Benin-Asaba Road: Umahi Drops Hammer on Contractors, Orders Arrests

Nigeria's Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has fired a loud warning shot at contractors messing with the Benin-Asaba Highway. On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, during an on-the-spot assessment of the 125-kilometre corridor, he ordered the immediate arrest of any contractor caught removing asphalt from existing carriageways. This is not a joke, and the message is clear: the era of shoddy work and endless excuses is over.

Why is the Minister ordering arrests on the Benin-Asaba road?

The Minister's directive follows a wave of complaints from road users and host communities who have been suffering under the weight of a construction project that seems to be moving at a snail's pace. Umahi didn't mince words, blaming the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC) for what he called a blatant disregard for engineering standards, despite repeated warnings from the Independent Engineer, Yolas Consultants, and the Ministry itself.

You are not adhering to engineering best practices in road construction and your methodology is adversely impacting road users, host neighbourhoods and the pace of work, Umahi said.

What did the Minister say about BAECC's excuses?

BAECC's Managing Director, Mr Samuel Daramola, tried to explain the delays by pointing to heavy traffic and double rainfall maxima along the corridor. But Umahi wasn't buying it. He described these explanations as unprofessional and untenable excuses, and went further to apologise to Nigerians for the hardship the road condition has caused.

This is a government that feels the pain of its people. Umahi assured road users that President Bola Tinubu feels their pains, and that a competent contractor will be engaged immediately to rehabilitate the critically bad portions of the highway. No more waiting, no more suffering.

What is the state of the Benin-Asaba Highway project?

The Benin-Asaba Highway is a major artery linking the South-East, South-South, and parts of the South-West. It runs from AIF Roundabout in Benin City to Summit Junction in Asaba. This is one of the pilot projects under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), and it was concessioned to BAECC on a 25-year Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) basis. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved this in January 2023, the agreement was signed in May 2023, and the project was handed over in March 2025. The construction period is set to run from April 2025 to April 2028.

But the people are tired of timelines. They want results, and the Minister is demanding exactly that.

What happens next for the Benin-Asaba road?

Beyond the arrests, the Minister has directed Federal Controllers of Works and Engineering Representatives to arrest any contractor who completely removes asphalt from an existing road. The inspection team also checked two sections of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road being handled by the Edo State Government. The 23-kilometre section by CBC Global is 75 per cent complete, while the 10-kilometre Section I, Phase 2, by CCECC is 25 per cent complete. Both are being built with Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has also pledged to reconstruct a failed 15.4-kilometre stretch between the Edo-Delta border. Umahi has directed the NDDC and Federal Government project teams to harmonise their efforts on the affected sections.

What are lawmakers and community leaders saying?

The Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh and Hon. Akin Alabi, didn't hold back either. They described the situation as an unacceptable disaster and promised a nationwide review of concession agreements to ensure compliance. The Presidential Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement, South-South, Mrs Gift Johnbull, confirmed that the President is fully aware of the plight of road users and has directed that solutions be found. Governor Monday Okpebholo also appealed for patience, saying a solution has been found.

This is Africa taking charge. This is leadership that refuses to accept mediocrity. The message from Abuja is loud and clear: the roads will be fixed, and anyone standing in the way will face the full weight of the law. The Benin-Asaba Highway is not just a road; it is a lifeline, and it will be treated as such.

Frequently asked questions about the Benin-Asaba road directive

Who ordered the arrest of contractors on the Benin-Asaba road?

Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, ordered Federal Controllers of Works and Engineering Representatives to arrest any contractor found completely removing asphalt from an existing road.

Why is the government taking this action?

The action follows complaints about the slow pace of work and the hardship caused to road users and host communities by the ongoing construction on the Benin-Asaba Highway.

What is the timeline for the Benin-Asaba Highway project?

The project is scheduled for a 36-month construction period from April 2025 to April 2028, under a 25-year DFBOT concession agreement with BAECC.