Benin-Asaba Road: PANDEF Seeks Review of Contractors Over Slow Work

The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali, has urged the Federal Government to review the concession agreement for the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road and assess the capacity of contractors handling the project.

Igali made the call yesterday while speaking on Channels Television’s *The Morning Brief*, a day after the Minister of Works, David Umahi, inspected the troubled highway in Edo State and apologised to motorists over the hardship caused by its condition.

The PANDEF chairman welcomed the minister’s intervention but said a lasting solution would require a broader assessment of the concession arrangement and the performance of the contractors.

“There may be a need to have a more comprehensive holistic overview of the concessions and the state of what the contractors are doing,” he said.

Igali questioned the pace of construction, saying the presence of equipment at the site had not translated into commensurate progress on the road.

“You see equipment and some level of work being done but not much progress is seen,” he said.

The Benin-Agbor-Asaba corridor is a major route linking the South-South and South-East with other parts of the country and is heavily used by commuters, transport operators and businesses.

Its poor condition has, over the years, resulted in prolonged traffic congestion, vehicle damage and delays in the movement of passengers and goods, with users repeatedly calling for urgent government intervention.

Umahi’s inspection of the road and apology to motorists followed renewed concerns over the worsening travel experience along the route. The minister also assured road users that measures were being taken to improve the situation.

Igali commended the Federal Government, the National Assembly and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for showing concern over the condition of the road.

“We are happy by the response, by the fact that you have the minister, the National Assembly, the NNDC shows responsiveness but I think it should be escalated to all other areas where there are concerns,” he said.

He, however, maintained that inspection visits and public assurances would need to be followed by sustained monitoring and a critical evaluation of contractors’ performance to ensure the project is delivered.

The PANDEF chairman’s position comes amid wider calls for faster execution of major road projects, particularly those connecting commercial centres and facilitating the movement of goods across regions.

Stakeholders have warned that prolonged delays on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba route could continue to undermine economic activities and increase the hardship faced by road users.

Igali’s call therefore puts renewed focus on the performance of contractors under concession agreements, as the Federal Government seeks to address longstanding infrastructure challenges and ensure better value from major road investments.