaction, drainage and maintenance, are essential for improving road lifespan in Nigeria.