BY RITA OYIBOKA
The tale of Nigeria’s roads is one of grand intentions lost in the mire of poor execution and neglect. Before colonial times, roads were little more than bush paths and beaten trails. Yet, over a century later, while Nigeria now boasts the largest road network in Africa, covering over 200,000 kilometres, most of this network has devolved into a labyrinth of potholes and failed sections, turning even a short journey into an exhausting ordeal. For a foreign visitor from a developed nation, no other experience on Nigerian roads could paint a clearer picture of the state of its economy.
Decades of Investment, but Little to Show
Over the years, the Nigerian government has allocated vast sums to road development and maintenance, but the state of these roads suggests that the funds have been poorly managed.
Federal, state, and local governments share responsibility for maintaining their respective networks: Trunk A roads fall under federal jurisdiction, Trunk B under states, and Trunk C under local governments. The distribution is telling, with only 17 percent of roads under federal control, leaving states with 16 percent and local governments with 67 percent.
Yet across all levels, the lack of maintenance is evident, and roads that should last decades require significant repairs within years.
Poor design, weak drainage, and shoddy construction have led to roads that cannot withstand Nigeria’s heavy rains, causing potholes to grow into craters, eroding road surfaces, and often leaving entire sections impassable.
Roads like the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and Shagamu-Benin Expressway are essential for moving goods across Nigeria, yet they are often neglected, with little evidence of the emergency repairs they so urgently need.
The financial cost of poor infrastructure is incalculable, as businesses incur higher transport costs, vehicles suffer from wear and tear, and the economy loses billions in stalled productivity.
Federal Roads: The Death Traps of Delta
Take Delta State as an example. This state, home to much of Nigeria’s oil and maritime infrastructure, also serves as a critical hub connecting various regions. Yet its federal roads leave a sour taste in the mouth. Federal routes such as the Benin-Asaba Highway are in a near-permanent state of disrepair, likewise the Asaba- Onitsha Expressway.
Even when the state government takes the initiative, federal officials obstruct the repairs, ostensibly to protect federal contracts, contracts that remain unfulfilled for months or years, while the roads crumble.
The recent intervention by Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to rehabilitate critical stretches of the Benin-Asaba highway underscores the frustration many state leaders feel.
Within days of starting repairs, federal officials intervened, insisting that a contractor had already been assigned to the project. Months have passed, and no contractor has mobilised, leaving the road virtually impassable.
This resistance not only obstructs timely repairs but also compromises public safety. Commuters, transporters, and business owners bear the brunt, navigating detours and risking their vehicles and lives on dangerous roads.
Delta Roads Under Heavy Trucks Siege
The crumbling state of federal roads has triggered a ripple effect, hitting Delta State’s inner roads hard. The Asaba-Onitsha Expressway, and Benin-Asaba Highway, vital arteries have deteriorated to a point where it’s now more of a death trap, swallowing lives and property alike.
With the expressway in shambles, interstate travellers are detouring through inner roads that simply aren’t equipped for such heavy-duty traffic. The result? Once-quiet city streets are now bearing the brunt, buckling under the weight and wear, putting both commuters and communities at risk.
This growing crisis was starkly illustrated recently when a fully loaded truck collapsed onto two buses along Nnebisi Road, narrowly sparing over 19 lives. The accident, which occurred near St. Peter’s Anglican Church, left several passengers injured, further highlighting the escalating road conditions in Delta State.
Local accounts paint a vivid picture of the chaos. According to a witness, the truck toppled over a bus from Peace Mass Transit en route from Lagos and a shuttle bus, crushing both vehicles.
“For over four months, the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway has been practically unusable. Vehicles, especially trucks, have been forced into the town’s inner roads, which are now on the verge of total collapse,” the witness explained.
In trying to navigate the broken terrain, the truck lost control and tumbled, injuring the drivers and leaving others shaken.
The situation, however, is far from isolated. A similar incident took place when a truck, avoiding the treacherous expressway, veered onto St. Bridges Road and tragically struck a tricycle operator, killing him instantly. The driver of the truck fled the scene, leaving behind a stark reminder of the consequences of neglect.
Like thieves in the night, many of these trucks quietly invade town roads, especially after dark. But, unfortunately, traveling at dusk doesn’t make the problem of worn-out roads they create/exacerbate any less evident, the damage is just as real, whether the sun is up or down.
Residents Perspective
However, state residents have not been silent. In an interview with The Pointer, Asaba resident, and regular user of the Benin-Asaba Expressway, Mr. Emmanuel Orumgbe shared, “The Benin-Asaba Expressway is a death trap. The road conditions are deplorable, especially around the Issele-Uku junction, where a significant pothole forces vehicles to drive on the wrong side of the road.
