Jane Salihu
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has said the Federal Government cannot arbitrarily terminate the concession agreement covering the Benin–Onitsha corridor, insisting that the road’s condition must be addressed within the limits of existing contractual and legal obligations.
In a statement signed by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, the Minister said criticism of the Benin–Onitsha Road was legitimate, but argued that portraying its condition as evidence of neglect by the Tinubu administration ignored the road’s concession status, inherited infrastructure challenges and ongoing Federal Government interventions across the South-East.
Ahmed said the 125-kilometre Benin–Asaba Expressway was incorporated into the Federal Government’s Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) as a 25-year Value-Added Concession, meaning that the road’s development and management are subject to an existing agreement with the concessionaire.
He explained that while the concession arrangement places obligations on the concessionaire, the Federal Ministry of Works has continued to engage the company over the pace and quality of work, stressing that government responsibility does not end simply because a road is under concession.
According to him, terminating the agreement arbitrarily could expose the Federal Government to litigation and substantial financial claims, making enforcement of the concessionaire’s obligations a more responsible approach.
The statement also defended the Tinubu administration’s record on road infrastructure in the South-East, listing several major projects being executed or advanced across the region, including the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, Aba–Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba–Owerri Road, Onitsha–Owerri Expressway and the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue Trans-Sahara Superhighway.
Ahmed further noted that an initial 15-kilometre completed section of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway was reopened in April 2026, describing it as evidence of ongoing Federal Government intervention in the region.
The Ministry said the Tinubu administration inherited a large number of deteriorating Federal roads and bridges across the country, many of which were affected by inadequate funding, stalled projects, contractual disputes and concession arrangements.
It therefore urged critics to assess the administration’s performance by considering both the challenges inherited and the projects currently being delivered rather than isolating the condition of one corridor from the wider infrastructure programme.
The statement acknowledged the difficulties faced by motorists using the Benin–Onitsha corridor, including delays, vehicle damage and safety concerns, but said these challenges reinforce the need for the Ministry to compel the concessionaire to meet its contractual obligations.
It added that the Federal Government began reviewing inherited highway concession agreements in 2025 to address issues relating to transparency, accountability, performance and value for money.
The Ministry maintained that criticism remains an essential part of democratic governance, but argued that public assessment of infrastructure delivery should be based on facts, contractual realities and measurable progress.
“The Benin–Onitsha road deserves fixing,” the statement said, stressing that the central issue is not whether the corridor requires urgent attention, but how government can secure improved performance without violating existing legal and contractual obligations.
Ahmed said the Federal Government would continue to pursue road development across the country while holding contractors and concessionaires accountable for delivering on their commitments.
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