The Federal Government has ordered a review of concession agreements for major roads across the country following the worsening crisis on the Benin-Asaba Expressway, where motorists have been trapped in prolonged gridlock and severe hardship.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, gave the directive on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of the highway in Benin City, where he expressed strong dissatisfaction with the handling of the project by the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC).
Umahi accused the concessionaire of lacking the technical capacity to manage a major highway project, particularly faulting its decision to remove existing asphalt without first providing adequate drainage.
The minister said the road was not in its current deplorable condition when it was handed over to the concessionaire, describing the removal of asphalt as the destruction of public property.
He directed the Ministry of Works to take action against concessionaires who remove asphalt from existing federal roads without authorisation and warned that the government would not allow road users to be subjected to unnecessary hardship.
Umahi also apologised to motorists and commuters affected by the crisis, saying President Bola Tinubu had directed the ministry to do everything possible to restore movement along the highway.
He said the government would bring in competent contractors to carry out emergency repairs on the failed sections, while a stakeholders’ meeting would be convened to determine the future of the project.
The minister further disclosed that the Federal Government was reviewing the process through which road concessions were awarded, stressing that the technical and professional competence of concessionaires must be properly established before contracts are granted.
The Benin-Asaba Expressway was concessioned to BAECC in 2025 for reconstruction and expansion into a 10-lane highway. The concessionaire is expected to recover its investment through tolling and maintain the road under the concession arrangement.
Concessionaire Blames Rain, Heavy Traffic
Responding to the minister’s criticism, BAECC Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Daramola, attributed the difficulties to persistent rainfall and the heavy volume of traffic on the highway.
Daramola said the company had expanded some sections of the road to eight lanes and undertaken palliative works, but faced difficulties constructing side drains while keeping traffic moving.
He explained that pressure from motorists had, at times, forced the company to reopen sections of the road before construction materials had fully cured, resulting in some work having to be repeated.
However, the project consultant’s representative, Engineer Toyin Akinlapa, disputed the explanation, alleging that BAECC failed to follow professional advice on the proper sequence of construction.
According to Akinlapa, the concessionaire was advised to construct drainage facilities before removing the existing asphalt, but failed to heed the instruction.
Lawmakers Back Review
Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, backed calls for a review of the concession agreement, saying Nigerians should not bear the consequences of poorly managed concession arrangements.
Alabi called for immediate palliative measures to ease the gridlock and restore movement on the strategic highway.
Senator Allwell Onyesoh also described the condition of the road as deplorable and sympathised with motorists and residents affected by the crisis.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, meanwhile, commended President Tinubu for his intervention, saying the Federal Government’s response demonstrated concern for the plight of motorists and communities affected by the prolonged gridlock.
The Federal Government’s proposed review could now extend beyond the Benin-Asaba corridor, with the administration seeking to ensure that concessionaires have the required technical capacity to deliver and maintain major public infrastructure.
