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

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed the directive and said the ministry had immediately begun taking steps to restore movement along the affected corridor.

Umahi said the President ordered immediate corrective measures to address the hardship being experienced by road users and ensure that traffic flow returns to normal as quickly as possible.

The minister travelled to Benin, Edo State, alongside members of the National Assembly Works Committees to begin discussions on the situation.

The meeting is expected to involve officials from the Edo and Delta state governments as well as representatives of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The stakeholders are expected to work out immediate solutions to the difficulties confronting motorists and commuters along the busy route.

The intervention followed days of serious traffic congestion caused by failed portions and the deteriorating condition of the highway.

The prolonged gridlock has disrupted interstate travel, with some travellers reportedly abandoning their vehicles and resorting to other means of transportation.

The traffic situation has also affected the movement of goods and commercial activities along the corridor.

Motorists and residents had earlier protested the condition of the Benin-Agbor bypass, with footage from the protest showing vehicles struggling through severely damaged and muddy sections of the road.

Umahi expressed concern over the situation and said the government’s response would not be limited to temporary measures.

He said immediate repairs would be combined with longer-term solutions aimed at restoring the road and improving its reliability.

The minister also apologised to motorists and commuters who have endured prolonged delays and hardship as a result of the deteriorating road condition.

He assured road users that the Federal Government was taking steps to address the crisis and ease movement along the affected corridor.