Benin-Asaba Road: Concessionaire Appeals For Patience, Promises Faster Reconstruction

The Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC) has appealed to motorists and communities along the Benin-Asaba corridor to be patient with the difficulties caused by ongoing reconstruction of the 125-kilometre highway.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Daramola, made the appeal in a statement on Monday, assuring road users that efforts were underway to accelerate permanent construction works as weather conditions improve.

Daramola acknowledged the hardship currently being experienced by motorists and residents along the corridor, but said the company remained committed to delivering a durable and safe road despite the challenges associated with reconstructing a heavily travelled highway while maintaining traffic flow.

He said BAECC was implementing palliative measures on difficult sections to reduce the impact of the construction on road users while permanent works continue.

“We recognise the inconvenience that motorists and communities have experienced, and we do not take their concerns lightly,” Daramola said.

“Our responsibility is not only to build the permanent road but also to do everything reasonably possible to keep people moving while construction is taking place.”

According to him, the project is being executed under a 36-month construction programme covering extensive reconstruction and expansion, earthworks, drainage systems, pavement construction, culverts, traffic management and the installation of production facilities.

He said substantial work had already been carried out on various sections of the highway, including earthworks and subgrade preparation, drainage and culvert construction, asphalt and binder-course works, as well as carriageway expansion.

The concessionaire also disclosed that asphalt plants, concrete batching plants, paving equipment, concrete mould plants, Wet Mix Macadam plants and other specialised construction machinery had been mobilised to the project.

Daramola said billions of naira in private-sector funds had been committed to equipment, construction plants, materials, logistics and other infrastructure required for the project.

He explained that some of the preparatory activities might not be immediately noticeable to motorists but were critical to the eventual delivery of the permanent highway.

“A project of this magnitude is built in stages. Before the travelling public sees kilometres of finished asphalt, there must be drainage, earthworks, pavement preparation, production plants and equipment mobilisation,” he said.

The BAECC chief executive identified persistent rainfall as one of the major challenges affecting the current phase of the project, noting that saturated ground conditions had slowed some earthworks, pavement stabilisation and asphalt operations.

He, however, stressed that construction had not stopped, saying the rainfall had mainly affected the sequencing and pace of certain activities.

“Where permanent pavement operations are restricted by rainfall, our teams continue with other engineering activities and palliative interventions,” he said.

Daramola also pointed to the difficulty of carrying out reconstruction while keeping the busy corridor open to thousands of motorists, buses, commercial vehicles and articulated trucks.

He said the company had, on some occasions, reopened treated sections earlier than would ordinarily be preferred in order to reduce congestion and ease the burden on motorists.

“We are building and managing traffic at the same time,” he said.

“There are occasions when engineering considerations would favour keeping a section closed for longer, but the realities facing motorists require us to reopen the road.”

BAECC said palliative interventions would continue on challenging sections of the highway as permanent reconstruction progresses.

The company further announced plans for a significant acceleration of permanent works from October as rainfall reduces and weather conditions become more favourable for construction.

The planned activities include completion of drainage works, pavement reconstruction, installation of asphalt binder and wearing courses, culvert construction and other permanent works across multiple sections of the highway.

It added that additional personnel, equipment and construction resources were being mobilised ahead of the dry-season construction window.

“As the rains recede, Nigerians will see a significant acceleration of permanent works,” Daramola said.

He urged motorists and host communities to assess the project within the context of its overall 36-month construction programme rather than judging it solely by the difficulties being experienced during the construction phase.

“We are not asking anyone to ignore the present difficulties. We recognise them and are addressing them through palliative interventions while building the permanent solution,” he said.

“What we ask for is the time and opportunity to deliver the project within the construction programme. Judge us ultimately by the quality, durability and safety of the highway we deliver.”

BAECC also reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Federal Government, relevant agencies and host communities to ensure the delivery of a safe, reliable and durable highway.

Daramola maintained that the conditions motorists encounter during construction should not be taken as a reflection of the final state of the road.

“The road people see during construction is not the road they will see at completion,” he said.

“We ask for a little more patience and the opportunity to complete what we have started.”