Umahi To Inspect Troubled Benin-Asaba Road Over Gridlock
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, will on Tuesday inspect the deteriorating Benin-Asaba Road following growing complaints, protests and worsening gridlock along the federal highway.
Umahi disclosed this during the flag-off ceremony for the dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road, according to a video shared by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze.
The minister said he would meet with independent engineers, the concessionaire handling the road project, officials of the Ministry of Works and the Edo State Government to find an urgent solution to the crisis.
“Tomorrow, we are off to Benin-Asaba. I want Nigerians to be assured that when we get there, we’ll solve that problem,” Umahi said.
He attributed the current condition of the road to challenges arising from the Federal Government’s efforts to involve the private sector in road development through concession arrangements.
According to him, the concessionaire had removed more than 30 kilometres of asphalt from the road without completing the rehabilitation work, leaving motorists and residents to suffer the consequences.
Umahi said, “This concessionaire came and removed over 30 km of the asphalt and threw it away and threw it in the yard and left. And today, people are suffering.”
He added that the ministry would engage the concessionaire, independent engineers and its legal team, while also consulting with the Edo State Government to address the situation.
The minister’s planned inspection comes amid severe traffic congestion along the Benin-Agbor section of the highway, where motorists, residents and transport workers have staged protests over the poor condition of the road.
The deteriorating highway has reportedly caused prolonged delays, with some travellers stranded for days and motorists spending nights in their vehicles.
Umahi also disclosed that the Minister of State for Works would inspect the Ifaki-Ado-Ekiti Road, where a collapsed section has reportedly caused heavy congestion and left articulated vehicles stranded.
He said President Bola Tinubu had directed the ministry in 2024 to take over the project after an inspection of its condition.
According to Umahi, the road has since been redesigned, and the Minister of State would submit a report following his inspection for onward transmission to the President.
