Umahi Discredits Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company, Says Firm Lacks Technical Know-how To Embark On Road Construction

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The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Tuesday discredited the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC) over poor handling of the project, saying that the firm lacked the technical know-how to embark on road construction.

He was particularly angered that the firm removed existing asphalt on the road and did not construct side drains before embarking on the construction of the main road.

Umahi who expressed his disappointment in Benin City when he paid on the spot assessment on the road following public outcry on the bad situation of the Benin-Asaba highway however accused the contractor of manipulating the system to secure the contract he could not handle.

Motorists were trapped on the highway for several days now due to several failed sections of the road.

It would be recalled that the Benin-Asaba highway was consessioned to BAECC in 2025 to turn the road to a 10-lane highway.

The firm had, in October last year, said it would complete construction of the 10-lane highway within set time.

But Umahi said the Concessionaire would have been arrested for destroying public property.

He accused the Concessionaire of manipulating the process to get the job.

According to him, “I commend Governor Monday Okpebholo for his intervention in lots of federal roads across the state. He is not saying this is a federal or state road. I apologise to commuters plying this road. The NDDC is willing to intervene. I am disappointed with the Concessionaire. I take full responsibility for their misdeed and destruction of public assets.

“Ministry of Work does not allow removal of asphalt. We begged them not to remove it. The Concessionaire should have been arrested for destroying public property. This road wss not like this when it was handed over. I am instructing the Ministry to arrest any Concessionaire that removes asphalt from existing roads.”

Addressing the Chief Executive Officer of BAECC, Samuel Daramola, Umahi said, “You manipulate the process to get the job. You have no knowledge of road construction. 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. The law is the overriding public interest. It is also the fault of the government for not finding out the competency of Concessionaires. You are learning how to do construction on our road. This is dangerous. This is provocation at its highest level. It is a pity when people cannot pass the road. We have competent contractors who we will beg to restore the road. We will be asking CCETC to fix the bad spot in Asaba.

” 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. We need total reconstruction of this road and not this palliative.”

On his part, the BAECC CEO blamed heavy rains on slow pace of work.

He said heavy vehicular traffic on the highway made the firm not to construct side drains.

He said, “We expanded the road. We have expanded to eight lanes. We did palliative work for some months. We are wrestling 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. We have to choose between doing side drains and combating heavy traffic. We are compelled to open the road when it is yet to cure. We have to do the work over again. This is a concession road and we are funding this road with our money.

“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.”

Chairman, House Committee on Works, Hon Akin Alabi, urged President Tinubu to look at the agreement with the Concessionaire.

“We should review all such contracts. We cannot afford Concessionaires who can be giving us issues. The people want to see good roads. There must be palliative measures. Let us come up with a solution where people can move.”

Representative of the project Consultant, Engr. Toyin Akinlapa, said BAECC refused to heed to their instructions to ensure the work was done to standard.”

The Concessionaire did not heed our instruction. 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.”

Senator Allwell Onyesoh described the situation of the Benin-Asaba highway as despicable.

Governor Monday Okpebholo said the prompt response of President Tinubu showed he cared about the people’s plight.

He urged the people not to listen to opposition comments on the social media.