The Federal Government has ordered immediate emergency intervention on the Benin-Asaba Federal Road following the worsening condition of the route and the inability to secure the concessionaire’s approval for government intervention.
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, directed major contractors within the corridor to move into all three sections of the road and restore the failed portions at the expense of the Federal Government.
This was contained In a statement on Tuesday, by Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister.
Umahi also ordered the immediate redesign of the entire route for reconstruction with reinforced concrete pavement, which the government said would provide a more durable solution to the persistent deterioration of the road.
The intervention followed the Minister’s recent inspection of the Benin-Asaba Road, where he assembled contractors and directed them to prepare for palliative works on the affected sections.
However, the concessionaire declined to grant permission for the Federal Government to intervene, as required under the existing concession agreement.
He subsequently proposed three options to the concessionaire to enable the government address the worsening condition of the road, but none was accepted.
The Ministry said the situation deteriorated further after the Minister’s departure from Asaba, as the already limited equipment deployed by the concessionaire was reduced to just one.
It said the development had worsened the hardship faced by motorists and other road users, prompting the Minister to prioritise public interest and order the emergency intervention.
The Federal Government assured motorists and residents along the corridor that immediate action was underway to restore all failed sections of the Benin-Asaba Road, followed by comprehensive rehabilitation with reinforced concrete pavement.
