Umahi Don Order Make Dem Arrest Contractors Wey Dey Remove Asphalt for Benin Agbor Road, E Don Apologize.
Nigeria Minister of Works, David Umahi, don order make dem arrest contractors and concessionaires wey dem catch dey remove asphalt for federal roads without government permission. E tok this one as concern dey increase over bad condition of Benin Agbor Asaba road.
Umahi tok am on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, when e go inspect some major federal roads for Edo State. E also apologize to commuters and people for Edo and Delta states because of di suffering wey di bad road don cause.
Di minister show serious anger over di way di concessionaire wey dey handle Benin Agbor section dey work. E accuse di company say dem no get enough technical ability and workers to handle di project well. Umahi say di company don remove di old asphalt even after Ministry of Works don warn dem before, and dis one don make di road condition worse and cause more traffic wahala.
According to reports from Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria and oda Nigerian media houses, Umahi say Ministry of Works no dey allow contractors remove asphalt from federal roads without permission. E describe unauthorized removal of asphalt as destruction of public infrastructure. E therefore order ministry controllers to arrest any contractor or concessionaire wey dem catch dey do such work without approval.
Di Benin Asaba highway enter concession agreement with Benin Asaba Expressway Concession Company, BAECC, for 2025. Di plan na to turn di road into 10 lane highway. But di project don face plenty criticism as motorists continue to suffer bad road, serious traffic jam and long delays.
Umahi say Federal Government get responsibility to protect road users and public infrastructure. E add say President Bola Tinubu know about di suffering wey people dey face and don direct Ministry of Works to take action to repair di road and reduce di hardship.
Di minister also say government fit use public interest as reason to take necessary action, even if concession agreement dey. E indicate say government fit bring competent contractors to do emergency repair while government still dey discuss di concession matter.
Di concessionaire Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Daramola, give different explanation for why work slow. E blame heavy rainfall and plenty traffic for di road. E say di company don already do some temporary repair work and expand some parts of di road, but rain and di need to allow vehicles pass don make construction work difficult.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, wey follow di minister during di inspection, ask residents and youths for di affected communities to calm down and give government time. E stress say Edo State important well well because e connect different parts of Nigeria through road transportation.
Di Benin Agbor Asaba road wahala don again open discussion about how Nigeria dey manage concessioned highways, especially when e come to contractor ability, government supervision, safety of road users and protection of public interest.
For motorists, traders and businesses wey depend on di road every day, di main matter now na make government and contractors restore di road fast and make movement safe and easy again.