President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently address the worsening condition of the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road, where motorists and commuters have been stranded in gridlock for days.
The directive follows concerns over the deteriorating highway, which has disrupted interstate travel, delayed the movement of goods and forced some travellers to seek alternative transportation.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Francis Nwaze. Umahi said Tinubu directed the ministry to restore movement along the affected corridor and ease the hardship faced by road users.
“President Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene and ensure that necessary corrective actions are taken to restore movement on the affected roads as quickly as possible”, he said.
The minister said he would personally lead the intervention, adding that implementation of the presidential directive had commenced. Umahi arrived in Benin, Edo State, on Tuesday with members of the National Assembly Works Committees to assess the situation and discuss immediate remedial measures.
The meeting is expected to include representatives of the Edo and Delta State governments, as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. The intervention follows days of severe gridlock caused by failed sections and the deteriorating condition of the highway.
The situation has brought movement along the major interstate route to a near standstill, with some travellers reportedly abandoning their vehicles and trekking to seek alternative transportation. The gridlock has also disrupted the movement of goods and commercial activities along the corridor.
On August 20, residents and motorists protested the condition of the Benin-Agbor bypass, with videos showing vehicles struggling through damaged and muddy sections of the road.
Reacting to the situation, Umahi accepted responsibility on behalf of the ministry and apologised to affected commuters. He assured road users that the Federal Government would take immediate steps to restore movement while pursuing permanent solutions.
“We are determined to take immediate corrective measures while working towards permanent solutions”, he said.
Meanwhile, Umahi directed the Minister of State for Works to lead another team of officials to the Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti axis to assess the road and commence urgent remedial works.
Umahi said the response to both road crises would combine emergency measures with permanent solutions to restore the affected routes and improve their long-term reliability.
