The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, recently suggested in an article published in the Financial Times that artificial intelligence (AI) could help solve a long standing infrastructure problem: potholes. “The possibilities [of the use of AI] are endless,” he wrote. “It can spot potholes more quickly.” This indirectly suggests how Nigeria can use AI to fix potholes.
While AI-powered road maintenance solutions are already being trialed in some parts of the world, experts argue that unless the government addresses fundamental challenges such as funding, data management, and proper road construction techniques, AI alone will not solve the problem.
Potholes are more than just an inconvenience; they pose significant safety hazards. Between 2017 and 2023, road defects were responsible for 255 serious injuries or fatalities among cyclists in the UK. A recent report described British roads as a “national embarrassment,” with England and Wales resurfacing roads only once every 80 years—far beyond the recommended 20-year lifespan.
Between UK and Nigeria
Starmer’s government has pledged to repair an additional one million potholes annually using AI-driven technology. However, experts warn that technology alone cannot compensate for decades of underinvestment in road infrastructure.
In contrast, Nigeria faces challenges in collecting specific data on cyclist fatalities and injuries caused by road defects. But experts say Nigeria must wake to the fact that AI is now used in all human sphere. The available data often aggregates all road traffic accidents without distinguishing the causes or the specific road user categories involved. For instance, a study highlighted that road traffic accidents are Nigeria’s third-leading cause of overall deaths and the leading cause of trauma-related fatalities.
The lack of disaggregated data makes it difficult to determine the exact number of cyclist casualties resulting from road defects in Nigeria during the same period. This gap highlights the need for improved data collection and reporting mechanisms to inform targeted road safety interventions.
How AI can help detect potholes
AI-based solutions have shown promising results, confirming that AI can fix potholes. Experts say vehicles fitted with cameras and AI software can scan roads in real time, identifying cracks and weaknesses before they turn into full-blown potholes.
“Rather than sending out inspectors twice a year, councils can automate the process,” said James O’Malley, a technology specialist. “AI-equipped vehicles can passively collect data as they travel, feeding real-time images into a cloud-based system that maps road damage.”
Similar technology has been tested in various UK councils since 2017. Companies like Gaist and SOENECS have worked with local authorities to deploy AI-driven imaging, which assigns severity scores to road defects.
Despite its effectiveness, the technology has yet to be widely implemented. “The issue is not whether AI can detect potholes—it absolutely can,” said a spokesperson for the Asphalt Industry Alliance. “The problem is getting councils to adopt and integrate the technology.”
For AI to fix potholes, it must surmount challenges
Experts point to several barriers preventing AI from making a meaningful impact on road maintenance:
- Fragmented infrastructure management: Unlike in San Diego, where one city authority manages all local roads, the UK’s road system is split between multiple entities. National Highways oversees motorways and A-roads, while local councils handle smaller roads—often using different data recording systems.
- Lack of standardized data: AI is only as effective as the data it processes. Currently, councils use inconsistent methods to record road defects, making it difficult to create a unified AI-driven system.
- Funding shortfalls: Many councils outsource pothole repairs to private contractors without ensuring long-term quality. “Our maintenance backlog is more than 10 times our annual budget,” a local council representative admitted.
- Rising vehicle weights: The growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) presents another challenge. EVs are, on average, 23% heavier than traditional vehicles due to their large batteries, increasing road wear.
- Extreme weather conditions: The UK’s wet climate accelerates road degradation. The freeze-thaw cycle during winter causes small cracks to expand, forming potholes at a faster rate.
Where AI is already used to fix potholes
Several countries have already integrated AI into their road maintenance strategies:
- United States: San Diego has successfully used AI-powered road assessment systems to prioritize repairs, significantly reducing pothole complaints.
- Canada: AI-driven road inspection systems have been implemented in Toronto, leading to improved road condition monitoring and better allocation of repair budgets.
- Japan: AI and robotics are being used for real-time road scanning, predicting deterioration rates and enabling proactive maintenance.
- India: Some states have adopted AI-based smartphone applications that allow citizens to report potholes instantly, creating a real-time mapping system for repair teams.
How Nigeria can adopt AI to fix potholes better
Nigeria faces a far more severe road crisis than the UK, with thousands of kilometres of highways riddled with potholes, causing accidents, damaging vehicles, and slowing economic growth. These problems can easily be surmounted by using AI to fix the potholes. While AI-driven solutions could help, experts suggest that Nigeria must first address key foundational challenges:
1. Standardized data collection
Nigeria lacks a centralized database for road conditions. The government should invest in a nationwide road assessment program, collecting consistent data across all states.
2. Prioritized funding for quality road construction
Rather than reacting to potholes, Nigeria should focus on durable road construction using high-quality materials. AI can help identify weak areas, but without proper initial construction, repairs will remain frequent and costly.
3. Localized AI integration
Rather than relying on expensive imported technology, Nigeria can develop its own AI-driven solutions, collaborating with universities and tech startups to create cost-effective road monitoring systems.
4. Public-private partnerships
Nigeria should encourage partnerships between government agencies, construction firms, and AI technology providers. Incentives for companies to develop and implement smart road maintenance solutions could accelerate adoption.
5. Citizen involvement
Crowdsourcing road condition reports through AI-enabled mobile apps—similar to India’s approach—would allow citizens to flag potholes, creating a real-time database for repair teams.
A sustainable model for road maintenance
To truly fix Nigeria’s roads, the government must shift from reactive pothole repairs to proactive, AI-assisted resurfacing strategies. Investing in AI technology can reduce long-term costs, improve road safety, and boost economic efficiency. However, AI should be part of a broader strategy that includes proper road design, sustainable funding, and robust data management.
As AI continues to evolve, it offers a unique opportunity for countries like Nigeria to modernize road maintenance. But as the UK’s experience has shown, technology alone is not the solution—good governance, proper funding, and strategic planning are equally essential.
Key takeaway
AI has the potential to revolutionize road maintenance, making repairs faster and more efficient. However, without addressing fundamental issues such as funding, data management, and infrastructure quality, AI will be nothing more than a band-aid on a crumbling system. Countries like Nigeria should learn from global case studies and develop a sustainable, tech-driven road maintenance model tailored to their unique challenges.
As one road engineer aptly put it, “AI is a powerful tool, it can fix potholes. But if you’re filling potholes in poorly built roads, you’re just pouring water into a basket.”
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