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The Minister of Works, Senator David Nweze Umahi, has ordered the immediate deployment of major contractors to all three sections of the Benin-Asaba Federal Road for emergency repairs, following the worsening condition of the road.
The directive is aimed at restoring failed sections of the road and easing the hardship faced by motorists and other road users.
The ministry, in a statement signed by Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Works (Media), on September 8, 2026, said the decision became necessary because the condition of the concessioned Benin-Asaba Road had reached a point where public interest must take precedence.
According to the statement, Umahi had visited the road about a week earlier and assembled contractors to prepare for immediate palliative intervention at no cost to the concessionaire.
It explained that the concession agreement requires the Federal Government to obtain the concessionaire’s permission before intervening on the road, but such permission was not granted.
The minister subsequently proposed three options to the concessionaire to enable the Federal Government to address the deteriorating sections, but none was accepted.
The statement added that following the minister’s departure from Asaba, equipment deployed by the concessionaire was further reduced to just one unit, worsening the situation.
In response, Umahi has now directed major contractors operating within the corridor to immediately intervene on all three sections of the Benin-Asaba Road, with the Federal Government to bear the cost.
He also ordered the immediate redesign of the entire route for reconstruction with reinforced concrete pavement.
The ministry said the emergency intervention would restore the failed sections, while the subsequent rehabilitation would provide a permanent solution across the route.
Other Critical Roads
On the Benin-Sapele Road, the statement said the Edo and Delta State governments, the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Federal Government are intervening on different sections, with palliative and permanent works ongoing.
For the Ifaki–Kabba Road, the Federal Government is engaging Gamji Nigeria Company Limited and Dangote Plc on emergency and permanent interventions on the most severely damaged sections, while efforts are ongoing to mobilise the contractor financially for more extensive work.
On the Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina Road, the ministry said the inherited dualisation project covering approximately 350 kilometres has been redesigned, with reconstruction largely being undertaken with reinforced concrete pavement. More than 50 kilometres of one carriageway from Sokoto towards Zamfara have been completed, while contractors including CBC, SETRACO, Triacta and Mothercat are being remobilised.
On the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, the Federal Government has completed the 118-kilometre Lot 1, largely with reinforced concrete pavement, while Lot 2, covering 164 kilometres, is more than 60 per cent complete. Solar-powered lighting is also being installed along the entire route, with completion scheduled for December 2026.
The ministry said Triacta Nigeria Limited has been mobilised to intervene on failed sections of the Bauchi-Jigawa Road.
On the Sagamu-Ore Road, 48 kilometres of the 96-kilometre route have been completed with reinforced concrete pavement, while a 24-kilometre abandoned section around Ore is being restored. Solar lights are also being installed along the route.
Flooded sections of the Sagamu-Ore-Benin corridor and other affected federal roads in Ondo State are being prepared for emergency procurement and intervention.
The statement said critical failed sections, including defective bridge sections on the East-West Road, are also being identified for emergency intervention.
For the Abuja-Lokoja Road, several contracts are ongoing, while three critical sections without existing contracts are being procured for emergency works.
On the Lokoja-Benin-Warri Road, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the complete redesign and procurement of the approximately 400-kilometre dualised route covering the uncompleted sections, with reinforced concrete pavement to be used, while palliative works continue.
Regarding Carter Bridge, the ministry said weekly maintenance of the underwater elements is continuing, while the bridge site has been handed over to CCECC for construction of a permanent replacement bridge, with work already commenced.
The Federal Government is also at the final stage of determining the appropriate intervention for defective underwater structural elements of the Third Mainland Bridge.
The ministry said work has commenced on the flooded section of the Lagos-Ibadan Road, while other flood-damaged sections of federal roads across the six geopolitical zones are being identified for immediate attention.
On the First and Second Niger Bridges, intervention works are ongoing on the approach roads to the Second Niger Bridge, while the First Niger Bridge has been closed to traffic to facilitate comprehensive rehabilitation. The contractor has mobilised to site, with major rehabilitation also ongoing from Summit Junction to the First Niger Bridge using reinforced concrete pavement.
Over 80% of Inherited Federal Roads Under Intervention
The ministry said the Federal Government is currently working on more than 80 per cent of inherited federal roads, describing the scale of intervention as unprecedented in the country’s road infrastructure development.
It said the Tinubu administration inherited a road network with significant challenges but made rehabilitation and reconstruction a priority across the country.
According to the statement, the government is adopting reinforced concrete pavement for several major projects, with such roads expected to have lifespans of between 50 and 100 years.
The ministry said the approach was intended to provide durable infrastructure rather than continue the cycle of frequent road reconstruction caused by premature deterioration.
It acknowledged concerns from Nigerians over the condition of some roads and the difficulties faced by motorists and commuters, but appealed for understanding over the scale of the infrastructure deficit inherited by the administration.
The ministry maintained that it would continue to respond to genuine reports of failed roads and other infrastructure challenges, while urging members of the public to also report when previously identified problems had been resolved.
It further disclosed that a comprehensive record of inherited, ongoing and intervention projects across the country had been compiled and made available to the public to enhance transparency and public participation in the government’s infrastructure programme.