In response to growing public outcry, the Federal Government has pledged to immediately prioritize emergency repairs on the badly damaged Benin Sapele Road, a key economic artery in southern Nigeria.
The assurance followed a formal appeal from the Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority, which warned of the dire consequences of continued neglect of the road, particularly the 24 kilometre stretch leading to Obayantor in Edo State.
During a strategic meeting at the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, who represented Minister David Umahi, described the road’s condition as a threat to national stability.
“I have listened with a heavy heart,” Goronyo said, highlighting rising insecurity, recurring kidnappings, and devastating economic losses tied to the road’s collapse. “This is not just about infrastructure. It’s about the safety, livelihood and food security of our people.”
According to the Managing Director of the River Basin Authority, Adekanmbi Samuel, the road’s degradation has disrupted agriculture, electricity supply and trade across the region. He called for urgent federal intervention and stronger interagency collaboration to support President Tinubu’s emergency declaration on food security.
The road, which spans approximately 120 kilometres from Benin City in Edo State to Sapele in Delta State, has suffered years of neglect. In 2023, the convoy of then Governor Godwin Obaseki was reportedly stuck in the mud after heavy rainfall, underscoring the severity of the problem.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Director of Highways, Bridges and Design, Bede Obioha, acknowledged the urgency of the situation. “This Ministry remains responsive and committed to resolving transport-related challenges wherever they occur,” he said.
