Bad road
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately intervene on the deteriorating Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road and the Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti Highway linking Ekiti and Kogi states, following growing concerns over the severe hardship being experienced by motorists.
The directive was disclosed on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Works, Francis Nwaze.
According to the statement, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said President Tinubu expressed deep concern over the worsening condition of the roads, which has left many travellers stranded for several hours and, in some cases, days.
“The President has instructed the Federal Ministry of Works to take immediate steps to restore free movement on the affected highways and ensure that necessary corrective measures are implemented without delay,” Umahi said.
In compliance with the presidential directive, the ministry has already begun mobilising resources for emergency intervention on both road corridors.
Umahi directed the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, to lead a team of ministry officials to the Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti axis to assess the level of damage and commence urgent remedial work. Ministry officials were already on site as of Tuesday morning to begin the intervention.
At the same time, Umahi travelled to Benin, Edo State, alongside members of the National Assembly Committees on Works to coordinate emergency efforts on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road.
The meeting in Benin is expected to bring together key stakeholders, including representatives of the Edo and Delta State governments as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to develop immediate solutions aimed at easing the persistent traffic challenges on the busy highway.
The Minister also apologised to commuters who have endured long delays and accepted responsibility for the current condition of the affected roads.
He assured Nigerians that while emergency repairs are being carried out to restore traffic flow, the Federal Government remains committed to implementing lasting reconstruction projects that will guarantee safer and more reliable road infrastructure.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its determination to provide both immediate relief and long-term solutions to improve the condition of the strategic highways and reduce the burden on road users across the affected corridors.
