Umahi directs arrest of contractors removing asphalt on Benin-Asaba highway

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has expressed concern over the slow progress of work on the Benin-Asaba Highway and directed security agencies to arrest any contractor found removing asphalt from existing sections of the road.

Umahi issued the directive on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, during an inspection of the 125-kilometre highway following complaints from motorists and communities along the route over the difficulties caused by the ongoing construction.

The minister criticised the concessionaire responsible for the project, stressing the need for faster and more effective work to reduce the hardship faced by road users.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Works, Mohammed Ahmed.

Umahi also warned against actions that could further worsen the condition of the highway, particularly the removal of asphalt from existing carriageways without proper arrangements for restoring the affected sections.

The Minister faulted the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC) for the slow pace of work and alleged disregard for engineering standards despite repeated warnings from the Independent Engineer, Yolas Consultants, and the Ministry.

Umahi said the concessionaire’s construction methodology was adversely affecting road users, host communities and the pace of work.

“You are not adhering to engineering best practices in road construction and your methodology is adversely impacting road users, host neighbourhoods and the pace of work,” he said.

The Minister rejected explanations by BAECC Managing Director, Mr Samuel Daramola, who attributed the difficulties to heavy traffic and double rainfall maxima along the corridor.

Umahi described the explanations as “unprofessional and untenable excuses” and apologised to Nigerians for the hardship caused by the condition of the road.

He directed Federal Controllers of Works and Engineering Representatives to arrest any contractor found completely removing asphalt from an existing road.

“I, therefore, direct all Federal Controllers of Works and Engineering Representatives to, henceforth, arrest any contractor who completely removes the asphalt from an existing road,” he said.

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To ease the traffic situation, Umahi said a competent contractor would be engaged immediately to rehabilitate the critically bad portions of the highway.

He also assured road users that President Bola Tinubu “feels their pains.”

Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh and Hon. Akin Alabi, respectively, described the situation as “an unacceptable disaster” and promised a nationwide review of concession agreements to ensure compliance.

The Presidential Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, South-South, Mrs Gift Johnbull, said the President was aware of the plight of road users and had directed that solutions be found.

Governor Monday Okpebholo also appealed for patience, saying a solution had been found by the Minister to address the problem.

The Benin-Asaba Highway runs from AIF Roundabout in Benin City to Summit Junction in Asaba, linking the South-East, South-South and parts of the South-West. It is one of the pilot projects under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the concession of the highway to BAECC on a 25-year Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) basis in January 2023. The agreement was signed in May 2023, while the project was handed over in March 2025, with a 36-month construction period scheduled from April 2025 to April 2028.

The inspection team also assessed two sections of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road being handled by the Edo State Government on behalf of the Federal Government.

The 23-kilometre section being handled by CBC Global is 75 per cent complete, while the 10-kilometre Section I, Phase 2, being handled by CCECC, is 25 per cent complete. Both sections are being constructed with Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, pledged to reconstruct a failed 15.4-kilometre stretch between the Edo-Delta border.

Umahi subsequently directed the NDDC and Federal Government project teams to harmonise their efforts on the affected sections.

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