Umahi Gives CCECC 14 Days to Fix Benin-Asaba Road

ASABA — The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, has directed the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to repair damaged sections of the Benin-Asaba Highway in Delta within 14 days.

Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of the Asaba axis of the Second Niger Bridge access road, where he expressed concern over the condition of sections around Ubulu-Okiti and Onicha-Ugbo and the hardship faced by motorists.

He specifically directed CCECC to restore service lanes where asphalt had been removed during construction, insisting that road construction must not worsen the difficulties faced by motorists.

“I am giving you 14 days to fix the access, the service lane you removed the asphalt. You have to fix it immediately, whether you are paid or not. It is my right to insist that you fix it to lessen the problem of the people,” he said.

Umahi also directed the contractor to urgently intervene on sections between Chainage 103 and 105, as well as 106 and 107, covering about four kilometres of dual carriageway, under an emergency arrangement.

He said the Federal Ministry of Works had the capacity to repair the affected sections within 14 days but was constrained by the existing concession agreement governing the road.

The minister said the Federal Government had written to the concessionaire over its failure to adequately maintain some sections of the road, adding that the government could no longer allow motorists to suffer indefinitely.

Umahi also criticised the handling of some sections where asphalt had been removed, saying some newly laid asphalt reportedly failed within 24 hours, which he described as evidence of poor workmanship.

Second Niger Bridge Access

On the Second Niger Bridge access project, Umahi reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to completing the N148 billion project being executed by CCECC. He said 4.47 kilometres of dual carriageway, representing 26.7 per cent completion, had been achieved.

He said the project remained critical because of the age and vulnerability of the First Niger Bridge.

“The essence is to use that Second Niger Bridge. Because if the First Niger Bridge collapses, the beautiful job on the Second Niger Bridge will be rendered useless,” he said.

Umahi said funding under the NNPC tax-credit arrangement had stopped, but President Bola Tinubu had approved an alternative funding arrangement to ensure that the project continued.

He urged CCECC to proceed with the work, assuring the contractor that payment would be made.

“I encourage you to please go ahead, you will be paid. Please go ahead, you will be paid,” Umahi said.

He warned that abandoning completed structures could expose them to erosion and increase the eventual cost to government, while commending CCECC for the quality and pace of work despite funding challenges.

Earlier, the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who represented Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori, commended Umahi for personally inspecting the troubled sections.

Aniagwu said the condition of the federal road from Benin through Asaba to the Niger Bridge had become a major concern to Nigerians, adding that the intervention would ease movement and support economic activities along the corridor.

He said the Delta Government had also intervened in some areas along the corridor, including the construction of a flyover around Chainage 64 and 65, and expressed hope that contractors handling other sections would accelerate their work.

The Director of Highways, Bridges and Design in the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr Saidu Musa, said the Second Niger Bridge access project was awarded in March 2025 at a cost of N148 billion.

Musa said about 4.4 kilometres of dual carriageway had been completed, while work was progressing on retaining walls, culverts and other components of the project. He also commended CCECC for the work achieved so far, saying progress would have been higher with adequate funding.

The latest directive comes amid worsening conditions along the Benin-Asaba corridor, with recent reports of motorists and passengers spending prolonged periods in traffic because of failed sections, diversions and construction-related disruptions.

Umahi Gives CCECC 14 Days to Fix Benin-Asaba Road