By Odita Sunday
…Apologises to Benin-Asaba Highway users, promises urgent intervention
The Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, has directed Federal Controllers of Works and Engineering Representatives across the country to ensure the immediate arrest of any contractor found completely removing asphalt from existing road carriageways.
Umahi gave the directive on Tuesday, 25 August, 2026, during an on-the-spot assessment of the distressed sections of the Benin-Asaba Highway, where ongoing reconstruction and expansion works have subjected motorists and residents of host communities to severe hardship.
The Minister, who expressed displeasure over the condition of the 125-kilometre highway, also apologised to Nigerians over the difficulties being experienced along the corridor and ordered urgent measures to restore traffic flow on the worst-affected sections.
He specifically faulted the concessionaire, Benin–Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC), accusing it of unprofessional practices and a slow pace of work despite repeated warnings from the Ministry and the project’s Independent Engineer, Messrs Yolas Consultants Limited.
“You are not adhering to engineering best practices in road construction and your methodology is adversely impacting road users, host neighborhoods and the pace of work,” Umahi told the concessionaire.
The Minister was accompanied during the inspection by members of the National Assembly’s Committees on Works, the Governor of Edo State, Senior Special Assistants to the President (SSA-P) on Community Engagement for the South South, South East and North Central Zones, the Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and representatives of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
The Benin-Asaba Highway, which runs from AIF Roundabout in Benin City, Edo State, to Summit Junction in Asaba, Delta State, is a major federal corridor linking the South-South, South-East and parts of the South-West.
The road serves as an important route for passenger and freight movement, commercial activities and regional connectivity.
It is one of the pilot corridors under Phase I of the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), being implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the concession of the highway on 16 January, 2023, on a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) basis for 25 years, including a three-year construction period.
The Concession Agreement was subsequently executed on 23 May, 2023, between the Ministry and the incorporated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), BAECC.
However, changing macroeconomic conditions, inflation and increased financing costs later necessitated an addendum to the agreement, following a comprehensive review involving the Ministry, ICRC, Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF), Federal Ministry of Justice (FMoJ), Debt Management Office (DMO), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) and the concessionaire.
The project was formally handed over to BAECC on 23 March, 2025, while a Commencement Order set an effective 36-month construction period from 8 April, 2025 to 8 April, 2028.
Despite several technical engagements and inspections by the Ministry, the Project Delivery Team (PDT), BAECC and the Independent Engineer, concerns over the pace and method of execution persisted.
The Ministry said these engagements included the Minister’s site inspection in October 2025, PDT inspections in January and May 2026 and meetings involving relevant parties between 21 and 22 July, 2026.
According to the Ministry, the engagements established that the project was not progressing as intended, with shortcomings attributed largely to the concessionaire, who was consequently directed to take immediate corrective measures.
Explaining the slow pace of construction, the Managing Director/CEO of BAECC, Mr. Samuel Daramola, cited heavy traffic along the corridor and torrential rainfall as major factors affecting the project.
Umahi, however, dismissed the explanations as “unprofessional and untenable excuses.”
The Minister was particularly critical of the removal of asphalt from sections of the highway that were previously in good condition, arguing that the action had damaged already stabilised sub-structures.
He consequently directed Federal Controllers of Works and Engineering Representatives to arrest any contractor who completely removes asphalt from an existing road.
As part of immediate measures to ease the hardship faced by motorists, Umahi announced that a competent contractor would be engaged to intervene on the critically damaged portions of the highway.
He assured road users and residents of the host communities that President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, was concerned about their plight and that steps were being taken to provide relief.
Speaking during the inspection, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Works, Sen. Allwell Onyesoh and Hon. Akin Alabi, respectively, expressed sympathy with motorists and residents affected by the condition of the road.
They described the situation as “an unacceptable disaster” and pledged to undertake a comprehensive nationwide review of concession agreements to ensure that concessionaires comply strictly with agreed terms.
The SSA-P, Community Engagement, South South Zone, Mrs. Gift Johnbull, also assured residents that President Bola Tinubu was aware of their difficulties and had directed that a lasting solution be found.
Similarly, the Edo State Governor, His Excellency Sen. Monday Okpebholo, appealed to motorists and residents for patience, assuring them that a solution was being pursued to address the challenges on the highway.
A follow-up meeting involving all parties to the project is scheduled for Wednesday, 26 August, 2026, at the Edo State Government House.
Umahi Inspects Other Federal Road Projects
The visitation team also inspected the ongoing reconstruction of 23 kilometres of failed sections of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road using Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP), being undertaken by the Edo State Government on behalf of the Federal Government.
Umahi expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work by Messrs CBC Global Civil and Building Construction (Nig.) Limited after being informed that the project had reached 75 per cent completion.
The team further inspected the reconstruction of a 10-kilometre stretch of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road, Section I, Phase 2, also being undertaken by the Edo State Government on behalf of the Federal Government and executed by Messrs CCECC (Nigeria) Limited.
The project, also being constructed with CRCP, has attained about 25 per cent completion and is progressing, according to the Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director/CEO of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, announced plans by the interventionist agency to reconstruct a critically failed 15.4-kilometre section of the Benin-Sapele Road between the Edo and Delta States border.
Umahi commended Ogbuku for the intervention and directed officials of the Ministry and NDDC to collaborate on the modalities for executing the project.
Mohammed A. Ahmed
Director, Information and Public Relations
26 August, 2026
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