Modelling in ranking procedures: A case study of infrastructure failures in Nigeria

The lack of a scientific approach as to which factors are considered or chosen in a decision-making process can seriously influence the effectiveness of that process. Using the example of infrastructure failures in Nigeria, this paper presents a severity index in matrix order (SIMO) model that unambiguously ranks factors and also defines a threshold that demarcates between major variable factors that should not be compromised in policy and less important ones. Infrastructures failures in Nigeria have hindered economic processes which were meant to alleviate poverty. Constraints responsible for this situation are identified from a carefully conducted survey in Nigeria. Severity of these constraints is empirically ranked using a developed severity index in matrix order (SIMO) model. However, the investigation reveals that corruption, misallocation of investments, inadequate maintenance, lack of transparency and accountability, insufficient funding for infrastructure, lack of supportive institutions, inconsistent political, social and economic policies and the lack of suitable technical and managerial skill are the major variable factors responsible for infrastructure failures in Nigeria.