Motorists, business owners count losses over poor state of Benin/Sapele road

By Jethro Ibileke

Business owners, residents and motorists playing the ever busy Benin/Sapele Road have called on the Federal and Edo State Governments to hasten up the repair work on the road.

They lamented the negative impact on their lives, businesses and vehicles have suffered from the poor state of the road due to the snail speed of the ongoing repairs.

Signs of the failed road stretching from the by-pass area to the Ologbo/Koko junction began in 2018 due to failure to maintain the failed spots.

At a stage the road became near impassable due to political differences between the state government who ought to have done some palliative work, and the federal government whose duty it is to rehabilitate the road that linked the west to the South-south corridors.

A resident of Ogheghe, a community by the by-pass, Igbinovia Lucky, said since he parked into his apartment in 2022, it has been a nightmare coming to the city and going back home at close of work.

According to him, more times are spent on the road, especially when workers are going back home in the evenings.

He said: “Most times, a journey which ordinarily should take an average of 30 – 45 minutes, last between 5 and 6 hours just from my place of work at the government secretariat to where I live in Ogheghe and same applies to other persons who live along that route or do business on that axis.”

Also speaking, a transporter who ply the Benin/Warri route, Sunday Ochuko, said the bad state of the road has drastically reduced the number of trips per day for him and his other colleagues that ply the route.

He further lamented the damages to their vehicles, resulting in motorists spending more on fuel and repairs.

According to him, “The bad state of the road has increased accident risks occasioned by trucks that often get stuck, tip over, or delay for days pointing out that the end result to incidents of theft, livestock being abandoned or offloaded from trucks, and security concerns including kidnappings along certain stretches.

“Apart from that, businesses and individuals, loss of hours. What used to be a 1‑hour trip becomes 5‑6 hours. This reduces the number of trips, lowers work hours, increases delays in supply chains.

“The corridor is vital for trade between Edo and Delta states and beyond, but poor road quality makes it harder to move goods efficiently to market, possibly reducing competitiveness,” Ochuko added.

A Sapele-based fruit seller, who buys from Benin, lamented the delays and loss of goods due to damage, spoilage, or pilferage along the road, which she said has always resulted in upward review of prices of fruits.

Speaking in the same vein, a business owner at the Ologbo end of the road who asked not to be named, lamented losses incurred on their goods as trucks cannot access his products for distribution.

He added that farmers face similar difficulties transporting their produce, with some of the produce getting bad before reaching markets, thus reducing their incomes, food supply and raising costs.

“Passenger fares have nearly doubled on the Benin to Sapele route. Transport operators are making fewer trips per day, business owners suffer low patronage because the road takes too much time or because vehicles break down,” he said.

Presently, Edo State government has taken over a portion of the road rehabilitation earlier embarked on by Levant Construction Firm, with about 5.5 kilometres already completed with stone based and reinforced concrete pavement structure.

Speaking during the inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation of the road at the weekend, Governor Monday Okpebholo expressed confidence that it will be completed by December 2025, in line with the contractor’s commitment.

During the tour, Okpebholo examined the 1.5 kilometers of completed surface drains, a one-kilometer underground channel, and a 1.6-kilometer underground canal, designed to mitigate perennial flooding in and around Sapele Road axis.

The project features a reinforced concrete pavement structure of 200 millimeters, with over five kilometers of rigid pavement and 5.5 kilometers of stone base already completed.

Governor Okpebholo also inspected other connecting roads around the axis.

The inspection began at Mousco Junction on Sapele Road and covered major intersections including PZ, Agip, Ekae Junction, Winners, RCCG Junction, and Evbukhu before terminating at Ogheghe and Old Ogheghe Roads.

Governor Okpebholo also inspected four kilometers of drainage channels extending beyond the section initially handled by Levante Construction Company, whose contract was earlier terminated.

Demonstrating hands-on supervision, the Governor trekked over two kilometers along the project corridor, stopping at intervals to verify the thickness of the concrete pavement, inspect reinforcement rods, and ensure compliance with contractual standards.

Okpebholo expressed satisfaction with the progress made, while reiterating his administration’s resolve to monitor all projects across Benin metropolis and other parts of the State to ensure quality delivery.

“With what I have seen today, we are on track. The contractors have promised to deliver by December, and we will support them with timely payments to ensure they meet the deadline,” the Governor affirmed.

Special Adviser on Project Implementation and Monitoring, Engr. Mrs. Phoebe U. Williams-Bello, echoed the Governor’s position, stressing that the supervision exercise was designed to enforce compliance.

“So far, 1.5 kilometers of surface drains and one kilometer of underground channels have been completed. The contractors are working to schedule, and the project is on course for December completion,” she noted.

Project Engineer, Engr. Ademola, confirmed that surface drains at Ogheghe have been completed, while 1.2 kilometers out of the planned 1.6-kilometer underground canal at Old Sapele Road have been delivered. He disclosed that the second phase of works, including reinforced concrete pavement, would commence shortly.

“We remain optimistic that the December target is achievable. The reinforced concrete design guarantees durability, and once completed, the Ogheghe corridor will stand as a lasting solution to flooding and traffic challenges,” Ademola assured.