The Federal Government has said that urgent steps are being undertaken to fix the deteriorated Benin-Asaba Highway.

It said it was exploring alternative arrangements to ensure the 125-kilometre corridor is restored to end the hardship experienced by motorists plying the route.

The road was to be expanded to a 10-lane highway by the concessionaire, the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC), with the first phase to be completed in March next year.But the road remained a nightmare to motorists 18 months after work commenced on the road.

Edo State Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Babatunde Tajudeen, who spoke at a press briefing in Benin City, said the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, was determined to ensure that the road received urgent attention.Tajudeen said the project had encountered serious challenges, particularly in recent months, resulting in severe hardship for motorists and residents along the corridor.

He said issues identified by Umahi were complete scarification of portions of the existing stable asphaltic surface, engagement of allegedly unqualified and professionally incompetent personnel, lack of capacity to deliver the project, extremely slow pace of work, substandard quality of work and poor traffic management.

Speaking on the status of the concession agreement with BAECC, the Federal Controller clarified that the contract had not been terminated due to defined legal and contractual provisions.

He said the Minister had proposed a mutual termination of the concession arrangement, subject to the necessary legal and contractual processes, in view of the challenges surrounding the execution of the project.

Tajudeen noted that no meaningful intervention had been recorded on affected sections of the road two weeks after the minister engaged with the concessionaire and other stakeholders.

He said efforts were underway to find an alternative solution within the legitimate powers of the Ministry to ensure work resumed on the road.