Truck drivers using the Benin corridor have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate the road, saying a journey that should take about four hours from Lagos to Benin can now take as long as three days.
The drivers expressed their frustration over the deteriorating condition of the road and warned that the situation could worsen during the festive period when traffic volumes are expected to increase.
Motorists and truck drivers stranded for prolonged periods were seen carrying out basic activities, including brushing their teeth, beside their vehicles while trapped in traffic.
One truck driver said the journey had become extremely difficult.
“From Lagos to Benin is four hours, but when you get to Benin, we spend three days.”
Another driver accused the Federal Government of failing to adequately address the condition of the road.
“The Federal Government has only scattered the road without making enough effort to fix it. If we are carrying perishable goods, by now the goods would have spoilt. What are we going to explain to our customers? Vehicles keep falling.”
A Benin resident also said the poor condition of the road was hurting businesses and economic activities in the area.
“A lot of businesses have shut down here. This bypass road leads to many destinations, including Abuja, the South-East and Delta,” he said.
Road users have expressed concern that the situation could become worse during the festive season, with increased movement of people and goods expected along the corridor.
The development comes amid continued pressure on the Federal Government over the condition of major highways across the country.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has repeatedly stated that the government is committed to rehabilitating and reconstructing critical federal roads.
However, truck drivers and other motorists using the Benin corridor are demanding urgent intervention to prevent prolonged gridlock, vehicle breakdowns, spoilage of perishable goods and further disruption to businesses.
The Benin road is a major transportation route connecting Lagos to several parts of southern and eastern Nigeria, making its condition crucial to the movement of people and goods across the region.
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