President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene in the deteriorating condition of the Benin–Agbor–Asaba road, where severe gridlock has left motorists and commuters stranded for days.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this in a statement issued by his media aide, Francis Nwaze, saying the directive was prompted by the hardship being experienced by road users along the corridor.

Umahi said he had commenced implementation of the directive and would personally lead the intervention on the affected road.

The minister arrived in Benin, Edo State, on Tuesday alongside members of the National Assembly Committees on Works to begin discussions on the crisis. 

Representatives of the Edo and Delta State governments, as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), are expected to participate in the meeting aimed at finding immediate solutions to the worsening situation.

The intervention follows days of severe traffic congestion caused by failed sections and the deteriorating condition of the highway. Some travellers reportedly abandoned their vehicles and trekked in search of alternative means of transportation.

The gridlock has also disrupted the movement of goods and affected commercial activities along the major interstate corridor.

On August 20, residents and motorists protested the condition of the Benin–Agbor bypass, with videos from the protest showing vehicles struggling through muddy and badly damaged sections of the road.

Umahi accepted responsibility for the situation and apologised to affected commuters, assuring them that immediate measures would be taken to restore movement while permanent solutions are pursued.

“We are determined to take immediate corrective measures while working towards permanent solutions,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, Umahi directed the Minister of State for Works to lead a team of ministry officials to the Ifaki–Kabba–Ado Ekiti axis to assess the road and commence urgent remedial works. The ministry said the team was already on the ground as of 10am on Tuesday.

The intervention on the Ifaki–Kabba–Ado Ekiti road also follows a directive from President Tinubu over the deteriorating condition of the route, which has significantly disrupted movement.

Umahi stressed that the Federal Government's response to both road crises would not be limited to temporary repairs, saying immediate remedial measures would be combined with permanent solutions to restore the roads and improve their long-term reliability.