Umahi GThe Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has given the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) 14 days to repair damaged sections of the Benin-Asaba Road in Delta State and ease the hardship being experienced by motorists.
Umahi issued the directive on Thursday during an inspection of the Asaba axis of the access road to the Second Niger Bridge, where he expressed concern over the condition of several sections, particularly around Ubulu-Okiti and Onicha-Ugbo.
Key Highlights
Umahi gives CCECC 14 days to repair damaged sections of the Benin-Asaba Road.
The minister orders urgent repairs to service lanes where asphalt was removed.
About four kilometres of dual carriageway between specified chainages require emergency intervention.
Umahi says motorists have been stranded for hours and, in some cases, days.
The Second Niger Bridge access road project is valued at about N148 billion.
CCECC has completed about 4.47 kilometres, representing approximately 26.7 per cent of the project.
Umahi Orders Immediate Road Repairs
The minister warned that the Federal Government would not allow motorists to continue suffering because of construction activities along the busy corridor.
He specifically directed CCECC to rehabilitate service lanes leading to the Second Niger Bridge access road where asphalt had been removed.
“I am giving you 14 days to fix the access, the service lane you removed the asphalt. You have to fix it immediately, whether you are paid or not. It is my right to insist that you fix it to lessen the problem of the people,” Umahi said.
He also ordered urgent intervention on sections between Chainage 103 and 105 and Chainage 106 and 107, which he said were in poor condition and affecting motorists and the movement of construction materials.
According to the minister, the affected areas cover about four kilometres of dual carriageway and should be repaired under an emergency arrangement to restore access and reduce the hardship faced by road users.
Concession Agreement Limits Federal Intervention
Umahi said the Federal Ministry of Works had the capacity to repair the affected sections of the Benin-Asaba Road within 14 days but was constrained by the concession agreement governing the highway.
He said the Federal Government had written to the concessionaire over its failure to adequately maintain some sections of the road.
The minister explained that the government had been cautious about directly intervening because of provisions contained in the concession agreement.
Umahi, however, said the worsening condition of the road could no longer be allowed to continue, particularly as some motorists had reportedly spent several hours and, in some cases, days stranded on the route.
He also criticised the handling of some sections by the concessionaire, saying asphalt removed between kilometre eight and kilometre 15 had not been properly restored.
According to him, some newly laid asphalt reportedly failed within 24 hours, which he described as evidence of poor workmanship and inadequate technical knowledge.
The minister said the Federal Government would continue to explore lawful means of intervening where necessary to protect road users and safeguard economic activities in Delta, Edo and other parts of the country.
Second Niger Bridge Access Road
On the Second Niger Bridge access project, Umahi said the Federal Government remained committed to completing the road to ensure that the investment in the bridge was not undermined by inadequate access infrastructure.
He stressed the importance of the Second Niger Bridge, particularly because of the age and vulnerability of the First Niger Bridge, which has served the region for more than six decades.
“The essence is to use that Second Niger Bridge. Because if the First Niger Bridge collapses, the beautiful job on the Second Niger Bridge will be rendered useless,” he said.
Umahi said the access road project was awarded to CCECC at a cost of about N148 billion and includes flyovers, bridges, culverts and rigid pavement works.
He disclosed that the contractor had completed approximately 4.47 kilometres of dual carriageway, representing about 26.7 per cent completion.
Significant progress has also been recorded on retaining walls, culverts and other structural components of the project.
Alternative Funding Approved for Project
The minister disclosed that funding under the NNPC tax-credit arrangement had stopped, but President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved an alternative funding arrangement to ensure that the Second Niger Bridge access project continued.
Umahi urged CCECC to maintain the pace of work, assuring the contractor that funding would be provided.
“I encourage you to please go ahead, you will be paid. Please go ahead, you will be paid,” he said.
He warned that abandoning completed structures could expose them to erosion and eventually increase the cost of the project to the government.
Umahi commended CCECC for the quality and pace of work achieved on the access project despite the funding challenges.
Delta Government Welcomes Intervention
The Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, who represented Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, commended Umahi for personally inspecting the troubled sections of the road.
Aniagwu said the condition of the federal road linking Benin, Asaba and the Niger Bridge, as well as the Benin-Warri corridor, had become a major concern to road users.
He said the minister’s intervention showed that the Federal Government was responding to complaints from motorists and residents who use the routes.
Read also:
- Zulum Approves ₦2.65bn for 158 Borno Students Abroad as Scholarship Investment Hits ₦15.29bn
- Governor Okpebholo Assures Of Sustainable Funding For Road Projects
- Benin-Asaba Expressway Crisis: Who Owns the Concession and Why Is the Road in Trouble?
- NDDC Takes Over Rehabilitation of Critical 15km Section of Sapele–Benin Road
Aniagwu disclosed that the Delta State Government had also intervened in some areas along the corridor, including the construction of a flyover around Chainage 64 and 65.
He expressed hope that contractors handling other sections would accelerate construction ahead of the Yuletide period.
According to him, completing the ongoing projects would reduce traffic congestion, improve movement between Delta and Edo states and boost economic activities along the corridor.
## CCECC Has Completed 4.4km of Access Road
The Director of Highways, Bridges and Design at the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Saidu Musa, said the Second Niger Bridge access project was awarded in March 2025 at a cost of N148 billion.
Musa said about 4.4 kilometres of dual carriageway had been completed, while work was progressing on retaining walls, culverts and other sections of the project.
He attributed part of the slower progress to funding constraints and commended CCECC for the quality of work achieved so far.
The minister’s 14-day deadline now places pressure on CCECC to restore the damaged sections of the Benin-Asaba Road and improve access for motorists while the wider rehabilitation and reconstruction work continues.
