Benin-asaba Road: Tinubu Orders Concrete Rebuild

By Arit Mbeh

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the complete redesign of the 136-kilometre Benin-Asaba Road on reinforced concrete pavement as the Federal Government moves to rescue the long-troubled highway from further collapse.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, who announced the presidential directive yesterday in Benin City, also dropped a major clarification: no contract has been awarded to Hitech or any other company for the emergency rehabilitation of the road.

Instead, the Federal Government has hired construction equipment belonging to companies already operating along the corridor, including Hitech, CECC and CBC, for what Umahi described as an urgent temporary intervention.

The minister spoke during the launch of “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road,” against the backdrop of mounting public concern over the deplorable condition of the strategic highway linking Edo and Delta states.

Umahi said the immediate intervention was designed to restore the worst sections of the road within four weeks while government works on the permanent reconstruction of the entire corridor.

“The emergency intervention of the Federal Ministry of Works by way of palliative intervention rehabilitation of Benin-Asaba was not awarded to Hitech or to any contractor. No award has been made,” Umahi declared.

“What we have done as responsible public servants, the staff of the Ministry of Works, is to hire the equipment of some contractors within this corridor, namely equipment of Hitech, equipment of CECC, CBC, and we are still sourcing for more equipment.”

He said the temporary operation would be intensive.

“It’s going to be an explosive intervention to get this road fixed on a temporal basis within the next four weeks,” he said.

But beyond the emergency repairs, Umahi disclosed a major change in the Federal Government’s long-term plan for the highway.

According to him, the decision followed the failure of efforts to sustain the existing concession arrangement after the concessionaire rejected three options presented by the Federal Government.

“And it’s very unfortunate that every three beautiful options we gave to the concessionaire for the continuation of the so-called agreement failed,” he said.

“However, every disappointment can turn a blessing.”

Umahi said President Tinubu had consequently directed that the entire 136-kilometre dualisation project be redesigned with reinforced concrete pavement, whether executed under a concession arrangement or eventually taken over by the Ministry of Works.

“The President has directed, whether under concessioning or under the takeover of the Ministry of Works, that the entire 136km dualisation should be redesigned on reinforced concrete pavement,” he said.

“So, we have defined the project. There is going to be immediate intervention in the Benin Bypass.”

The minister’s announcement effectively separates the immediate rescue operation from the permanent reconstruction of the highway, with the Federal Government deploying hired equipment for the former while redesigning the latter.

The Benin-Asaba Road is one of the major transport arteries in the South-South, carrying heavy commercial, passenger and industrial traffic between Edo, Delta and other parts of the country.

Its prolonged deterioration has subjected motorists to severe delays, vehicle damage and difficult travelling conditions, while raising concerns over the economic consequences for communities and businesses along the corridor.

For now, the Federal Government says the message is clear: the emergency work is not a contract award, and the permanent solution is being redesigned in concrete.