The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has kick-started the Federal Government’s emergency intervention on the Benin-Asaba Highway under the Ministry’s “Operation Rescue” initiative, aimed at restoring safe, smooth and uninterrupted movement along the critical corridor.
The intervention, to be carried out by the Ministry through the hiring of equipment and direct implementation, is a demonstration of its determination to address the severe deterioration of sections of the road and bring immediate relief to motorists, commuters, businesses and affected communities.
He made this known during the inauguration of “Operation Rescue” Benin-Asaba Expressway in Benin City, Edo State.
The Benin-Asaba Highway is a strategic federal highway that commences at AIF Roundabout in Benin City, Edo State, and terminates at Summit Junction in Asaba, Delta State, covering a distance of 125km. It was concessioned to the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC) by the immediate past administration, but the handing over of the site was performed by the present administration in March 2025.
However, it has since been proven that the concessionaire lacks the technical and financial capacity to execute the project. This was established by the Independent Engineer (IE) for the project, Messrs Yolas Consultants Limited.
Considering the plight of road users and the continued deterioration of the road, the IE advised the Ministry to urgently take all necessary steps to save it from further deterioration, avert further gridlock, assuage the suffering of motorists and save the Federal Government from embarrassment.
Umahi has personally been monitoring the implementation of the concession project through several site visits and issued instructions via the IE for the concessionaire to adhere to the Ministry’s standards and methodology, which were not complied with, leading to worsening road conditions.
Hence, the Ministry’s intervention to save the critically failed sections of the expressway through the deployment of equipment and personnel.
According to the Minister, the Federal Ministry of Works is poised to alleviate the hardship being experienced by road users and communities along the corridor. He reiterated that the Federal Government would not allow the condition of a major national artery to continue to undermine economic activities, movement of people, goods and services, as well as the safety of road users and host communities.
He stressed that the emergency intervention is focused on achieving immediate traffic relief while providing a sustainable engineering solution to the identified problem spots.
The intervention, he said, is also driven by the overriding need to protect public interest and ensure that Nigerians using the road are not left to bear the consequences of deteriorating infrastructure occasioned by the lapses of the concessionaire.
The Minister emphasised that “this is not a new contract but an immediate solution to the plight of road users.”
He reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to restoring critical road infrastructure across the country and ensuring that emergencies receive prompt and decisive attention.
“Operation Rescue is about immediate action, restoration of movement and protection of the travelling public and communities along the corridor. We are determined to address the failed sections and, thereafter, provide a durable solution that will serve Nigerians for many years,” the Minister asserted.
He called on road users and people along the corridor to cooperate with the Ministry’s officials and traffic management personnel as emergency works commence, assuring them that the Ministry would continue to monitor progress and take all necessary measures to minimise hardship during the intervention.
“I am pleading with motorists to exercise patience, observe traffic management directives and drive cautiously around active construction zones,” he stated.
Umahi commended President Tinubu’s concern for the well-being of citizens, reiterating that “the Ministry remains committed to restoring the Benin-Asaba Expressway to a safe, functional and durable condition in the overall interest of Nigerians and the national economy.”
Before this, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, had demonstrated his commitment to the welfare of his people during the protest in August 2026 caused by the bad state of the road, by immediately identifying with the situation and dispatching his Chief of Staff to appeal for calm and reassure affected communities and motorists of immediate remedial action.
Speaking at the ceremony, Okpebholo appreciated the President for his prompt and decisive intervention, as well as the Minister of Works for his continued commitment to road infrastructure across the country.
The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, expressed gratitude for the immediate response in restoring the all-important road.
“It is a well-desired action to better the lives of the people of Delta State and the general public,” he said.
The representative of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) applauded the President for his commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region. He also commended the Minister for his steadfastness to the welfare of the people of the zone and Nigerians at large.
Delivering the welcome address earlier, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Project Implementation and Monitoring, Engr. Phoebe William Bello, described the rescue operation as very timely in reinstating the critical transportation corridor connecting communities and facilitating mobility, commerce and trade between Edo and Delta States and other parts of the country.
“Therefore, its importance cannot be overstated,” she noted.
The occasion was graced by dignitaries and goodwill messages were delivered by the Deputy Governors of Edo and Delta States, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, the Youth Leader of Ikpaba Hill Community and other stakeholders, who unanimously eulogised the Federal Government’s proactive response.
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