The Federal Government has ordered an immediate review of road concession agreements nationwide following the worsening condition of the Benin-Asaba Expressway, where motorists have been stranded for days.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, gave the directive after inspecting the severely damaged highway on Tuesday. He expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC), which was awarded the concession to reconstruct and expand the road.
Umahi accused the concessionaire of lacking the technical capacity required for the project and criticised the company for removing sections of the existing asphalt without adequate measures to prevent the road from deteriorating further.
The minister said the Federal Government would review the process through which road concessions were awarded, stressing that the technical competence of companies must be properly established before they are entrusted with major public infrastructure projects.
The Benin-Asaba Expressway was reportedly concessioned to BAECC in 2025 for reconstruction and expansion into a 10-lane highway. However, sections of the road have deteriorated badly, resulting in severe gridlock and leaving motorists and truck drivers stranded for extended periods.
Umahi apologised to Nigerians affected by the situation and said the government would bring in competent contractors to carry out emergency repairs and restore the affected portions of the highway to a motorable condition.
He also warned that concessionaires whose activities endanger road users or damage public infrastructure could face sanctions.
The minister said a stakeholders’ meeting would be convened to review the concession agreement and determine the appropriate way forward.
The crisis has generated widespread concern because the Benin-Asaba corridor is an important transport route linking parts of the South-South and South-East with the rest of the country. Prolonged disruption has affected commuters, commercial transport operators and the movement of goods.
The Federal Government’s nationwide review is therefore expected to determine whether existing concessionaires are meeting their contractual obligations and whether the companies handling major roads have the capacity to execute the projects entrusted to them.
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