Remedial works begin on failed Asaba-Onitsha portion of Benin-Onitsha Expressway, Onyeme Expresses relief

Relief is in sight for motorists who have endured significant delays on the Benin-Onitsha Expressway, particularly atthe failed portion near the Asaba-Onitsha axis. The Acting Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, on Thursday expressed hope that the ongoing remedial work on the notorious section of the expressway would bring an end to the traffic nightmare faced by commuters.

During an on-the-spot assessment, Onyeme confirmed that remedial work had commenced on the failed portion of the federal road. The contractor in charge assured the acting governor that one side of the dual carriageway would be made passable within days, easing vehicle movement until the rainy season ends and more comprehensive work can begin.

“We thank the Federal Government for responding to the cries of the people by mobilizing workers to fix the expressway,” Onyeme said. “The contractor has promised that within a week, the first lane will be remedied, and they will move to the other lane. After the rainy season, proper work will continue.”

The Acting Governor of Delta State Sir. Monday Onyeme, (left) Commissioner of Works (Urban Roads) Hon. Rueben Izeze, (middle), Director General Asaba Capital Territory Development Agency, Chief Patrick Ukah (left) and others during inspection of failed portion of internal roads due to the failed portion of the Asaba -Benin express road by the Governor Pix. OTOBORE UMUKORO

The acting governor highlighted the secondary impact of the expressway’s failure on Asaba’s internal roads. As motorists diverted to alternative routes through the state capital, the increased traffic caused significant damage to the local road network. Onyeme assured residents that the state government was committed to repairing these internal roads, noting that measures were already in place to fix badly affected areas.

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“We have inspected the failed portions of roads like Nnebisi Road, Dennis Osadebay Way, and Ibusa/Asaba Road towards the Koka Interchange. Our technical team is working on plans to repair these roads swiftly,” Onyeme stated. “These roads were not designed for heavy-duty vehicles, but the failure of the federal road forced commuters to use them, leading to the damage we see now.”

While there have been calls to restrict heavy-duty trucks from using the internal roads, Onyeme explained that such restrictions would have significant economic consequences. He stressed that while the state will continue to manage the situation, the responsibility to fix the federal road ultimately lies with the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government has already awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the expressway. As a state, there is a limit to what we can do to restrict commuters, particularly heavy-duty vehicles. These are Nigerians, many of whom are Deltans, and economic activities rely on the flow of goods along these roads,” Onyeme explained.

He was joined on the tour by several top government officials, including the Commissioner for Works (Urban Roads), Hon. Reuben Izeze, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, among others.

The ongoing repairs have brought renewed optimism to the region, with many hoping that the rehabilitation will not only ease travel but also prevent further damage to Delta State’s road infrastructure.