President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene in the worsening condition of the Benin–Agbor–Asaba road, where motorists and commuters have been trapped in severe gridlock for days.
The directive follows growing concerns over the deteriorating highway, which has disrupted interstate travel, delayed the movement of goods and forced some travellers to abandon their vehicles in search of alternative means of transportation.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Francis Nwaze.
According to Umahi, Tinubu directed the ministry to take immediate steps to restore traffic flow along the affected corridor and ease the hardship being experienced by road users.
“President Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene and ensure that necessary corrective actions are taken to restore movement on the affected roads as quickly as possible,” Umahi said.
The minister said he would personally lead the intervention on the Benin–Agbor–Asaba corridor and had already commenced implementing the President’s directive.
Umahi arrived in Benin, Edo State, on Tuesday alongside members of the National Assembly Works Committees to assess the situation and begin discussions on immediate remedial measures.
The meeting is expected to include representatives of the Edo and Delta state governments, as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The intervention comes after days of severe gridlock caused by failed and badly deteriorated sections of the highway. The situation has brought movement along the major interstate route to an almost complete standstill, with some travellers reportedly abandoning their vehicles and trekking to find alternative transportation.
The crisis has also affected the movement of goods and commercial activities along the corridor.
On August 20, residents and motorists staged a protest over the poor condition of the Benin–Agbor bypass. Videos from the protest showed vehicles struggling to navigate severely damaged and muddy portions of the road.
Reacting to the situation, Umahi apologised to affected commuters and accepted responsibility on behalf of the ministry.
He assured road users that the Federal Government would take immediate steps to restore traffic flow while pursuing lasting solutions to the problems affecting the highway.
“We are determined to take immediate corrective measures while working towards permanent solutions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Umahi has directed the Minister of State for Works to lead another team of ministry officials to the Ifaki–Kabba–Ado Ekiti axis to assess the condition of the road and commence urgent remedial works.
The ministry said the team was already on the ground as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
The intervention on the Ifaki–Kabba–Ado Ekiti road also follows a directive from Tinubu over the deteriorating condition of the highway and the disruption it has caused to transportation.
Umahi said the Federal Government’s response to both road crises would go beyond temporary measures, stressing that emergency interventions would be combined with permanent solutions to restore the affected roads and improve their long-term reliability.
Tinubu Orders Urgent Action on Benin–Agbor–Asaba Road Gridlock
