The Benin-Asaba road has become a major source of hardship for motorists and passengers, with some travellers spending up to three days trapped in gridlock.

The worsening situation has prompted the Federal Government to review concessioned roads nationwide and assess whether contractors are complying with agreed terms.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, made this known during an inspection of the Benin-Asaba highway, where he criticised the concessionaire, BAECC, over the condition of the road.

Umahi said the company had “failed woefully” in handling the project, accusing it of lacking the technical capacity required for the work.

He also promised that government would deploy a contractor to carry out immediate repairs and make the road motorable.

According to the minister, the concessionaire worsened the situation by removing existing asphalt despite being advised against doing so.

He said such action amounted to the destruction of public assets and warned that concessionaires would face arrest if they removed asphalt from existing roads.

“This road was not like this when it was handed over,” Umahi said.

The Benin-Asaba road was concessioned to BAECC in 2025 for reconstruction into a 10-lane highway.

The project was scheduled for completion by September 2027, after which tolling would begin as the company recoups its investment and maintains the road for 25 years.

However, BAECC Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Daramola, attributed delays to heavy rainfall and intense traffic along the highway.

Daramola said the company had expanded portions of the highway to eight lanes and undertaken palliative works.

He explained that heavy traffic had made construction of side drains difficult because the road had to remain open to motorists.

The project consultant, Toyin Akinlapa, however, said the concessionaire ignored instructions to construct drainage infrastructure first.

The worsening Benin-Asaba road has resulted in severe hardship for travellers, drivers and businesses.

A passenger travelling with her two-year-old son told journalists that she had spent two nights inside a bus at Agbor because she could not afford hotel accommodation.

A truck driver similarly said a journey from Lagos to Benin, which ordinarily takes about four hours, could now take several days because of the bad sections.

Another logistics driver said he spent three days transporting goods from Lagos to Asaba.

He left Lagos on August 20 and arrived in Asaba on August 23 after getting trapped around Benin and Agbor.

The prolonged delays have also raised concerns over perishable goods, vehicle damage and disruption to commercial activities.

Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, urged President Bola Tinubu to review agreements governing concessioned roads.

He said Nigerians needed immediate palliative measures to ensure people could move while long-term construction continued.

Community stakeholders also expressed concern over the impact of the highway’s condition on businesses and residents.

Kingsley Osemwingie of the Ikpoba Hill Youth Forum said residents had previously protested the situation and called for urgent government intervention.

Cleric Rev. Philip Aroje also accused the concessionaire of failing to deliver the expected improvement despite beginning work earlier in the year.

The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Ambassador Godknows Igali, described the deteriorating condition of roads across the South-South as a growing crisis.

Igali said the region, which contributes significantly to Nigeria’s economy, deserved greater infrastructure attention.

He cited deteriorating roads linking Benin with Auchi, Okene and Akure, warning that poor connectivity was creating frustration among residents.

He said the region was not demanding preferential treatment but fairness and equity in infrastructure development.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government’s proposed review of concessioned roads is expected to determine whether operators are meeting contractual obligations and what immediate measures can be taken to ease the suffering of road users.