Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate critical federal roads linking Edo and Delta states, accusing the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, of giving insufficient attention to some of the country’s busiest highways despite approving new road projects elsewhere.
The Edo North senator made the remarks on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, during plenary at the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly, Abuja, while contributing to discussions on federal road infrastructure.
Kristina Reports learnt that Oshiomhole expressed concern over the condition of major highways connecting Benin City to Warri, Asaba and Auchi, as well as the Auchi–Okene road, describing them as critical economic routes that have become increasingly difficult for motorists and commuters to use.
According to the former Edo State governor, the rehabilitation of existing federal roads should take priority over the construction of new ones, especially where deteriorating highways continue to affect the movement of people, goods and services.
He argued that despite the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of several new road projects, many strategic roads serving Edo and Delta states have remained in poor condition for years.
Oshiomhole further alleged that sections of the affected roads had not received adequate budgetary allocations in recent years, adding that some interventions only came after directives from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through alternative funding arrangements. He appealed to the Senate leadership to engage the Minister of Works to ensure a more balanced approach to road infrastructure development across the country.
For residents and commercial transport operators who depend on the highways daily, the deteriorating road network has continued to increase travel time, vehicle maintenance costs and safety concerns, with many motorists complaining of failed sections that become more difficult to navigate during the rainy season.
The Benin–Warri, Benin–Asaba and Benin–Auchi corridors serve as major links between the South-South, South-East and North-Central regions, making them among Nigeria’s busiest federal highways for passenger and commercial transportation.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Works had not issued an official response to Oshiomhole’s allegations regarding the condition of the roads or the claims of neglect.