Motorists, commuters, and traders along the Benin?Sapele Road, have decried the slow pace of ongoing rehabilitation work on the highway, lamenting its toll on travel time, safety, and economic activities.

The failed stretch of the road, from the By-pass axis to the Ologbo-Koko Junction, first began deteriorating in 2018, largely due to poor drainage design and lack of maintenance.

At its worst, the road became nearly impassable, worsened by political disagreements between the Edo State Government, which was expected to provide palliative measures, and the Federal Government, which is responsible for full rehabilitation of the critical highway linking the western corridor to the South-South.

Signs of hope emerged when the Edo State Government took over a portion of the rehabilitation earlier handled by Levant Construction Firm. However, residents say progress has remained slow and conditions continue to worsen.

Igbinovia Lucky, a resident of Ogheghe near the By-pass, described commuting as a daily nightmare.

?Since I moved here in 2022, it has been very difficult coming into the city and going back home after work,? he said. ?Most evenings, we spend up to five or six hours on a journey that should take just 30 to 45 minutes.?

Transporters also lamented the impact of the road?s condition on their operations. A commercial driver, Sunday Ochuko, said the highway?s poor state has reduced the number of trips drivers can make per day.

?The bad road has increased accident risks ? trucks often get stuck, tip over, or spend days stranded. This leads to theft, abandoned livestock, and even kidnappings along some stretches,? he said.

Ochuko added that the situation has driven up vehicle maintenance costs and fuel consumption due to slow movement and detours.

?The corridor is critical for trade between Edo and Delta states, but moving goods efficiently has become difficult. Farmers face losses when produce spoils before reaching the market, which reduces incomes, shrinks food supply, and pushes up prices. Passenger fares have nearly doubled on the Benin?Sapele route,? he noted.

A fruit seller, who sources goods from Benin for sale in Sapele, shared similar concerns, saying frequent delays and losses have forced sellers to raise prices to cover higher transportation costs.

Commuters and traders are calling on both the state and federal governments to expedite the rehabilitation work, describing the road as a lifeline for commerce and daily movement in the region. (The Guardian)

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