BY RITA ODUAH
The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the rehabilitation of the failed portion of the Asaba–Benin–Onitsha Expressway.
The monarch made the appeal while hosting a delegation from the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), led by Engr. Onimago Olushola, in his palace.
Expressing deep concern over the deplorable condition of the road, the monarch noted that motorists and commuters face daily hardship traversing the route to Anambra State and other parts of the country. He described the expressway as one of the most strategic in Nigeria, linking the South-West, South-South, and South-East regions, and stressed that it should not be left to deteriorate any further. “The Asaba–Benin Expressway is a critical national asset. Its current state is unacceptable, and the Federal Ministry of Works must take urgent steps to provide at least temporary relief while awaiting full rehabilitation,” the monarch stated, adding that swift action was necessary to ease vehicular movement pending the mobilisation of contractors as approved by President Bola Tinubu.
In his response, Engr. Lukman Olushola assured the royal father that plans were already in motion to address the problem. He disclosed that FERMA had met with the Federal Ministry of Works last week to discuss rehabilitation measures and that positive action would be taken soon.
The delegation’s visit underscores ongoing efforts to engage key stakeholders in finding immediate and lasting solutions to the highway’s challenges.
