A former Commissioner for Works in Ondo State, Gboye Adegbenro, has said that the government should not be held responsible for poor road construction in the country, stressing that professionals handling such projects should be blamed.

According to Adegbenro, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, most road failures in Nigeria result from compromised professional standards rather than government policy alone.

Speaking in Ilara-Mokin, Ifedore Local Council Area of the state at the weekend, the former Works Commissioner advocated for greater involvement of local councils in the construction and maintenance of roads.

Adegbenro, who maintained that local councils are better positioned to handle road projects due to their understanding of the terrain, priorities, and peculiar needs, cited the United Kingdom as an example where such an approach has worked successfully.

“People blame the government, but the real problem lies with us, the professionals. We compromise standards in this country.

“They (local governments) know their areas and the roads that are important to them. You need to see something before you can do something about it,” he stated.

He added that it is unrealistic to expect Nigeria’s Minister of Works to be familiar with all roads across the country and expressed concern over the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) increasingly venturing into road construction, a situation he said mirrors what happens at the state level.

According to him, states have agencies designated for road maintenance, but many are failing to perform their statutory duties.

Adegbenro urged engineers and relevant authorities to recommit to professional ethics, proper supervision, and routine maintenance, noting that sustainable road infrastructure can only be achieved when responsibilities are clearly defined and standards are strictly upheld.