President Bola Tinubu has ordered the comprehensive redesign and reconstruction of the 136-kilometre Benin-Asaba Road after the Federal Government reclaimed the highway from its previous concession arrangement.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this during the reopening of the First Niger Bridge on the Asaba-Onitsha Road, explaining that the development would allow the Federal Government to take direct responsibility for rebuilding the troubled highway.
According to Umahi, the concession arrangement that had restricted the ministry from undertaking comprehensive reconstruction has been discontinued, paving the way for a new approach to the project.
He said the president had directed that the entire road be redesigned as a dual carriageway, with construction plans already underway.
The minister also announced plans to introduce reinforced concrete pavement on critical sections of the road to improve durability and address the persistent deterioration that has frustrated motorists.
The Benin-Asaba highway was previously concessioned under the Federal Government’s Highway Development and Management Initiative, which was designed to attract private investment into road infrastructure.
However, the arrangement encountered difficulties amid complaints about slow construction, poor workmanship and inadequate technical capacity.
During inspections in August and September 2026, Umahi criticised the concessionaire’s performance and disclosed that the government had proposed options to address the worsening situation. The ministry subsequently announced emergency intervention works to restore damaged sections of the highway.
First Niger Bridge Gets Security, Rehabilitation Upgrades
Umahi also outlined rehabilitation and security measures introduced at the First Niger Bridge following reports of vandalism involving the removal of bolts and other metal components from its steel structure.
He said the ministry moved to inspect the bridge after a content creator raised concerns about activities that could threaten its structural integrity.
The bridge, commissioned in 1966 by former Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, has undergone rehabilitation works, including asphalt resurfacing and median demarcation.
Other measures include solar-powered lighting, closed-circuit television cameras and observation centres at both ends of the bridge to strengthen surveillance and improve security.
Three turnaround passages have also been created to help motorists manoeuvre safely when vehicles break down.
However, the minister said some work remained outstanding, including repainting the steel structure, treating rust-affected sections beneath the bridge deck, completing surveillance installations and providing canopies at both ends.
He also warned against illegal sand dredging within a 10-kilometre radius of bridges, directing federal works officials in Delta and Anambra states to ensure compliance with the regulations.
Tinubu Orders 400km East-West Road Reconstruction
Beyond the Benin-Asaba highway, Umahi disclosed that Tinubu had directed the reconstruction of approximately 400 kilometres of the East-West Road, a major transport corridor serving the Niger Delta.
He linked the project to the administration’s wider infrastructure programme, which also includes the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The minister dismissed suggestions that construction of the coastal highway had stopped, insisting that work was continuing and that outstanding sections in Bayelsa and Cross River states would be addressed in the coming weeks.
He added that designs for the first and second sections of the East-West Road were nearing completion, with construction expected to commence after the design process.
Enugu-Port Harcourt Road Nears Completion
Providing updates on other projects, Umahi said reconstruction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor had reached approximately 90 per cent completion.
He also disclosed that work was ongoing on a 44-kilometre section in Port Harcourt, where reinforced concrete pavement was being used.
In Anambra State, the minister said 33 kilometres of a 107-kilometre dual carriageway project had been completed, while construction on a remaining 40-kilometre section near the First Niger Bridge axis was expected to begin within two weeks.
He further cited the construction of Section 2B of the Second Niger Bridge bypass, a 17.5-kilometre project valued at ₦172 billion, as part of the Federal Government’s infrastructure investments in the region.
Defending the use of reinforced concrete pavement, Umahi argued that the technology would produce more durable roads capable of serving motorists for decades.
Umahi Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
The minister also defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, describing them as difficult but necessary measures to prevent a deeper economic crisis and create conditions for recovery.
He urged critics to present practical alternatives to the administration’s policies rather than resort to insults and hate speech.
Umahi maintained that the reforms should be assessed based on economic indicators and their impact on the country, while insisting that the administration’s infrastructure programme would improve connectivity and transportation across the South-South and South-East regions.
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