Posted by Chinenye on Tue 08th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
The Federal Government is taking action against the company handling the Benin Asaba Highway after discovering serious problems with the project.
(Section of the Benin-Asaba Road. Photo by Channels Tv)
The Federal Government says the company managing the Benin-Asaba Highway has broken the rules of their agreement and isn't doing the work properly.
The Works Ministry says the company peeled off the good asphalt surface on the 125-kilometre highway, exposing the foundation underneath to rain damage.
This has caused the ground to become oversaturated and weak.
The company also hired unqualified workers, did substandard work, and the construction is moving too slowly.
The highway connects Benin City in Edo State to Asaba in Delta State and is a major route for people traveling to the South-East, South-South and South-West regions.
The government gave the company a 25-year contract in January 2023 to fix, finance, build and operate the highway, with three years to complete the work.
The Works Minister inspected the project in August with the Edo State Governor and discovered all these problems.
The ministry is now proposing they end the contract with the company.
They want the company to put back the asphalt it removed and let government contractors take over while the dispute is resolved.
The Federal Controller of Works asked people using the highway to be patient, saying the minister is looking for solutions to fix the road.
He also appealed to Nigerians to support President Tinubu's focus on infrastructure and the Works Minister's efforts to solve road problems across the country.