Commuters Decry Delays, Damage On Benin–Asaba Road Repairs

By STELLA JOHNSON OGBOVOVEH

MOTORISTS, traders, and residents along the Ikpoba-Okha/Uhumwonde corridor of the Benin–Agbor Road have expressed frustration over the slow pace of rehabilitation work on the Benin–Asaba Expressway, describing the situation as disruptive to daily life and damaging to vehicles.

The project, handled by the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited, has dragged on despite years of complaints. Users say the road has steadily worsened since 2018, when former Governor Godwin Obaseki classified it as a federal road. Poor drainage and years of neglect have further compounded the problem.

One of the worst stretches runs from Christ Chosen Church of God through Guinness Warehouse, Winners Chapel, to Jehovah Junction, where deep excavations and gullies have left the route nearly impassable, frequently causing accidents involving trailers and heavy-duty trucks.

Residents say the hardship is unbearable. Frederick Asuen, who lives in Ikhueniro, said commuting has become a nightmare. “Since I moved into my apartment in 2023, I’ve had to abandon my SUV after repeated breakdowns in the gullies. Now I rely on public transport just to get to work.”

Many road users are now calling on the government and concession company to speed up repairs before the situation worsens further.