The Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and execution of the ongoing reconstruction and expansion of the Benin-Asaba Highway, accusing the concessionaire of violating engineering best practices and worsening the hardship faced by motorists and host communities.
Umahi made the remarks on Tuesday, during an on-the-spot assessment of the 125-kilometre highway, which links Benin City in Edo State with Asaba in Delta State, a statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Mohammed A. Ahmed, said on Wednesday.
The inspection followed growing concerns over the condition of the road and the impact of the ongoing construction works on road users.
The Minister specifically faulted the Benin–Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC), the concessionaire handling the project, for its slow pace of work and alleged unprofessional construction methods.
He said the concessionaire had failed to adhere to engineering best practices, stressing that its methodology was adversely affecting motorists, host communities and the overall progress of the project.
The BAECC Managing Director/CEO, Samuel Daramola, attributed the slow progress to heavy traffic along the route and persistent rainfall in the corridor. Umahi, however, dismissed the explanations as “unprofessional and untenable excuses.”
The Minister also condemned the removal of asphalt from sections of the existing highway that were still in good condition, warning that such action could damage already stabilised road substructures.
He directed Federal Controllers of Works and Engineering Representatives to immediately arrest any contractor found completely removing asphalt from an existing carriageway.
Umahi apologised to Nigerians and residents of communities along the corridor over the hardship caused by the construction activities, assuring road users that urgent measures would be taken to improve traffic flow on the worst sections.
He announced that a competent contractor would be immediately engaged to undertake remedial works on the critically bad portions of the highway.
The Benin-Asaba Highway is one of the pilot corridors under Phase I of the Federal Government’s Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), being implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
The Federal Executive Council approved the concession of the highway in January 2023 under a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) arrangement for a 25-year concession period, including a three-year construction phase.
The concession agreement was signed on May 23, 2023, while the project was formally handed over to BAECC on March 23, 2025. A commencement order subsequently set April 8, 2025, to April 8, 2028, as the 36-month construction period.
Following concerns over the project’s execution, the Ministry said it had conducted several technical engagements and inspections, including site visits in October 2025 and January and May 2026, as well as meetings with the concessionaire and independent engineer in July 2026.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Allwell Onyesoh, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Hon. Akin Alabi, described the condition of the road as unacceptable and pledged to support a comprehensive review of concession agreements nationwide to ensure compliance with contractual terms.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South South Zone, Mrs. Gift Johnbull, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was aware of the difficulties faced by motorists and residents and had directed that lasting solutions be found.
The Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, also appealed to motorists and residents to remain patient, assuring them that steps were being taken to address the challenges.
A follow-up meeting involving all stakeholders in the project is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Edo State Government House.
The inspection team also visited the ongoing reconstruction of 23 kilometres of failed sections of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road using Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP).
The project, being undertaken by the Edo State Government on behalf of the Federal Government, has reached about 75 per cent completion and is being executed by CBC Global Civil and Building Construction (Nig.) Limited.
The Minister expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work.
The team also inspected a 10-kilometre stretch of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road, Section I, Phase 2, being executed by CCECC (Nigeria) Limited. The project has recorded about 25 per cent completion and is progressing on CRCP.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, pledged that the commission would reconstruct a critically failed 15.4-kilometre stretch of the Benin-Sapele Road between the Edo and Delta State borders.
Umahi welcomed the intervention and directed officials of the Ministry and the NDDC to collaborate on the modalities for executing the project.