The Minister of Works, Senator David Nweze Umahi, has ordered major contractors to begin emergency repairs on all three sections of the deteriorating Benin-Asaba Federal Road.
This is contained in a statement issued on September 8, 2026, and signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Works (Media), Francis Nwaze in Abuja.
The Ministry of Works said the intervention would restore failed sections and ease hardship for motorists. Umahi inspected the road about a week earlier and mobilised contractors for palliative works after the concessionaire failed to approve federal intervention.
He also ordered the route’s redesign for reconstruction with reinforced concrete pavement, which the ministry described as a permanent solution.
Government Lists Other Road Interventions
The ministry said interventions were ongoing on the Benin-Sapele, Ifaki-Kabba, Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, Bauchi-Jigawa, Sagamu-Ore, Abuja-Lokoja and Lokoja-Benin-Warri roads.
It said several projects were being reconstructed with reinforced concrete pavement, while failed and flooded sections were being prepared for emergency works. Solar-powered lighting is also being installed on some routes.
Bridge Projects
Weekly maintenance is continuing on Carter Bridge, while CCECC has begun work on a permanent replacement.
The government is also assessing defective underwater elements of the Third Mainland Bridge. Work is ongoing on the Lagos-Ibadan Road and the approaches to the Second Niger Bridge, while the First Niger Bridge remains closed for rehabilitation.
‘Over 80% of Inherited Roads Under Intervention’
The ministry said more than 80 per cent of inherited federal roads were under intervention, describing the programme as unprecedented.
It said reinforced concrete pavement was being used on major projects to extend road lifespans to between 50 and 100 years. The ministry acknowledged public concerns over road conditions and urged Nigerians to report unresolved infrastructure problems.
It added that a comprehensive record of inherited, ongoing and intervention projects had been made public to promote transparency.
