The Federal Government has commenced moves to restore the Benin-Asaba Road within four weeks as part of an emergency intervention to ease the hardship faced by motorists and businesses along the route.
The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this on Thursday in Benin City during the “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road” exercise, saying equipment from contractors working along the corridor had been deployed for the emergency repairs.
Umahi said the intervention would begin from the Edo axis, with attention given to the Benin Bypass, while supervising engineers would be stationed at different sections of the road to monitor the work and ensure compliance with specifications.
The minister explained that the emergency rehabilitation was not being handled as a conventional contract, but through equipment hired from contractors, including Hi-Tech, CCECC and CBC.
He added that President Bola Tinubu had directed the redesign of the entire 136-kilometre Benin-Asaba dual carriageway with reinforced concrete pavement to provide a long-term solution to the road’s poor condition.
According to Umahi, the Federal Government had given the concessionaire three options to continue with the project, but none was successful, leading to the emergency intervention in the public interest.
He also alleged that the concessionaire lacked the engineering and financial capacity required to execute the project and had breached provisions of the concession agreement.
Reacting to the development, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, welcomed the Federal Government’s intervention, describing the road as a critical economic link between Delta and Edo states and the South-East and South-South regions.
The governor, who spoke through the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said the poor condition of the road had caused prolonged hardship for motorists, commuters and businesses.
Aniagwu commended President Tinubu and Umahi for the intervention, urging the contractors and relevant authorities to ensure that the emergency repairs were carried out quickly.
He said the restoration of the road would improve the movement of people and goods, revive commercial activities and strengthen economic activities along the corridor.
The commissioner also recalled Delta State’s intervention on the Warri-Sapele Road, where the state constructed the section from the U-turn at the Spare Parts Market to Ohore Junction using concrete rigid pavement.
Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, thanked President Tinubu for approving the intervention and urged those handling the project to maintain quality and comply with approved specifications.
The Benin-Asaba Road is an important route connecting the South-South and South-East with other parts of the country. Its deteriorating sections have in recent months resulted in traffic congestion and delays in the movement of people and goods.
The emergency repairs are expected to provide immediate relief to road users, while the planned redesign and long-term reconstruction of the 136-kilometre corridor are pursued.
