The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has tendered an unreserved apology to commuters, residents, and motorists across Edo and Delta states over the severely dilapidated state of the Benin-Sapele Road, which has subjected thousands of road users to prolonged hardship.
Speaking on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, during an on-the-spot inspection tour of major federal road corridors in Benin City, Edo State, the Minister expressed deep regret over the condition of the highway and assured the public of immediate government intervention to restore traffic flow.
Outraged by the substandard practices observed along the corridor, Senator Umahi issued a directive ordering all Federal Ministry of Works controllers to immediately arrest any contractor or concessionaire caught removing asphalt from federal roads without prior official authorization.
Umahi revealed that during a prior inspection tour alongside Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, he observed the unauthorized scraping and removal of asphalt on the route. He described the action as deliberate “destruction of public infrastructure” and accused the project’s concessionaire of lacking both technical competence and operational integrity.
”The Ministry of Works does not permit contractors to remove asphalt from federal roads without authorization. It is a destruction of public infrastructure, and we will no longer tolerate concessionaires subjecting citizens to hardship due to a lack of technical capacity.” said Senator David Umahi.
The Minister confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had taken note of the severe economic and human toll caused by the road’s condition. Consequently, the President directed the Ministry of Works to deploy all necessary resources to rehabilitate the critical artery.
Umahi emphasized that while concession agreements are bound by legal frameworks, the Federal Government maintains the authority to invoke overriding public interest to protect public assets and ease the suffering of citizens.
He commended Edo State youths for exercising restraint and avoiding violent protests, noting that their patience prevented a potential disruption of law and order in the region.
Responding during the joint assessment tour, Governor Monday Okpebholo commended President Tinubu’s administration for prioritizing infrastructure interventions across the country.
He also appealed to Edo residents and youth groups to remain peaceful, emphasizing the state’s strategic role as a vital transit link between northern, western, and eastern Nigeria.
Governor Okpebholo assured residents that the state government will continue collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Works to fast-track palliative and permanent solutions along the trade corridor.
Representative spokespersons from the concessionaire firm, including Mr. Daramola, stated that initial site actions involved preliminary palliative works and road expansion to maintain access, though the Ministry reiterated that unauthorized asphalt milling must cease immediately.
