Benin Road: Truck drivers lament 3-day journey from Lagos

By Efe Onodjae

Truck drivers have taken to social media to express their frustration over the deplorable condition of the Benin road, calling on the Federal Government to urgently intervene before the festive period.

A Vanguard investigation into the situation, including a review of videos shared on social media, showed commuters and truck drivers stranded for hours on the road. In some instances, motorists were seen carrying out basic daily activities, including brushing their teeth, beside their vehicles after spending extended periods in traffic.

One of the truck drivers, who spoke in a video, lamented the prolonged journey, saying, “From Lagos to Benin is four hours, but when you get to Benin, we spend three days.”

Another truck driver accused the Federal Government of failing to properly address the condition of the road, warning that the situation was affecting the movement of goods and putting vehicles at risk.

He said, “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, who spoke on the situation, said the deteriorating road had negatively affected businesses and economic activities in the area.

According to him, “A lot of businesses have shut down here. This bypass road leads to many destinations, including Abuja, the South-East and Delta.”

The worsening condition of the road has also raised concerns among road users ahead of the festive season, when traffic and the movement of goods are expected to increase significantly.

The development comes as the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to face pressure over the state of major federal highways across the country.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has repeatedly emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to rehabilitating and reconstructing critical road infrastructure across the country.

However, motorists and truck drivers using the Benin corridor are calling for urgent action, particularly as the festive period approaches, to prevent further gridlock, vehicle breakdowns, loss of perishable goods and disruption to businesses.

The Benin road serves as a major transportation corridor linking Lagos with several parts of southern and eastern Nigeria, making its condition critical to the movement of people and goods across the region.

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