The Federal Government has warned that the prolonged deterioration of the Benin– Asaba Road will not be allowed to continue, despite a concession agreement inherited from the previous administration.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, gave the assurance on Friday, August 28, 2026, during an inspection of Phase 2B of the Second Niger Bridge at the Nkwerre–Ezunaka section of the Onitsha–Enugu Expressway.
Umahi said the government inherited the concession arrangement with Africa Plus Partners Ltd but stressed that the welfare of Nigerians remained its overriding priority.
He explained that the administration was following due process while monitoring the concessionaire’s performance.
“Our hands are tied by the concession agreement that was entered before this administration,” the minister said.
“But overriding public interest is such that we are watching them, and if this suffering continues, we’ll invoke the law of necessity for overriding public interest.”
He disclosed that the Ministry of Works had formally notified the concessionaire of its default and was considering the available legal options.
The government had also assembled about seven contractors willing to intervene on the road at no cost to the concessionaire.
The concessionaire reportedly rejected that offer, insisting that it would rehabilitate the route itself.
Umahi said the government would continue to watch the situation closely, warning that cancelling the agreement prematurely could create an opportunity for the company to begin drawing funds from the Federation Account without delivering the required work.
The minister also dismissed claims that the road’s condition reflected the marginalisation of the Southeast.
He pointed to major interventions along the Lagos–Southeast corridor, including the completed Lagos–Ibadan Highway and the ongoing rehabilitation of a 48-kilometre section toward Ore.
According to Umahi, one carriageway of the Ore-bound section has been completed, while work continues on the other. The project also includes solar lighting and tree planting as part of a broader effort to improve safety and the travelling experience.
Before addressing the road crisis, Umahi expressed confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prospects in the 2027 presidential election, citing the administration’s infrastructure projects and growing political acceptance in the Southeast.
He said the performance of progressive candidates in Anambra State’s recent off-cycle elections pointed to increasing support for the President and his policies.
