*BENIN CITY* – The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has berated the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company, BAECC over the poor handling and alleged destruction of sections of the Benin-Asaba highway
Umahi made this known during an on-the-spot assessment* of the road in Benin City on Monday, following widespread public outcry over its deteriorating condition.
The Minister accused the concessionaire of lacking the technical expertise required for road construction and maintenance.
He expressed disappointment that despite being granted the concession, BAECC had failed to deliver a motorable road, thereby subjecting motorists and commuters to untold hardship.
_”This road is a major gateway between the South-South and South-East. The way it has been left is unacceptable. The concessionaire has not shown capacity,”_ Umahi said.
The Benin-Asaba highway, a key link to Delta, Anambra and other eastern states, has been in a deplorable state for months. Motorists and transport unions have repeatedly protested over accidents, gridlock and vehicle damage caused by potholes on the road.
He was particularly displeased with the company for removing the existing asphalt without first constructing side drains, a development he said contributed to the worsening condition of the highway.
The minister also apologised to motorists and commuters who had been stranded on the road for days following the failure of several sections.
The Benin-Asaba highway was concessioned to BAECC in 2025 for conversion into a 10-lane highway. The company had said in October last year that it would complete the project within the stipulated timeframe.
However, Umahi said the concessionaire could have been arrested for destroying public property and accused the company of manipulating the process through which it secured the concession.
He said: “I commend Governor Monday Okpebholo for his intervention in lots of federal roads across the state. He is not saying this is federal or state road. I apologise to comuters 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.
“Ministry of Work does not allow removal of asphault. We begged them not to remove it. The Concessionaire should have been arrested for destroying public property. This road was not like this when it was handed over. I am instructing the Ministry to arrest any Concessionaire that remove asphault from existing roads.”
Addressing the Chief Executive Officer of BAECC, Samuel Daramola, the minister said the company lacked the competence to execute the project.
Umahi said: “You manipulate the process to get the job. You have no knowledge of road construction. You don’t know what you are doing. You have no technical staff or competence. The President has directed us to do whatever is possible to fix this road.
The law is there, there is overiding public interest. It is also the fault of government for not finding out competency of Concessionaires. You are learning how to do construction on our road. This is dangerous. This is provocation at its highest level. It is a pity when people cannot pass the road. We have competent contractors who we will beg to restore the road. We will be asking CCETC to fix the bad spot in Asaba.
“I am disappointed. The President has directed me to redesign all roads from Kogi to Warri and around Edo State. They are to be Done with concrete pavement. We need total reconstruction of this road and not this palliative.”
Responding, the BAECC CEO, Mr. Daramola blamed the slow pace of work on heavy rainfall and the volume of vehicular traffic on the highway.
He said the company had expanded portions of the road to eight lanes and carried out palliative works, but was constrained by the need to keep traffic moving while construction was ongoing
BAECC Lacks Capacity” – Umahi Blasts Concessionaire Over Bad Benin-Asaba RoadBy Dada Ayokhai
