By Seyi Odewale
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has ordered immediate emergency repairs on all three sections of the deteriorating Benin-Asaba Federal Road, following mounting concerns over the condition of the strategic highway.
Umahi’s directive followed his recent inspection of the road and unsuccessful attempts to obtain approval from the concessionaire for the Federal Government to undertake emergency intervention on the route.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, the minister has directed major contractors to mobilise for immediate palliative works aimed at restoring failed portions of the highway.
The intervention is to be funded by the Federal Government despite provisions in the concession agreement requiring the government to secure the concessionaire’s approval before undertaking such work.
The ministry said several options had been explored to address the worsening condition of the road, but the concessionaire failed to accept any of them.
“Unfortunately, none of the options was accepted by the concessionaire,” the statement said.
The situation reportedly worsened after equipment deployed by the concessionaire was reduced to just one machine following the minister’s departure from Asaba.
Faced with the deteriorating state of the highway, Umahi directed the Federal Government to proceed with emergency intervention while also ordering a complete redesign of the road for reconstruction with reinforced concrete pavement.
The ministry said the redesign was aimed at delivering a more durable solution to the recurring failures along the corridor.
“The public should therefore take note that immediate action is underway to restore every failed section of the Benin-Asaba Road,” the statement added.
The ministry said the intervention was part of a broader programme targeting critical federal roads across the country.
On the Benin-Sapele Road, the Federal Government, Edo and Delta State governments and the Niger Delta Development Commission are working on different sections, combining emergency repairs with permanent reconstruction.
For the Ifaki-Ekiti-Kabba Road, the government is engaging Gamji Nigeria Company Limited and Dangote PLC on emergency and permanent works on severely damaged sections.
Work is also being accelerated on the 350-kilometre Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina dualisation project, with CBC, SETRACO, Triacta and Mothercat being remobilised following redesign and rephasing.
The ministry said more than 50 kilometres of one carriageway from Sokoto towards Zamfara had been completed with reinforced concrete pavement.
On the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, Lot 1, covering 118 kilometres, has been completed, while Lot 2, covering 164 kilometres, is more than 60 per cent complete. Solar-powered lighting is also being installed along the corridor, with completion targeted for December 2026.
Other interventions are ongoing on the Bauchi-Jigawa Road, Sagamu-Ore Road, Lokoja-Benin-Warri corridor, Abuja-Lokoja Road, East-West Road and several sections affected by flooding.
In Lagos, permanent construction of a new Carter Bridge by CCECC has commenced, while weekly underwater maintenance continues. The government is also finalising plans to repair defective underwater elements of the Third Mainland Bridge.
The First Niger Bridge has also been closed for comprehensive rehabilitation, while work continues on the approaches to the Second Niger Bridge and the Summit Junction-First Niger Bridge corridor.
The ministry said more than 80 per cent of inherited federal roads were currently receiving government attention, with reinforced concrete pavement increasingly being adopted for durability.
“The government is working, the government is responding, and the government is putting permanent solutions in place,” the statement said.
