The federal government is to hold a robust engagement with the concessionaire and other stakeholders over the deplorable condition of the Benin-Asaba road.

Works minister David Umahi disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists during an inspection of the Carter Bridge in Lagos.

Mr Umahi said he would lead the Senate and House of Representatives committees on works on Tuesday to inspect the Benin-Asaba Road and seek ways to address challenges affecting the project.

“Tomorrow (Tuesday), we are off to Benin-Asaba Road. “The problem is not caused by the Federal Ministry of Works. It is caused by our attempt to involve the private sector in those developments as it is done in other places.

“This concessionaire came and removed over 30km of the asphalt and threw it away, closed the yard and left, and today people are suffering,” he said.

Mr Umahi said his team would engage an independent engineer, the ministry’s legal representatives, and the concessionaire on the way forward. He added that the stakeholders’ engagement would involve Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The minister said the government was concerned about the hardship motorists and other road users were experiencing because of the road’s condition.

He said the government was also taking steps to address challenges on other critical roads across the country and would inspect the Ifaki-Ado Ekiti-Kogi-Ekiti road to address its condition.

He said President Bola Tinubu had, in 2024, drawn his attention to the road’s deplorable condition and directed that it be addressed.

“We have redesigned it, and we will bring up a result which we will show to the president,” he said.

Mr Umahi said the government was committed to addressing challenges facing critical infrastructure across the country.

(NAN)