The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali, has called on the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive review of the concession agreement for the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road, urging the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to assess whether the contractors handling the project have the capacity to deliver.
Igali made the call during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, a day after Umahi visited the troubled highway in Edo State, where he apologised to motorists over the deteriorating condition of the road and assured commuters that efforts were underway to improve the situation.
The Benin-Asaba Road, one of Nigeria’s busiest highways, serves as a major gateway between the South-South, South-East and other parts of the country. For years, commuters, transport operators and businesses have complained about its poor condition, citing frequent gridlock, damaged vehicles and delays in the movement of people and goods.
Reacting to the minister’s intervention, Igali welcomed what he described as a positive response from the Federal Government but stressed that inspection visits alone would not solve the problem without a critical assessment of those responsible for executing the project.
“There may be a need to have a more comprehensive holistic overview of the concessions and the state of what the contractors are doing.”
He questioned the pace of work on the highway, noting that while construction equipment is visible on the site, the level of progress does not reflect the scale of resources deployed.
“You see equipment and some level of work being done but not much progress is seen.”»
The PANDEF chairman, however, commended the growing attention being given to the road by key government institutions, describing it as a sign that public concerns were receiving the necessary attention.
“We are happy by the response, by the fact that you have the minister, the National Assembly, the NNDC shows responsiveness but I think it should be escalated to all other areas where there are concerns.”
His remarks come amid renewed public pressure on the Federal Government to accelerate rehabilitation work on critical highways across the country, particularly roads linking major commercial centres.
The Benin-Agbor-Asaba corridor remains one of the country’s most strategic transport routes, carrying thousands of commuters and heavy-duty vehicles daily. Stakeholders have repeatedly warned that prolonged delays in completing the project could continue to affect economic activities and worsen travel conditions.
Umahi’s inspection and apology have been viewed by many commuters as a recognition of the hardship caused by the road’s condition. However, Igali believes sustained oversight, including a review of contractors’ competence and performance under existing concession agreements, will be necessary to ensure the project delivers the expected results.
His intervention adds to growing calls for stricter monitoring of infrastructure projects to guarantee timely execution and value for public investment.