The Presidency has blamed the contractor handling the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Expressway for the recent deterioration of the highway, saying the Federal Government has moved quickly to address the problem.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, made this known on Wednesday while speaking about the condition of the road and the President’s order for its redesign and complete reconstruction.
Dare described the situation on the highway as an isolated problem and said it should not be used to judge the condition of federal roads across Nigeria. He noted that several other road projects had either been completed or were progressing without similar problems.
The presidential aide said the government was responsible for identifying roads that needed attention and providing funds for their repair or reconstruction. He added that contractors were expected to deliver the work according to the required standards.
Dare said the events surrounding the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road pointed to shortcomings on the part of the contractor. He noted that the contractor had provided explanations for the failure, but the government still expected immediate steps to correct the situation.
His comments came a day after the Minister of Works, David Umahi, visited the affected section of the road in Edo State.
During the inspection, Umahi apologised to motorists and other road users for the poor condition of the highway. He also criticised the concessionaire responsible for the reconstruction and said the government would move towards a complete reconstruction because temporary repairs would no longer provide a lasting solution.
The road had recently caused serious difficulties for motorists and other road users. A visit to the Benin section of the highway on Tuesday showed that parts of the road remained in poor condition, although the traffic congestion that had affected the route for about two weeks had reduced.
Dare said the quick visit by the Works Minister, members of the National Assembly and other officials showed that the government was responding to the situation.
He said road construction remained the joint responsibility of the government and contractors, with the government providing funding and oversight while contractors were expected to properly execute the projects.
The presidential aide also defended the progress of other federal road projects, saying motorists would sometimes experience inconvenience while major construction works were taking place.
He cited the Abuja-Lokoja road as an example, saying he recently travelled along the route with about 65 journalists and saw sections that had been completed as well as areas where concrete construction was still ongoing.
Dare explained that large road projects were normally completed in stages. He said motorists might continue to use existing sections of a road while newly completed portions were gradually opened for use.
According to him, the Federal Government is currently working on several major roads across the country. He said the programme includes five legacy road projects and about 320 other roads in different parts of Nigeria.
The government has faced increasing pressure over the condition of the Benin-Agbor-Asaba corridor following complaints from motorists and residents about damaged vehicles, delays and rising transportation costs.
The renewed government intervention is expected to lead to the redesign and full reconstruction of the affected sections of the highway, with authorities seeking a more lasting solution to the problems along the busy route.