Umahi to Inspect Benin-Asaba Road as Gridlock Enters Day Six

Works Minister David Umahi will visit the Benin-Asaba Road Tuesday as the traffic gridlock that left travellers stranded enters its sixth day.

The gridlock, which has affected the Benin-Agbor section of the highway, has triggered protests and growing anger from motorists and residents over the poor condition of the road.

Umahi said he would meet with independent engineers, the road concessionaire, ministry officials and the Edo State Government to find an urgent solution.

“Tomorrow, we are off to Benin-Asaba.

"I want Nigerians to be assured that when we get there, we’ll solve that problem,” Umahi said.

The minister said the crisis was linked to problems with the private-sector concession arrangement for the road.

“It’s not caused by Ministry of Works; it’s caused by, you know, our attempt to involve private sector in road development, as it’s done in other places,” he said.

Umahi also alleged that the concessionaire removed more than 30 kilometres of asphalt but did not complete the rehabilitation.

“But this concessionaire came and removed over 30 km of the asphalt and threw it away and threw it in the yard and left.

"And today, people are suffering,” he said.

He said the planned intervention would include a “robust engagement” with the concessionaire, independent engineers, ministry lawyers and the Edo governor.

The minister's visit comes after residents, motorists and transport workers staged protests over the road, while travellers reported spending hours and, in some cases, nights trapped in traffic.

The 125-kilometre Benin-Asaba section is under a 25-year concession, according to Umahi, who previously said the Federal Government must work within the existing agreement.

As travellers remain stranded with little to offer with respect to comfort, Nigerians are still calling for lasting repairs to the major route linking Edo and Delta states.