NEWS
Umahi Orders Three-Week Highway Repairs as Bad Roads Endanger Motorists, Threaten Food Supply
Umahi Orders Three-Week Highway Repairs as Bad Roads Endanger Motorists, Threaten Food Supply
Umahi directs emergency rehabilitation of major federal highways nationwide ahead of festive travel and 2027 elections.
Deteriorating highways, some of which have become death traps, raise concerns over motorists’ safety.
Calabar–Itu Highway requires comprehensive rehabilitation despite previous remedial interventions between Nkim Itam and Head Bridge.
Poor roads in Northern Cross River threaten the movement of food supplies across the South-South.
November 14, () – With several federal highways across Nigeria deteriorating into death traps for motorists and disrupting the movement of goods and services, Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered a three-week nationwide emergency rehabilitation of critical roads ahead of the festive season and January 2027 general elections.
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The directive comes amid growing concerns over the condition of major highways, particularly roads linking communities and commercial centres in the South-South, where poor road conditions have continued to pose challenges to commuters, transport operators and traders.
One of the affected routes is the Calabar–Itu Highway, a major transport corridor connecting Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
Although remedial interventions have been carried out on some sections, particularly between Nkim Itam and the Head Bridge axis in Akwa Ibom, the road requires more comprehensive and durable rehabilitation
With the dry season gradually setting in, stakeholders and road users are expected to look towards more substantial construction work rather than temporary interventions that may not withstand the demands of heavy traffic and changing weather conditions
Equally concerning is the condition of some major highways in Northern Cross River State, which serve as important trade routes for the transportation of agricultural produce and foodstuffs to markets across the South-South.
Their deterioration threatens not only the safety of road users but also the efficient movement of food supplies and other essential commodities.
Umahi issued the three-week rehabilitation directive on Friday during a meeting with zonal directors of the Federal Ministry of Works at its headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, directing ministry officials and contractors to return to construction sites immediately.
According to a statement by his media aide, Francis Nwaze, the minister expressed displeasure with contractors undertaking permanent construction on some sections of highways while leaving other portions of the same roads impassable.
He insisted that emergency rehabilitation must take priority where necessary, stressing that Nigerians should not continue to suffer because permanent construction is ongoing elsewhere on the affected highways.
CalabarItu Expressway
The intervention will involve excavating failed sections, replacing unsuitable materials, applying stone base mixed with cement where necessary, and completing the work with asphalt binder and wearing course. Road shoulders and drainage systems are also to be rehabilitated.
The highways listed for urgent attention include Abuja–Lokoja, Mararaba–Keffi, Keffi–Makurdi, Lokoja–Benin, Benin–Ore, Benin–Asaba, Benin–Warri, Warri–Ughelli, the East-West Road, Okpanu–Calabar, Enugu–Port Harcourt, Aba–Port Harcourt and Owerri–Onitsha, among others.
Umahi also directed contractors to revisit previously completed projects and repair defective sections, warning that the expiration of the one-year defects liability period should not be used as an excuse to abandon substandard work
To monitor compliance, he ordered the establishment of a digital reporting platform through which ministry officials would upload project locations, contractors’ details, completed work, outstanding interventions and challenges
He warned that contractors who failed to comply with the directive would be reported for appropriate action, adding that the actual condition of roads and quality of work delivered would take precedence over contract sums and payments
The minister said the exercise would ease motorists’ difficulties, facilitate the movement of goods and services, support security operations and ensure the smooth transportation of people and election materials ahead of the 2027 elections.
