Motorists, traders, and residents along the Benin-Agbor Road have lamented the slow and chaotic spate of repairs on the federal highway, which, according to them has damaged their vehicles, disrupting transport, business activities, and general livelihoods.
Despite ongoing rehabilitation works by the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited, road users said the efforts are moving too slowly to address the worsening conditions.
The road, which has shown signs of severe wear and failure since 2018, when former governor Godwin Obaseki labelled it a federal road, has deteriorated over the years due to poor drainage design and lack of maintenance.
A section of the road, stretching from the Christ Chosen Church of God main gate through Guinness Warehouse and Winners chapel, up to the Jehovah Junction, has been excavated and left with deep gullies which often leave heavy duty vehicles fallen in parts.
A resident of Ikhueniro near the bad stretch, Frederick Asuen, said since moving into his apartment in 2023, daily commuting has become a struggle.
“Since I parked into my apartment in 2023, it has been a nightmare coming into the city and going back home at close of work.”
“I had to be leaving my car, an SUV at home to use public transport. That is after repeated breakdown inside the gullies and expensive trips to my mechanic and Imma not alone.
” Many who live at Okhuahie and Uvbe using this road have all given up. And I praise the shuttle bus drivers and all commercial vehicles who have no option but to use this road daily. My brother it is like hell”.
He explained that journeys that should ordinarily cost ₦700 and between 60 and 90 minutes now costs ₦1200 and often last 3 to 4 hours, especially in the morning and evenings.
Tuesday Elemi who operates a bus along the route said the road’s condition has killed their operations.
He said the bad sections of the road have reduced the number of trips they can make daily.
“The bad state of the road has increased damages to our vehicles even at the risk of our lives occasioned by trucks that often get stuck, tip over, or are parked for days,” he said.
“The end result is abandoned goods or offloaded from trucks, and security concerns including kidnappings along certain stretches.”
Elemi added that besides vehicles experiencing damages and requiring frequent repairs, fuel consumption has also quadrupled due to longer travel times and diversions.