Forgive Us, Minister Umahi Begs Travellers Over Horrible Benin-Agbor Road
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has apologised to commuters over the deteriorating condition of the Benin-Asaba Highway and ordered the immediate arrest of any contractor caught stripping asphalt from existing carriageways, following an on-the-spot assessment of the troubled corridor on Tuesday.
Umahi, who was accompanied by members of the National Assembly Committees on Works, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, and representatives of the Presidency and the Niger Delta Development Commission, expressed disappointment with the concessionaire, Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited.
He accused the company of unprofessional conduct, slow progress and, most critically, removing more than 30 kilometres of asphalt from sections of the road that were still in good condition without completing the expected rehabilitation.
“We begged them not to remove it. The concessionaire should have been arrested for destroying public property. This road was not like this when it was handed over,” Umahi said, adding, “I take full responsibility for their misdeed and destruction of public assets”.
Consequently, the Minister directed all Federal Controllers of Works and Engineering Representatives nationwide to arrest any contractor who completely removes asphalt from an existing road without proper authorisation.
He insisted that engineering best practices must be observed and that construction must be carried out in a manner that protects road users and preserves usable sections of the road.
As an immediate intervention, Umahi said a competent contractor would be engaged to urgently rehabilitate the critically failed portions of the highway and restore smoother traffic flow.
He also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed him to redesign all roads from Kogi to Warri, with the reconstruction to be done using concrete pavement.
The Minister condemned the concessionaire’s handling of the 125-kilometre highway, which runs from Benin City, Edo State, to Asaba, Delta State, and was conceded to BAECC in 2025 under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
Explaining the slow pace of work, BAECC Managing Director Samuel Daramola attributed the challenges to high traffic volume and heavy rainfall, but Umahi dismissed the explanations as “unprofessional and untenable excuses”.
Motorists and residents have endured severe gridlock and delays on the corridor for weeks, with the road serving as a major route linking the South-South, South-East and parts of the South-West.
The worsening condition has affected interstate movement, with reports indicating travellers abandoned their vehicles and trekked to seek alternative transportation.
A follow-up meeting involving all stakeholders is scheduled to review the situation and agree on further steps to accelerate the project.
