Nigeria Orders Total Reconstruction of Benin-Asaba Expressway

Works Minister David Umahi ordered the total reconstruction and redesign of the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Expressway following an inspection on August 26, 2026. The decision came after the road suffered severe deterioration that caused two weeks of gridlock, damaged vehicles, and increased business costs for commuters.

Umahi apologized to stranded motorists and attributed the failure to a private sector concessionaire. He stated that the contractor removed over 30 kilometers of asphalt and abandoned the project without completing the necessary rehabilitation work. During stakeholder engagements involving Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, Umahi maintained that the crisis was not caused by the Federal Ministry of Works but by the attempt to involve the private sector in development.

Special Adviser to the President Sunday Dare defended the administration's infrastructure record, describing the road failure as an isolated case. Dare asserted that the government fulfilled its obligations by providing funding and identifying needs, but the contractor failed in execution. The Presidency noted that the government is currently managing 320 roads nationwide, including five legacy projects. Separately, the Minister of State for Works is scheduled to inspect the Ifaki-Ado-Ekiti and Kogi-Ekiti roads following a 2024 directive from President Bola Tinubu.