FG to Engage Stakeholders on Benin–Asaba Road Condition

Works Minister Dave Umahi says FG will engage the concessionaire and stakeholders to address the deplorable Benin–Asaba Road.

Damilare Adebayo · August 25, 2026 · 164

The Federal Government is set to hold a comprehensive engagement with the concessionaire and other stakeholders over the deteriorating condition of the Benin–Asaba Road.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists during an inspection of the Carter Bridge in Lagos.

Umahi said he would on Tuesday lead members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Works to inspect the Benin–Asaba Road and explore solutions to the challenges affecting the project.

He explained that the problems were linked to the Federal Government’s attempt to involve the private sector in the development and management of major infrastructure projects.

“The problem is not caused by the Federal Ministry of Works. It is caused by our attempt to involve the private sector in those developments as it is done in other places,” Umahi said.

According to the minister, the concessionaire had removed more than 30 kilometres of asphalt before abandoning the project.

“This concessionaire came and removed over 30km of the asphalt and threw it away, closed the yard and left, and today people are suffering,” he said.

Umahi said the ministry would engage an independent engineer, its legal representatives and the concessionaire to determine the best way forward.

The engagement will also involve the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo.

The minister acknowledged the hardship faced by motorists and other road users as a result of the road’s condition, assuring that the Federal Government was taking steps to address challenges affecting other critical roads across the country.

He also disclosed that the Minister of State for Works would inspect the Ifaki–Ado-Ekiti and Kogi–Ekiti roads as part of efforts to improve their condition.

Umahi recalled that President Bola Tinubu had drawn his attention to the poor condition of the roads in 2024 and directed that the matter be addressed.

“We have redesigned it and we will bring up a result, which we will show to the President,” he said.