Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THERE was high drama in Edo State yesterday as Federal Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi, launched a blistering attack on the concessionaire handling the dilapidated Benin-Asaba Expressway, threatening arrest and describing the firm’s performance as a “provocation at the highest level.”
The visibly infuriated Minister, accompanied by Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo, toured the construction site where he did not mince words in condemning what he termed the destruction of public assets by the concessionaire.
Addressing journalists at Ikpoba Hill, Umahi expressed profound disappointment and offered a personal apology to residents and road users.
“Governor, we want to thank you. Without you, there would have been an outbreak of riots on this road because of the shoddy job the concessionaire has done so far,” Umahi declared.
The Minister revealed that the concessionaire had been expressly forbidden from removing existing asphalt from the road—a directive they flagrantly ignored.
“I have the conditions of contract here with me. The Ministry of Works does not allow anybody to remove the asphalt or the road as the concessionaire has done. That is against the policy of the Ministry of Works,” he fumed.
“I’ve been here with the governor, and at that time, they started removing the asphalt. We frowned at it, and we begged them not to remove the asphalt, but yet they did.”
Umahi accused the firm of gross incompetence, questioning their technical capacity and experience.
“You are speaking unintelligently. Did you not see the road very well before you decided to take the contract? You ran through every way to manipulate the process, and you got the job. Now you are complaining because you lack technical competence. You have no knowledge of road construction,” he lambasted.
“You are learning how to do construction on a federal road. You are talking about reputation and integrity—where else have you done work before?”
The Minister went further, directing all federal controllers to arrest any contractor who removes asphalt from federal roads.
“You should have been arrested for the destruction of public assets. It has nothing to do with concessioning law or anything. And I’m directing all controllers to arrest any contractor or concessionaire that removes asphalt on our route. This road was not like this before we handed it over to you,” he stated.
Umahi also accepted government culpability for failing to verify the concessionaire’s competence before awarding the contract.
“It’s also the fault of the government because when you are doing concessioning, you have to find out about the technical competence of the so-called concessionaire. You have to find out where the concessionaire had done jobs before, but this was not the case,” he admitted.
Governor Pleads for Calm
Governor Okpebholo appealed for patience from the long-suffering residents, assuring that urgent remedial action would be taken.
“We will expedite actions to remedy the situation in no distant time,” the governor promised.
Comrade Kingsley Osemwingie, chairman of the Ikpoba Hill Youths Forum, told the Minister that the road’s deplorable state was tarnishing the image of the governor, whom he described as a “working governor.”
Concessionaire Blames Weather, Traffic
Mr Samuel Daramola, CEO of the concessionaire, appeared visibly shaken and embarrassed as he struggled to offer reasonable explanations for the company’s failure. The firm has rendered the road worse than they found it, leaving long stretches bare after excavating existing asphalt.
Blaming heavy traffic flow and torrential downpour for the company’s shortcomings, Daramola apologised to Edo residents and promised swift action.
“I will deliver the dividend of democracy to everybody. Even though the road is built completely 100% with private sector money, we are committed to ensuring that this road is concluded in record time,” he said.
PPP Expert Exposes Flaws
Engineer Izunobi Ebere, a member of the Public-Private Partnership team, provided further damning insights into the concessionaire’s failures since the project was handed over in March 2025.
“This project was handed over to the concessionaire in March 2025 with a mandate to expand and modernise the road. But the challenges we have with the concessionaire are numerous,” Ebere explained.
He cited a litany of failures including:
· No proper traffic management systems
· Absence of signage to guide motorists on diversions
· Incorrect work methodology, including failure to install proper drainage before pavement work
· Excavating the road and leaving it open, exposing 20-year-old consolidated layers to water damage
· Disregard for technical instructions
The PPP expert revealed that the 36-month project has seen only 10% completion after 16 months, raising serious doubts about timely delivery.
“This is what is causing all the suffering for the commuters, and we do not want it to continue,” Ebere concluded.
The inspection visit ended with the Minister promising expedited action to remedy the damage caused by the concessionaire, as Edo residents continue to endure what has become a nightmarish commute on one of Nigeria’s most strategic gateway roads.
