Lagos, Nigeria: In a sobering revelation that reframes Nigeria’s infrastructure crisis, Dr. Adesina Aladeloba, Chief Lecturer at Yaba College of Technology, has identified poor communication—not just corruption or mismanagement—as the primary driver behind the country’s staggering 56,000 abandoned projects.
Aladeloba disclosed this while delivering the institution’s 19th inaugural lecture series 2025 with the theme, “Communication: Real Reason the ‘Tower’ Remained Abandoned Therefore,” which was held on Thursday in Yabatech.
He explained that the construction industry suffered from fragmented communication practices that fueled mistrust, disputes, delays, and failures.
He added that ineffective dialogue wasted resources and halted development.
Having identified the persistent problems, the lecturer recommended his project management software, ‘Buildcom,’ branded as NWAVE, designed to strengthen communication channels.
Aladeloba said: “The software enhances teamwork and fosters a more effective project communication environment.
“The innovative NWAVE software will drastically minimise communication gaps, saving both money and time on projects.”
The chief lecturer added that the software would ensure improved efficiency, transparency, and seamless collaboration among stakeholders involved.
“Nigeria currently has about 56,000 abandoned projects, valued at over N12,000,000,000,000, representing colossal waste arising from poor communication, weak monitoring, and corruption in procurement processes.
“Two cannot walk together unless they agree. The Bible story of the Tower of Babel teaches us that a communication breakdown can halt progress. Nigeria’s projects mirror this tragedy.”
The don emphasised resilience and determination, saying that the experience reflected the struggles within Nigeria’s educational and construction systems, battling communication failures.
He argued that inadequate dialogue among stakeholders across project life cycles, planning, design, and execution, increases risks of collapse, abandonment, and wastage of scarce resources meant for national development.
“The construction sector contributes immensely to economic growth globally, yet in Nigeria, poor communication remains a significant hindrance to productivity, leaving behind abandoned projects and collapsed structures.
“Using surveys, questionnaires, and field studies, research shows that communication choices directly affect teamwork, costs, and delivery timelines, influencing whether projects succeed or fail in Nigeria’s fragile system,” he added.
Aladeloba, therefore, recommended technology-driven solutions, including his project management software, Buildcom (NWAVE), designed to improve communication and reduce disputes.
He stressed that the software would also save time and ensure effective coordination across construction stakeholders.
“Effective communication saves money, prevents disputes, and enhances reputation. Unless we address these gaps, the construction industry will keep struggling with delays, cost overruns, and project abandonment,” Aladeloba declared.
The lecturer also connected poor communication with corruption in procurement, arguing that bribery, mismanagement, and lack of transparency eroded trust, derailed projects, and worsened the menace of abandoned infrastructure.
He cited Ajaokuta Steel, Abuja Millennium Tower, Bayelsa Tower Hotel, and the Rivers Monorail among projects worth billions abandoned due to poor planning, weak dialogue, and administrative inconsistencies.
Aladeloba called for reforms in Yabatech’s procurement system, urging transparency and accountability in project delivery.
He condemned the ‘settlement syndrome’ which, he said, fueled wastage and weakened institutional development.
“We must learn to live without corruption if Nigeria is to survive. Procurement structures should be tailored to meet specific needs and free from manipulations,” he advised passionately.
He recalled the Barnlund communication model, which advocates for two-way dialogue where feedback confirms understanding. He noted that such frameworks reduce misinterpretations, delays, and disputes that often plague Nigeria’s construction projects.
Aladeloba categorised communication into incomplete and absent, as well as complete, warning that incomplete or absent communication generated confusion, disputes, and collapse.
He said that complete dialogue ensured clarity, effectiveness, and project sustainability.
Collaborations with international scholars, he said, prove that effective communication reforms could transform Nigeria’s construction sector into a reliable engine of economic growth and infrastructural development.
The don likened communication failures in construction to wider societal conflicts, including governance and marriages, insisting that dialogue sustained unity, peace, and institutional stability across all sectors of society.
“The proof of desire is pursuit. If Nigeria truly desires infrastructure growth, it must pursue it with transparent communication and honest collaboration among stakeholders,” Aladeloba emphasised.
He expressed that the virtue of the theme had made history, adding, “as we uncover why the age-long tower remains abandoned. The future of Nigeria’s projects depends on communication.”
In his remark, Dr Adedotun Abdul, Rector, Yabatech, applauded Aladeloba, saying the lecture had analysed that communication amongst the stakeholders in the built industry is very vital.
Abdul said communication would curb the regular building collapses that were rampant in recent times.
He tasked experts and professionals in the building industry to communicate effectively to curb challenges in the sector.