The Benin-Asaba highway, a major corridor in Nigeria, has deteriorated to the point where motorists are forced to abandon the road and enter the bush to reach their destinations. This has resulted in the use of forest routes around Ugoneki in Edo State, which poses significant security risks to travellers. A commercial driver recently took 53 passengers from Lagos through one such route, highlighting the desperation of Nigerians to find alternative routes.
The use of forest routes is not without its challenges, as it can lead to the destruction of agricultural produce and create tensions with farming communities. Moreover, these isolated routes provide an environment for criminals to exploit vulnerable travellers, including kidnappers and other violent criminals. The situation has raised concerns about the need for urgent infrastructure reform and improved security measures to protect travellers.
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has acknowledged the crisis and visited Edo State to inspect the affected sections of the highway. He expressed dissatisfaction with the road's condition and the concessionaire's performance, and apologized to commuters and residents suffering the consequences of the deteriorating highway. However, Nigerians are calling for more than just apologies; they need tangible solutions to repair the collapsed road and restore normal traffic.
The Benin-Asaba road is not an isolated case, as several other major federal highways across Nigeria face similar deterioration. This raises questions about the Federal Government's ability to maintain a comprehensive and current picture of the condition of the nation's federal roads. The Ministry of Works has been urged to conduct a national condition census of federal roads to identify failed sections, responsible contractors, and required interventions.
To address the infrastructure crisis, Nigeria needs to return to a culture of routine maintenance. The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was established to address the maintenance challenge on federal roads, but its operational capacity needs to be strengthened and matched with clear performance standards. Maintenance should begin when engineers identify deterioration, rather than waiting for reconstruction to become the only realistic option.
The crisis has also highlighted the need for collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments to address infrastructure challenges. States have complained about spending resources on federal roads without receiving promised reimbursements, and there is a need for reform in this arrangement. Where a federal road is critical to a state's economy, the state should have defined powers to intervene, subject to agreed technical standards and transparent certification.
Ultimately, the Benin-Asaba crisis demands institutional reform and a comprehensive approach to infrastructure planning and security. The Federal Government should repair the failed sections of the highway urgently, secure vulnerable alternative routes, and complete a comprehensive road-condition census. Additionally, infrastructure planning should incorporate security assessments from the beginning, and local communities should be involved in identifying vulnerable stretches and providing security cover.
Key points
- The use of forest routes by motorists poses significant security risks and threatens livelihoods.
- The Federal Government needs to conduct a national condition census of federal roads to identify failed sections and required interventions.
- Nigeria needs to return to a culture of routine maintenance to address the infrastructure crisis.
