The Federal Government has moved decisively to intervene in the deteriorating Benin-Asaba Road, with Minister of Works David Umahi ordering major contractors to immediately mobilise to all three sections of the highway.
The order comes after prolonged concerns over the worsening condition of the strategic road and the inability of the existing concession arrangement to provide an immediate solution. The Federal Ministry of Works said the situation had reached a stage where “the overall public interest must take precedence over the existing concession agreement.”
The intervention marks a significant escalation in the Federal Government’s response to the crisis on the highway, which has subjected motorists and other road users to serious hardship.
According to the Works Ministry, Umahi had already assembled contractors during his previous inspection of the corridor and instructed them to prepare for emergency repairs. The plan, however, encountered a major obstacle because the concession agreement required government approval from the concessionaire before federal intervention could take place.
The concessionaire reportedly refused to grant the required permission. Umahi then proposed three different options designed to allow the government to address the crisis, but none was accepted.
The ministry said the situation became even more concerning after the minister’s departure from Asaba, as the already limited equipment available on the road was reduced to one machine.
The government has now decided that waiting is no longer an option.
Umahi has directed major contractors operating within the corridor to immediately enter all three sections of the Benin-Asaba Road, repair failed portions and bring relief to stranded and struggling road users. The Federal Government will bear the cost of the emergency intervention.
The minister has also ordered the complete redesign of the road for reconstruction with reinforced concrete pavement. The decision is expected to provide a stronger and more durable surface capable of withstanding the heavy traffic and difficult conditions along the corridor.
The Federal Government’s latest action follows earlier criticism of the concessionaire over alleged failures involving pavement construction, drainage and traffic management. Independent project engineers had identified deficiencies and called for urgent corrective action.
Umahi previously warned that critical national infrastructure could not be allowed to deteriorate because of poor execution or failure to follow engineering instructions. He also stated that the government’s objective was to ensure Nigerians receive value from investments in road infrastructure.
For motorists travelling between Edo and Delta, the latest directive could provide the most significant immediate intervention yet as the Federal Government moves to restore the badly damaged corridor and pursue a longer-term reconstruction strategy.
