FG to ‌⁠‍‍⁠⁠‌‌⁠‍‍⁠‍⁠‌review Benin-Asaba highway concession over poor handling

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, says the federal government is considering reviewing the concession agreement for the Benin-Asaba Expressway after widespread complaints about the highway’s deteriorating condition.

Mr Umahi said this on Tuesday in Benin during an on-the-spot assessment of the highway, where he expressed dissatisfaction with how the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC) has handled the project.

The minister accused the concessionaire of lacking the technical competence required to execute the project, particularly for removing existing asphalt without first constructing drainage infrastructure.

He said, “You don’t know what you are doing. You have no technical staff or competence. The President has directed us to do whatever is possible to fix this road.”

Mr Umahi added that the federal government had cautioned the concessionaire against removing the existing asphalt but that the warning was ignored.

He described the action as destruction of public property and directed ministry officials to arrest any contractor or concessionaire who removed asphalt from existing roads without approval.

He said, “I’m directing all controllers to arrest any contractor or concessionaire that removes asphalt on a road. This road was not like this before we handed it over to you.”

The minister then apologised to Nigerians for the hardship caused by the highway’s condition, saying the federal government took responsibility for addressing the situation.

“I take full responsibility for their misdeed and destruction of public assets,” he said.

The minister said government would explore the overriding public interest provision to intervene in the project, stressing that Nigerians would not continue to suffer because of deficiencies in the concession arrangement.

He said competent contractors would be engaged to restore the highway, adding that government would also ask CCETC to intervene in the bad sections around Asaba.

Mr Umahi also inspected the Benin-Warri Road, stating that the federal government is considering redesigning roads from Kogi to Warri and other major roads around Edo State.

“I am disappointed. The President has directed me to redesign all roads from Kogi to Warri and around Edo State. They are to be done with concrete pavement,” he said.

According to him, the affected roads require total reconstruction rather than continued reliance on palliative measures.

Mr Umahi, however, commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for intervening in several federal roads across Edo and urged other governors to support the Federal Government in addressing critical road infrastructure in their states.

Responding, Mr Okpebholo said President Bola Tinubu’s prompt response to the condition of the highway showed concern over the hardship motorists and other road users are experiencing.

The BAECC Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Daramola, who attributed the slow pace of work partly to heavy rainfall and traffic on the highway, added that “we are battling with weather, as much as we want to keep to the scope of work. We expected our palliative work to have been completed long ago.”

He said the concessionaire faced a difficult choice between constructing side drains and managing heavy traffic on the highway.

“How do we start with drains when there is heavy traffic? We have tried to engage all parties and communities. We are determined to ensure we complete this road. We have a reputation to maintain”, he said.

The project consultant’s representative, Toyin Akinlapa, however, said the concessionaire was advised to construct the drainage system before removing the existing asphalt.

“We told them to first do the drains, but they ignored us, and that affected the road. The company had some challenges in their technical team,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Mr Akin Alabi, had urged President Bola Tinubu to review the concession agreement.

According to him, the government should review similar agreements to prevent situations where concessionaires fail to deliver projects to the required standards.

“The people want to see good roads. There must be palliative measures. Let us come up with a solution where people can move,” Mr Alabi said.

The inspection followed widespread complaints over the condition of the Benin-Asaba highway, with motorists reportedly trapped on the road for several days due to multiple failed sections.

The Benin-Asaba highway was concessioned to BAECC in 2025 for conversion into a 10-lane highway.

In October 2025, the concessionaire announced plans to complete construction of the 10-lane highway within the stipulated timeframe.

 (NAN)