Repairs, Expansion Works Commence on Benin-Asaba Expressway

The Federal Government has commenced the rehabilitation of the 125-kilometre Benin-Asaba Expressway which it said has a 30 months completion period.

The work being done through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, will upgrade the road from 10 lanes at Ring Road, Benin, to Benin Bypass and then taper down to six lanes to Asaba, Delta State capital.

Flagging off the project yesterday in Benin, Edo State, Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, explained that the project was an affirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to give the country world-class infrastructure on sustainable financial models.

“The funds are in place, but let me also add one very important thing, we have all the stakeholders here, and it will take everybody’s work to make this project. “Money (for reconstruction of Benin-Asaba Expressway) is going to come from investors and private sector. It is a project where the private sector has invested in order to complete the road within record time, hoping in the enabling environment that has been created for investors and hoping in the policies of President Tinubu.

The event was attended by the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo; Delta State Governor, Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his deputy, Chief Monday Onyeme; Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi; and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Olufunso Adebiyi.

Africa Plus Partners Nigeria Limited’s Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, the firm constructing the road, Adeniran Ajakaiye, appreciated the Federal and State Governments for the policy and institutional support being offered to drive the project.

Ajakaiye stated that the project goes beyond constructing a road but constructing a platform for economic growth, connectivity, and sustainable development in Nigeria.

“The Benin-Asaba Expressway is a 125-kilometre modern highway that will serve as an economic corridor of first order, connecting regions, facilitating trade, and enhancing economic activities.

“The project is designed to be of world-class quality, offering safety, durability, and efficiency to road users. The tolling system will ensure that the road is effectively maintained throughout the concession period (25 years) without reliance on annual government budgets,” Ajakaiye explained.

The project will offer thousands of job opportunities during and after construction, and generate new economic opportunities, increase regional trade, and reduce travel time between Benin and Asaba.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Okpebholo thanked President Tinubu for being proactive in the reconstruction of the Benin-Asaba expressway, on a PPP basis, and not spending Nigeria’s funds on the work.

Umahi called President Tinubu a man of true courage, while praising Governor Okpebholo for rebuilding the initial 23 kilometres of the Federal Government’s Benin-Sapele-Warri Expressway at N40 billion.

He vowed to take the road work to the second Niger Bridge, as he revealed that 30 per cent mobilisation fee was released for the urgent work.

Umahi further said Africa Plus Partners Nigeria Limited, the developer of the road, could provide quality road in record time.

Also at the event were Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the representative of Edo North Senatorial District; Edo Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa; Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Chief Blessing Agbebaku; former governorship candidate of Edo APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; Edo APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe; and some other individuals.