Minister Directs Immediate Arrest of Any Contractor Who Removes Asphalt From an Existing Carriageway: Benin-Asaba highway

Minister, Stakeholders Chide Concessionaire on the Benin-Asaba highway, promises succour to road Users, Directs the Immediate arrest of any contractor who removes Asphalt from an existing carriageway.
Eereporter.com

Arising from the sufferings of road users and the host communities on the Benin-Asaba Highway, occasioned by ongoing
reconstruction and expansion works, the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, undertook an on-the-spot assessment visit to the affected areas of the project on Tuesday, 25 August, 2026. To underscore the importance of alleviating the negative impact of the ongoing works, the Minister was accompanied by the Members of the National Assembly’s Committees on Works, the Governor of Edo State, Senior Special Assistants to the President (SSA-P) on Community Engagement, South South, South East and North Central Zones, the Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC), and representatives of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

Engr. Umahi chided the Concessionaire, the Benin–Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC), for unprofessional conduct and slow pace despite several warnings from the Independent Engineer to the Project, Messrs Yolas Consultants Limited, and officials from the Ministry. “You are not adhering to engineering best practices in road construction and your methodology is adversely impacting road users, host neighborhoods and the pace of work,” declared the Minister.

The Benin–Asaba Highway is a strategic Federal Highway that commences from AIF Roundabout in Benin City, Edo State, and terminates at Summit Junction in Asaba, Delta State, with a distance of 125 kilometres. The alignment provides an important link between the South-East, South-South, and parts of the South-West zones of Nigeria, connecting major economic centres and facilitating passenger and freight movement, commercial activities, and regional connectivity. It is one of the pilot corridors under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), Phase I, being implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. The HDMI is intended to leverage private-sector investment and technical expertise for the sustainable development, operation, and management of Federal Highways, outside the Federal Government’s balance sheet, thereby freeing up funds for other developmental projects.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), on 16 January, 2023, approved the concession of the Benin–Asaba Highway, on a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) basis for a concession period of twenty-five (25) years, inclusive of a three (3)-year construction period. Consequently, the Concession Agreement was executed on 23rd May, 2023, between the Ministry and the incorporated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), BAECC. However, by late 2023, macroeconomic volatility, inflationary pressures, and rising financing costs necessitated an Addendum to the Concession Agreement.

A comprehensive review of the project
was undertaken by the Ministry, in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF), Federal Ministry of Justice (FMoJ), Debt Management Office (DMO), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv), and the Concessionaire.

Following the review, the project was formally handed over to the Concessionaire on 23 March, 2025. A Commencement Order was subsequently issued, establishing a thirty-six (36) month completion period for the construction phase effective from 8 April, 2025 to 8 April, 2028.
Since the commencement of the project, the Ministry has carried out several technical engagements and issued directives to support and ensure its effective delivery.

These include the Honourable Minister’s site inspection in October, 2025, the Project Delivery Team’s (PDT) site inspections in January and May, 2026, as well as meetings convened between the officials of the Ministry, BAECC, and the Independent Engineer from 21st to 22nd July, 2026. During these engagements with the Concessionaire, it became evident that the project was not being executed as intended, largely due to shortcomings on the part of the Concessionaire, and the Concessionaire was directed to make immediate amends.

Explaining the slow progression of the project, the Managing Director/CEO of BAECC, Mr. Samuel Daramola attributed it to a high volume of traffic on the alignment, being one of the most trafficked routes in the country, and heavy torrential rains, the corridor experiences double rainfall maxima, which the Minister classified as mere “unprofessional and untenable excuses.”

The Minister apologised to Nigerians for the untold stories being experienced on the corridor. He also rebuked the Concessionaire for tampering with the asphalt on the smooth portions of the Highway, thereby destroying the already stabilised sub-structure. He, therefore, directed all Federal Controllers of Works and Engineering Representatives to, henceforth, arrest any contractor who, completely, removes the asphalt from an existing road.

As a proactive measure to ensure the smooth flow of traffic on the critically bad portions of the Highway, Engr. Umahi disclosed that a competent contractor would be immediately engaged to remedy them, guaranteeing road users and the host communities that His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR feels their pains.

In their addresses during the visit, the Chairmen, Senate and House Committees on Works, Sen. Allwell Onyesoh and Hon. Akin Alabi, respectively, empathised with road users and the host communities, described what they witnessed as “an unacceptable disaster,” and promised a holistic nationwide review of Concession Agreements with a view to ensuring strict compliance with their terms.

Also speaking, the SSA-P, Community Engagement, South South Zone, Mrs. Gift Johnbull assured the people that the President is aware of their plights and has directed that a lasting solution be found to ameliorate them.

The Edo State Governor, His Excellency Sen. Monday Okpebholo assured the good people of Edo State and motorists that a solution has been found by the Minister to solve the problem, once and for all, while appealing for more patience from them as the work progresses.

Benin-Agbor-Asaba

A follow-up meeting involving all parties to the project is slated for today, Wednesday, 26 August, 2026 at the Edo State Government House.

The Visitation Team also inspected ongoing
Reconstruction of 23-Kilometre Failed Sections of Benin-Sapele-Warri Road on Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) being undertaken by the Edo State Government, on behalf of the Federal Government. The Minister, having been informed that 75% of the project has been achieved, expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of the work carried out by Messrs CBC Global Civil and Building Construction (Nig.) Limited.

Also inspected was the ongoing Reconstruction of a 10-Kilometre Stretch on the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road, Section I, Phase 2, again undertaken by the State Government, on behalf of the Federal Government, and being executed by Messrs CCECC (Nigeria) Limited. About 25% of the work has been completed and it is progressing smoothly on CRCP.

