Nigeria moves to terminate Benin-Asaba Expressway concession

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Works has moved to terminate the concession agreement with the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company Limited (BAECC). The ministry cited “gross” contract breaches and accused the firm of worsening the condition of the 125-kilometre highway, which connects Benin City to Asaba.

Federal Controller of Works in Edo State, Engr. Babatunde Tajudeen, stated that the ministry has proposed a mutual termination of the concession. He expressed concerns regarding the concessionaire's ability to complete the project within the approved budget and urged BAECC to reinstate asphalt removed from the road to allow government contractors to intervene.

The Benin-Asaba corridor is a pilot project under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), a scheme intended to attract private sector funding for national infrastructure. Its failure represents a setback for the policy.

Simultaneously, commuters have expressed growing frustration over the dilapidated state of various federal roads across Nigeria, including the Benin-Lagos, Benin-Sapele, and Abuja-Kaduna highways. Travelers have reported being stranded for days due to poor road conditions and erosion, placing significant pressure on the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to address the widespread infrastructure decay.