By Emmanuel Enebeli
ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Civil Society Organisational Forum (DELCOF) has demanded the immediate publication of contracts, payment records and a measurable recovery plan for the troubled Asaba-Onitsha and Benin-Asaba road corridors, giving the Federal Government until September 27, 2026, to demonstrate substantial action.
The demand was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Council and members of several civil society and development organisations, including the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), One Love Community Development, Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative, Delta State Partners for Peace, Poka Health Care Foundation, Bioresource Conservation Initiative and Justice for Peace and Stability.
DELCOF said the latest demand was prompted by continuing concerns over the condition of the two strategic highways and questions surrounding the execution and supervision of projects on the corridors, particularly the 11-kilometre Summit Junction-Asaba-Onitsha Head Bridge project reportedly handled by Hartland Nigeria Limited.
The forum said public statements by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, indicated that about ₦14 billion had been paid to Hartland for the project, which includes channelisation and hydraulic structures, while only about 40 per cent of the agreed work had reportedly been completed. Umahi had also directed that the company’s managing director be arrested over the contractor’s alleged failure to fulfil its obligations.
DELCOF, however, said the issue should go beyond the arrest of a contractor, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the award, payment, certification and supervision of the project should be established through a formal investigation.
The forum is consequently asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Bureau of Public Procurement, Code of Conduct Bureau and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to examine the transaction and determine whether any wrongdoing occurred.
It said the investigation should cover not only the contractor but also public and private officials involved in authorising, certifying, processing or receiving funds connected with the project.
The organisation also wants the Federal Government to publish the Hartland contract and the Benin-Asaba concession agreement, together with approved variations, payment certificates, performance guarantees, independent engineering reports, default notices and revised completion schedules.
On the Benin-Asaba corridor, DELCOF said concerns also existed over contract performance, technical capacity, engineering supervision and traffic management.
The 125-kilometre Benin-Asaba highway, which links Benin City in Edo State with Asaba in Delta State, has been the subject of renewed government intervention following deterioration along parts of the route. The Federal Ministry of Works announced on September 9 that it had directed the immediate deployment of major contractors to the three sections of the road to restore failed portions, while also ordering a redesign of the route for reconstruction with reinforced concrete pavement.
The ministry had earlier said the concession arrangement had complicated immediate intervention, but maintained that public interest had taken precedence and that emergency works would be undertaken at the Federal Government’s cost.
DELCOF’s proposed recovery framework includes immediate stabilisation of dangerous sections, restoration of traffic flow, warning signs and attention to critical drainage problems.
The forum is also demanding that the Federal Government publish a corridor-by-corridor recovery plan identifying the responsible contractor or concessionaire, scope of work, funding source, monthly construction milestones, traffic-management arrangements, supervising engineer and a definite completion date.
It wants the plan presented at an open stakeholder meeting involving affected communities, civil society organisations, transport unions, professional bodies, businesses, journalists and religious leaders.
DELCOF further called for enforcement of contractual remedies and recovery of public funds where investigations establish overpayment, diversion, false certification, procurement violations or abuse of office.
The forum said failure to publish and commence what it described as a credible, funded and independently verifiable recovery programme by September 27 would lead it to mobilise what it described as peaceful and lawful civic action.
According to the statement, such action could include peaceful demonstrations and picketing, Freedom of Information requests, public-interest litigation, petitions to oversight institutions, independent project monitoring and sustained media engagement.
The organisations said their position was driven by concerns about the effect of the road conditions on motorists, businesses and communities, citing traffic delays, vehicle damage, increased transport costs and disruption of commercial activities.
The statement also urged the Works Ministry to account for its procurement, certification, payment, supervision and enforcement responsibilities in relation to the projects.
The signatories included Global Women for Quality and Sustainable Development, Okiero Anthony Okoro Development Foundation, Free Life Initiative, HFDR Centre for Peace and Development, Escala Food Export Nigeria Limited, Escala Catering Services, Development Outreach International, Mazik Foundation for Consumer Rights, State Peace Architecture, Emuobo’s Foundation, Community Development Initiative, CRENCOF Nigeria Limited, Participatory Peace and Empowerment Initiative, Johnson Ogana Foundation, JOPEDIC Consults, Primecraft and Media Nigeria Limited, Green-Sphere International, May & EEE Consults and Neferok, among others.
The renewed demand comes amid a broader series of interventions and legal and civil-society actions concerning the two road corridors. On September 15, the Society of Public Interest Lawyers in Nigeria (SPI-LAW) filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja concerning the condition of the Benin-Asaba Expressway, seeking urgent repairs and other reliefs.
DELCOF said the immediate priority should be the protection of road users and the restoration of the two highways, alongside transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
