Tinubu Orders Urgent Repairs of Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road as Gridlock Paralyzes Movement

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene in the deteriorating Benin-Agbor-Asaba highway following days of severe gridlock that have left motorists and commuters stranded and disrupted the movement of goods and services.

The directive was disclosed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Francis Nwaze.

According to Umahi, President Tinubu ordered immediate corrective measures to restore free movement along the troubled corridor and reduce the hardship being experienced by motorists, commuters, traders and other road users.

Umahi said the President directed the ministry to urgently intervene and ensure that necessary corrective actions were taken to restore movement on the affected sections as quickly as possible.

The minister disclosed that he arrived in Benin, Edo State, on Tuesday alongside members of the National Assembly Committees on Works to assess the situation and begin discussions on remedial measures.

He said the engagement would involve officials of the Edo and Delta State governments, as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in finding immediate solutions to the worsening traffic crisis.

The Benin-Agbor-Asaba highway is a major interstate route linking several parts of the South-South and beyond. However, failed sections and deteriorating portions of the road have resulted in prolonged traffic congestion and serious hardship for travellers.

Reports indicated that some travellers were forced to abandon their vehicles and trek in search of alternative means of transportation, while commercial activities and the movement of agricultural produce and other goods were also disrupted.

The deteriorating condition of the highway had earlier triggered a protest by residents and motorists on August 20, particularly over the Benin-Agbor bypass.

Videos from the protest showed motorists struggling to navigate damaged, muddy and impassable sections of the highway.

Responding to the situation, Umahi apologised to affected road users and accepted responsibility on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Works.

He assured Nigerians that emergency interventions would be deployed while efforts would continue towards finding permanent solutions to the long-standing problems affecting the road.

The minister also disclosed that the Minister of State for Works had been directed to lead another team to the Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti axis for urgent remedial works following a similar directive from the President.

According to him, the team was already on site as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
Umahi stressed that the Federal Government's response to the two road crises would combine immediate emergency interventions with long-term rehabilitation measures aimed at improving the reliability and safety of the affected highways.

The development is expected to bring relief to thousands of motorists and commuters who depend on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba corridor daily for interstate travel, business and the transportation of goods.

For residents and road users who have endured days of gridlock, the Federal Government's intervention is expected to provide an immediate respite while broader rehabilitation efforts are pursued.