The Federal Government has ordered urgent repairs on the damaged deck of the Benin-bound section of the Shagamu-Benin carriageway, with assurances that the intervention will provide a lasting solution.
In a statement, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works, Uchenna Orji, said Minister David Umahi had dispatched a team of engineers to the site at the border between Edo and Ondo States.
According to the ministry, the affected bridge — a double carriageway built in 1981 — suffered a puncture on the Benin-bound span due to age-related deterioration.
“The damage being noticed on the said bridge is age-related. Bridges are susceptible to deterioration as a result of old age. The Shagamu-Benin bridge was built in 1981, and the bridge deck is ageing,” the statement explained.
The ministry noted that rehabilitation works would require a maximum of 45 days after concrete repairs before vehicular movement resumes on the affected carriageway, to allow the concrete to cure. Traffic will be maintained on the opposite lane during the period.
Umahi added that a permanent solution would involve a full reconstruction of the deck slabs on both sets of bridges in Ondo and Edo States, using innovative engineering technology.
He apologised to motorists for the inconveniences, while stressing that over 30 bridges across the country are receiving attention under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in 2025.
The Minister also acknowledged a content creator who raised the alarm over the damage, urging Nigerians to recognise the administration’s progress in revamping federal roads.
“The President’s initiative to construct new legacy projects, alongside inherited ongoing projects, is a bold vision to expand the nation’s road network. This will serve as a catalyst for healthcare, education, tourism, regional integration, industrialisation and economic growth,” Umahi said.
