Repair works on Benin-Asaba highway begin

The Federal Government has begun emergency intervention work on the 125km Benin-Asaba highway.

It said the aggressive palliative work would take four weeks to complete.

The Benin-Asaba highway was concessioned to the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC) under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement with the first 65km to be completed in May 2027.

But the concessionaire failed to meet up to expectation worsening condition of the road.

Speaking in Benin City at the flagging off of operation rescue Benin-Asaba Highway, President Bola Tinubu said the emergency intervention would last for four weeks.

Represented by Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo, President Tinubu explained that the intervention aimed to reduce hardship suffered by road users.

“We are here today not to witness the commencement of another road project. We are witnessing the response of a government that has heard the cries of its people and has chosen to act. That is why today’s intervention is truly a rescue operation.

“To the new contractor, this is a road of great economic importance to Edo, Delta and Nigeria.

“We expect quality work, strict compliance with the approved project specifications, and delivery within the agreed timeframe, there must be no excuses,” he said.

He appealed to the people to remain patient, saying their complaints had been heard.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, informed several engineers have been assigned to monitor various sections of the road.

He expressed disappointment that the Concessionaire did not accept the three options he made available for construction work to continue on the road.

Umahi stated that the contract was not awarded to Hi-Tech or any other contractor, explaining that efforts to secure the cooperation of the concessionaire failed.

 Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the Benin-Asaba corridor had remained a major challenge for residents of Delta and Edo.

Oborevwori commended Tinubu for intervening to restore the road, which he described as an important link for commerce and cultural ties between the two states.

“For us in Delta, this intervention is a welcome development because this road helps to connect commerce, culture and bring us together as a people that once existed as one state.

“This road needs to come back alive because we have all felt the embarrassment of the deplorable condition of the road.

“The decision to bring back life to this road is a decision we must appreciate President Tinubu for and indeed it shows that he listens,” he said.