Nigeria's Works Minister Inspects Congested Expressway, Apologizes to Motorists

Nigeria's Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, personally inspected the severely congested Benin-Agbor-Asaba Expressway on Tuesday, responding to a direct order from President Bola Tinubu to alleviate the suffering of stranded motorists. The minister's on-site assessment in Edo State was documented and shared by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, via his official X handle.

Nwaze's posts revealed Umahi's arrival in Benin to address the critical issues plaguoing the road, which had been handed over to a concessionaire on a Public-Private Partnership basis. President Tinubu also mandated immediate corrective measures for the dilapidated Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti road, which traverses Ekiti and Kogi States. In response, Umahi dispatched a ministerial team to commence remedial works on the Ekiti-Kogi corridor while he focused on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba axis.

The intervention on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road is expected to involve key stakeholders, including representatives from the Edo and Delta State Governments and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Their collaboration aims to devise and implement swift solutions for the ongoing challenges faced by commuters. Minister Umahi took direct responsibility for the unfortunate situation, offering a sincere apology to all road users experiencing prolonged delays and stranding.

Umahi assured the public that the Federal Government's commitment extends beyond temporary fixes. The ministry is actively pursuing immediate relief measures alongside permanent solutions to restore the road's functionality and ensure its long-term reliability. This inspection follows recent protests by citizens expressing their frustration over the road's deplorable state and demanding urgent repairs.

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He assured road users that the Federal Government’s response would go beyond temporary relief, with immediate measures being pursued alongside permanent solutions to restore the affected roads and improve their long-term reliability.