Southern Alliance Demands Immediate Resignation of Works Minister over Benin-Asaba Expressway
The Southern Solidarity Alliance (SSA) has demanded the immediate resignation of the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, over the deteriorating condition of the Benin-Asaba Expressway, which has left motorists and travellers stranded for days.
Their demand demand was contained in a statement signed by the SSA National Coordinator, Mr. Ndubuisi Okafor, and the Head of its Directorate of Publicity, Mr. Orakpor Emmanuel Ogheneganaye.
The group described the situation on the major highway as unacceptable, stressing that the Benin-Asaba Expressway serves as a critical link between the South-West, South-East and South-South regions.
“It is unacceptable that for whatever reason, travellers are trapped along this key Southern road — the only road linking the South-West to the South-East and South-South,” the group said.
According to the SSA, the condition of the road, coupled with the hardship being experienced by motorists and passengers, is evidence of poor performance by the Works Ministry.
The group recalled that it had, through press conferences, releases, interviews and letters to the President, called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on roads in the South.
It also alleged that it had alerted the President and the public last year over what it described as the use of substandard materials in the casting of concrete pavement along the Benin Bypass and Nnewi-Okigwe Road.
The SSA said its concerns were dismissed at the time by an aide to the Minister, Mr. Uchenna Orji, who reportedly described the group as being “strange to the concept of concrete pavement.”
The group said it had also called for an independent inspection of the projects by members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, but that its request was not heeded.
The SSA said the current situation on the Benin-Asaba Expressway had vindicated its earlier concerns.
It expressed concern over reports of motorists and passengers spending nights on the road, with some resorting to bush paths in attempts to bypass the failed sections.
The group also raised concerns about ambulances, perishable goods and other travellers caught in the gridlock, warning that prolonged delays could expose motorists and passengers to security risks, including kidnapping.
It said the economic consequences of the road failure were being felt by motorists, transport operators, traders, commuters and communities along the corridor.
The alliance maintained that the situation could no longer be addressed through apologies, excuses or promises, describing it as a failure of performance that requires urgent government action.
Questions Requiring Urgent Answers
The SSA raised several questions over the concession of the Benin-Asaba Expressway, including:
Why was the Benin-Asaba Expressway concessioned?
What were the qualifications required for the concessionaire, and what were the terms of the agreement?
Why was the major highway concessioned rather than awarded outright for reconstruction and expansion into a 10-lane road, given its importance and traffic volume?
Why are motorists required to pay for the use of certain federal roads, particularly in the South, while other federal roads remain freely accessible?
Why is the same level of attention not being given to the Benin-Asaba Expressway as is being given to major projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Lagos-Sokoto Highway?
Why was the project concessioned to what the group described as an inexperienced company, allegedly leaving it overwhelmed by the scale of the project?
What were the terms of the concession agreement regarding the removal of existing asphalt and other road infrastructure?
At what point did the Ministry realise that the concessionaire lacked the technical capacity to execute the project, and was adequate due diligence carried out before the concession?
SSA’s Demands
The Southern Solidarity Alliance demanded the immediate resignation of Engr. Dave Umahi as Minister of Works.
It argued that the ministry’s handling of the road had caused significant hardship and economic losses to Nigerians, adding that earlier warnings should have been taken seriously.
The group also demanded the immediate revocation of the concession of the Benin-Asaba Expressway, as well as the review of similar concessions on Southern roads.
It called for equal treatment in the development and financing of federal roads across the country, arguing that road users in the South should not be subjected to additional charges for using federal highways.
The SSA further demanded that the Benin-Asaba Expressway be upgraded to a 10-lane highway and awarded outright to a high-capacity construction company of international repute.
It recommended the use of concrete pavement and superior-quality materials to improve the durability of the road and reduce the recurring cycle of road failures.
“The South has suffered enough bad roads! The Benin-Asaba Expressway should be fixed!” the group declared.
