The Presidency has blamed the contractor handling the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Expressway for the worsening condition of the highway, describing the recent deterioration as an isolated failure rather than a reflection of the Federal Government’s entire road construction programme.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, made this known on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, while speaking on Channels Television about the worsening state of the road.
Dare said the government had reacted quickly after the situation deteriorated, with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, National Assembly members and other stakeholders visiting the affected areas to assess the situation and demand immediate corrective action from the contractor.
He acknowledged that the contractor had offered explanations for the road’s condition but said the outcome nevertheless pointed to a failure on the part of the company handling the project.
According to Dare, government has a responsibility to identify roads that require intervention and provide the necessary funding, while contractors must ensure that projects are properly executed according to the required standards.
His comments came a day after Umahi inspected the highway in Edo State and apologised to motorists and commuters who had suffered prolonged delays along the route.
Umahi had strongly criticised the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concessions Company (BAECC), the private concessionaire handling the project, accusing it of poor execution and questioning its technical capacity. The road was concessioned in 2025 for reconstruction and expansion from four lanes to 10 lanes.
The Works Minister also said the concessionaire removed more than 30 kilometres of existing asphalt without completing the necessary rehabilitation, contributing to the deterioration of the highway.
The contractor, however, attributed some of the difficulties to heavy rainfall and the high volume of traffic on the road, explaining that keeping the highway open while attempting construction had made it difficult to complete drainage works as planned.
The representative of the project consultant, Toyin Akinlapa, also alleged that BAECC failed to follow instructions to prioritise drainage construction before proceeding with other aspects of the project.
The deteriorating condition of the highway had caused severe gridlock, leaving motorists and commuters stranded for hours and, in some cases, days. The disruption also affected businesses and increased transportation and fuel costs along the corridor.
Following the crisis, President Tinubu directed the redesign and total reconstruction of the Benin-Agbor-Asaba corridor, with the Works Ministry instructed to pursue a more permanent solution rather than rely solely on palliative repairs.
Dare nevertheless maintained that the situation should not be used to judge all Federal Government road projects, noting that the administration is simultaneously working on five legacy roads and about 320 road projects across the country.