Nigeria Must Build Climate-resilient Infrastructure To Mitigate Natural Disasters – Mudasiru

Acting national chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Highway Transportation Engineers (NIHTE), Engr. Bola Mudasiru, has called for a fundamental rethink of urban planning and infrastructure development in Nigeria to make cities more resilient to the growing impacts of climate change.

Mudasiru, who was the keynote speaker at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Nigeria 2026 Conference, made the call while delivering a keynote paper titled: “Climate Adaptive Cities: Engineering Solutions for Resilient Urban Future.”

He warned that Nigerian cities are increasingly exposed to flooding, extreme rainfall, rising temperatures, coastal erosion, deteriorating infrastructure and rapid urbanisation, stressing that these challenges require a deliberate shift towards climate-adaptive engineering and urban development.

According to him, engineering must remain at the heart of climate adaptation, as the resilience of cities depends significantly on the quality, durability, sustainability and functionality of their infrastructure.

Mudasiru urged engineers and other built-environment professionals to move away from conventional designs based largely on historical weather patterns and begin incorporating projected climate risks into the planning, design, construction and operation of infrastructure.

He identified roads, bridges, drainage systems, buildings and other critical infrastructure as areas requiring urgent attention, particularly in cities experiencing recurrent flooding.

The NIHTE boss also advocated a combination of conventional drainage infrastructure and nature-based solutions, alongside improved storm-water management, retention areas and better land-use planning to reduce the impact of flooding and other climate-related disasters.

He also called for the development of climate-resilient transportation infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme rainfall, flooding, excessive heat and other environmental pressures.

To achieve this, he stressed the need for improved engineering and design standards, quality construction, appropriate materials, regular maintenance and effective monitoring of infrastructure.

Beyond individual projects, Mudasiru said climate resilience must become an integral part of overall urban planning and development.

He called for closer collaboration among engineers, urban planners, architects, environmental professionals, policymakers and communities, saying coordinated efforts were essential to creating cities capable of anticipating and responding effectively to climate-related threats.

Mudasiru also encouraged the adoption of modern engineering technologies, including digital tools, data analytics and modelling, to enable cities to better anticipate risks and make informed decisions on infrastructure planning and development.