As an interventionist entity, the Managing Director/CEO of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku promised to reconstruct a critically failed 15.4-kilometre stretch between Edo and Delta States’ border on the Benin-Sapele Road. The Minister thanked him for the kind gesture, directing his team and that of the Commission to work together on the modalities of the project.

Mohammed A. Ahmed,
Director, Information and Public Relations.
26 August, 2026.
Eereporter.com

2027: Kankia Takes Legal Command Role in APC Presidential Campaign

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has deployed the legal expertise of its National Legal Adviser, Barrister Murtala Aliyu Kankia, to its 2027 presidential campaign machinery, appointing him Secretary, Legal, in the newly constituted Presidential Campaign Council.
Kankia’s appointment places the party’s chief legal officer at the heart of its preparations for the 2027 general elections, as the ruling party moves to strengthen its political, legal, mobilisation, communications and security structures ahead of the presidential contest.
As Secretary, Legal, Kankia is expected to coordinate legal affairs within the campaign council and provide strategic advice on issues ranging from electoral compliance and campaign regulations to political advertising, disputes and other legal matters that may arise during the electioneering period.
His appointment is particularly significant because he simultaneously serves as the APC’s National Legal Adviser, creating a direct link between the party’s institutional legal structure and its presidential campaign apparatus.
The arrangement is expected to enable the campaign to draw on the party’s existing legal knowledge while developing coordinated responses to potential electoral and litigation-related challenges across the country.
The APC presidential campaign is expected to operate across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, requiring legal coordination for rallies, political engagements, grassroots mobilisation and other campaign activities.
Beyond providing routine legal advice, Kankia’s responsibilities could include helping campaign officials anticipate legal risks, ensuring compliance with relevant electoral laws and coordinating responses to disputes that may emerge before, during and after the election.
His role could become particularly important in the post-election period, when electoral petitions and litigation traditionally form a significant part of Nigeria’s political contests.
The appointment comes as the APC restructures its presidential campaign machinery ahead of the 2027 election.
Former Zamfara State Governor and Senator, Abdulaziz Yari, has been named Director-General of the campaign council, while other senior party figures have been assigned responsibilities across various operational departments.
The emerging structure reflects an attempt by the ruling party to establish a campaign architecture covering key areas including legal affairs, political mobilisation, security, intelligence and communications.
The APC’s legal desk is therefore expected to serve as a critical component of the campaign’s central command, particularly as political activities intensify nationwide.
For the ruling party, having its National Legal Adviser directly embedded in the presidential campaign structure could provide an additional layer of legal preparedness as it faces what is expected to be a fiercely contested election.
The 2027 contest is likely to generate legal questions surrounding campaign activities, party procedures, electoral regulations, voting processes and the declaration of results.
Kankia’s dual responsibilities could therefore position him as a key link between the APC’s national leadership, the presidential campaign council and legal teams operating across the country.
The development also highlights the increasingly strategic role of legal expertise in modern election campaigns, where political mobilisation is accompanied by legal, data, communications and rapid-response operations.
With the APC already assembling its campaign structures, Kankia’s appointment signals the party’s determination to put its legal machinery in place well ahead of the presidential contest.
For Kankia, the assignment extends his responsibilities beyond the APC national secretariat to the frontline of the party’s presidential campaign, where legal strategy is expected to play a major role in the party’s efforts to secure victory in 2027.

Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda: Kankia Seeks Public Support, Greater Accountability

The National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Murtala Aliyu Kankia, has called on Nigerians to recognise the gains of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration while demanding accountability and improved delivery under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Kankia made the call in his Eid-ul-Mawlid message to Muslims, stressing that the occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on the leadership values of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), particularly justice, honesty, compassion, consultation and service to humanity.
The APC National Legal Adviser said the principles of the Renewed Hope Agenda should remain central to efforts to transform the country through economic reforms, infrastructure development, human capital investment, security and social protection.
He urged Nigerians to assess government policies based on their impact on livelihoods, the economy, education, infrastructure, security and opportunities available to citizens, rather than through partisan considerations.
According to him, the reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration are designed to reposition the Nigerian economy and create the foundation for sustainable growth.
Kankia, however, emphasised that supporting government policies should go hand in hand with holding public officials accountable for results.
“Leadership is a responsibility, not merely a privilege. The Renewed Hope Agenda must continue to be driven by policies that improve the lives of Nigerians, while those in government must remain accountable to the people,” he said.
He urged APC members and other political actors to ensure that the 2027 general elections become a contest of ideas, policies and development records rather than religious, ethnic or inflammatory rhetoric.
Kankia also called on politicians to place the national interest above personal ambitions, warning against actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s stability as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.
He appealed to religious leaders to promote peaceful coexistence, responsible citizenship and tolerance while discouraging hate speech, violence and political manipulation.
The APC chieftain further warned young Nigerians against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of political violence, urging them to participate actively and peacefully in the democratic process.
He called on Nigerians to support efforts to strengthen the economy, expand infrastructure, improve education and skills development, enhance national security and deepen social protection, while ensuring that areas requiring improvement receive constructive criticism.
Kankia also urged Muslims to pray for President Tinubu, other national leaders and the peace and progress of Nigeria, stressing that the country requires collective effort to overcome its challenges.
He said the lessons of Eid-ul-Mawlid should extend beyond the celebration, urging Nigerians to embrace justice, tolerance, compassion, patriotism and service to humanity.
The APC National Legal Adviser felicitated the Muslim Ummah on the occasion and expressed optimism that Nigeria would approach the 2027 elections with greater political maturity, with candidates judged by their ideas, records and capacity to deliver.
“As we celebrate Eid-ul-Mawlid, let us remember that leadership is service. We must continue to support what is good for Nigeria, demand accountability where necessary, and place the national interest above personal and political ambition,” Kankia said.