The Federal Government has announced plans to review concession agreements covering major roads across Nigeria following growing concerns over the poor state of some concessioned highways.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this on Tuesday during an inspection of the troubled Benin-Asaba Expressway, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and quality of work being carried out by the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC).
Umahi accused the concessionaire of lacking the technical capacity required to execute the project, describing its performance as a major failure.
He also apologised to motorists and other road users who have endured severe hardship on the highway, particularly following the collapse of several sections of the road that left motorists stranded for days.
According to the minister, the government would convene a meeting involving relevant stakeholders to review the concession agreement and determine immediate measures to restore the road to a motorable condition.
Umahi said the Federal Government would also engage a competent contractor to undertake emergency rehabilitation works while broader decisions concerning the concession are being considered.
The minister further criticised BAECC for removing portions of the existing asphalt despite instructions from the Ministry of Works not to do so.
He said such action exposed the road to further deterioration and amounted to the destruction of public property.
“I apologise to commuters plying this road. The NDDC is willing to intervene. I am disappointed with the concessionaire. I take full responsibility for their misdeed and destruction of public assets,” Umahi said.
He added that the Ministry of Works had warned the company against removing the existing asphalt.
According to him, the road was in a considerably better condition when it was handed over to the concessionaire.
Umahi directed officials of the ministry to take action against any concessionaire that removes asphalt from existing roads without approval.
The minister also questioned the technical competence of BAECC, saying the company appeared ill-equipped to handle a project of such magnitude.
He said the President had directed the Ministry of Works to take every necessary step to address the situation in the public interest.
The Benin-Asaba Expressway was concessioned to BAECC in 2025 under a plan to transform the highway into a 10-lane road. The project was scheduled for completion by September 2027, with tolling arrangements expected to enable the concessionaire to recover its investment and maintain the road for 25 years.
Concessionaire blames rainfall, traffic
Responding to the criticism, BAECC Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Daramola, attributed delays in the project to persistent rainfall and heavy vehicular traffic along the highway.
Daramola said the company had expanded portions of the road to eight lanes and carried out palliative works but faced difficulties completing drainage construction because of constant traffic.
He explained that some sections had to be reopened before the work was fully cured because of the pressure from motorists, forcing the company to repeat some of the work.
The BAECC chief executive, however, maintained that the company remained committed to completing the project despite the challenges.
Lawmakers demand review of concession agreements
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, called on President Bola Tinubu to review the agreement with BAECC and other similar concession arrangements.
Alabi said the government must ensure that concessionaires have the technical and financial capacity to deliver projects entrusted to them.
He stressed the need for immediate palliative measures to ease the suffering of motorists while a lasting solution is being implemented.
The project’s consultant, Engineer Toyin Akinlapa, also faulted the concessionaire, alleging that the company failed to follow technical instructions given by the consultants.
According to him, BAECC was advised to construct drainage infrastructure before proceeding with other aspects of the roadwork, but the instruction was allegedly ignored.
Senator Allwell Onyesoh described the condition of the Benin-Asaba Expressway as unacceptable and called for urgent intervention.
Meanwhile, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo commended the Federal Government for responding to the situation.
Okpebholo said President Tinubu’s intervention demonstrated concern for the plight of residents and motorists affected by the deteriorating highway.
He urged residents to disregard what he described as misleading opposition narratives on social media and focus on efforts being made to resolve the crisis.
