Presidency Blames Contractor for Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road Failure

The Presidency has blamed the contractor handling the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Expressway for the recent failure of the highway, describing the incident as an isolated case. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said that the Federal Government responded swiftly by deploying the Works Minister, National Assembly members and other stakeholders to the affected section. Dare said the contractor’s failure should be addressed, while the government remains responsible for identifying roads requiring repairs and providing the necessary funding. Works Minister David Umahi had earlier condemned the condition of the highway and directed plans for its total reconstruction after concluding that palliative repairs would not provide a lasting solution.

Dare also defended the Federal Government’s road construction programme, saying the Benin-Agbor-Asaba situation should not be used to assess all federal road projects nationwide. He said several roads had been completed or were progressing without similar complaints, citing the Abuja-Lokoja corridor as an example. According to him, the government is currently working on five major legacy roads and about 320 roads across the country, with motorists expected to endure some temporary inconvenience while construction continues. The renewed attention to the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road followed complaints over its deteriorating condition, which has disrupted transportation, damaged vehicles and increased the cost of movement and business along the route.

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