“This situation is similarly problematic near Ogwashi-Uku, where drivers are compelled to take one-way routes, often blindly, which sometimes leads to severe traffic jams, especially at night.”
Mr. Orumgbe recounts a recent experience from about two weeks ago when he travelled on this road at night in public transport. “Our vehicle was forced to take the one-way lane due to the unusable state of the correct lane, and we narrowly avoided a collision with a trailer. Many trailers park along this stretch, further deteriorating the road and creating potential hazards for other drivers.”
He noted that Asaba had developed into a rapidly growing urban area, and the original road infrastructure was now inadequate. To accommodate the growing number of road users and vehicles, he suggested expanding this dual carriageway to at least 4 to 8 lanes.
Additionally, he recommended relocating the trailers to designated parking zones where they would be charged fees, generating revenue while sparing the roads further damage. “A similar idea was previously proposed in Agbor, where a parking area near Emuhu Market was suggested to accommodate heavy-duty trailers parked at Umunede. Unfortunately, that plan did not come to fruition.
“This arrangement would not only prevent the roads from further damage but also improve security, as it would allow for better accountability of those parking trailers,” he said.
Another pressing concern is the state of Ibusa Road. In an interview with Mr. Martins Ojeifo, the situation went from bad to worse since the heavy-duty trucks began plying the inner roads.
According to him, “Around Oko Junction and near the Hausa Market, sections of road have deteriorated beyond recognition. Even on the Asaba-Onitsha highway, opposite Ezenei Junction, a section of the road has worsened considerably. The poor state of these highways forces heavy-duty trucks to divert into town roads, further damaging surfaces that were already in substandard condition.
“At the BYC Junction along Ibusa Road, the road condition was already poor, but it deteriorated rapidly once heavy-duty trucks began passing through that area. Although Ibusa Junction was recently given a partial repair, the heavy-duty trucks continue to use this route, and it is expected to deteriorate again soon.”
Echoing similar sentiments was another Ibusa resident Mr. K. Great. He shared: “These heavy-duty truck drivers have been diverting through local roads to avoid the checkpoint at Federal Medical Centre, Asaba. Many of them are now using Ibusa Road, causing severe wear and tear at the Ibusa Junction.
“Additionally, with another checkpoint located at Koka, vehicles bypass through Ibusa, then continue onto DLA Road, eventually joining the Summit Expressway to avoid the Koka checkpoint. This constant rerouting is rapidly damaging the inner roads, which are not built to handle such heavy traffic.”
Another resident of Asaba, Mr. Kingsley Ugwunwa, told The Pointer that the heavy trucks were now using Asaba’s inner roads as shortcuts. “The Bonsaac axis, which connects Asaba to Onitsha, has turned into a hazard zone due to the lack of adequate drainage systems. Without gutters, rainfall worsens the damage, increasing the risk of accidents.”
He called on the Federal Government to take swift action, noting that previous repairs were subpar and have left residents and businesses suffering from increased transportation costs and delays.
DTSG Speaks
Yet, the problem is complex. In a recent on-the-spot assessment of damaged inner roads in Asaba, Delta State’s acting governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, sympathised with residents’ grievances. However, he noted that a blanket restriction on heavy vehicles is unfeasible. “We can’t simply stop trucks from using alternative routes. They’re essential to the national economy,” Onyeme remarked.
He pointed out that trucks forced off the expressway have little choice but to divert through town, adding strain to already compromised roads. However, he confirmed that the federal government has allocated funds for expressway repairs and that work is underway on the Asaba-Onitsha axis. Onyeme hopes that a quick fix to one lane will ease traffic flow until more comprehensive post-rainy season repairs can be made.
Onyeme acknowledged that internal routes were not built to handle such intense use. “Our internal roads were designed for lighter traffic. They were never meant to endure the pressure from these massive trucks,” he explained. The acting governor assured that repair plans are in place, targeting critical spots across Asaba’s network, including Nnebisi Road and Dennis Osadebay Way.
Where to Go From Here?
Encouragingly, the Federal Government seems to have heeded the urgent calls for action. Workers have returned to the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway, with promises that the first lane will soon be cleared and strengthened.
If the repairs proceed as planned, the dire pressure on Asaba’s internal roads may soon ease. Onyeme believes these developments will eventually restore peace on Delta’s roads, making nightmarish gridlocks and deadly accidents a thing of the past.
Delta State’s road saga reflects a broader narrative of bureaucratic delays and infrastructure neglect. The problem isn’t just that these heavy-duty trucks are dominating the city roads, they’re turning them into safety hazards.
The fear citizens typically reserve for highways is now creeping into their neighbourhoods as these industrial giants roar down city streets.
It’s not just a pothole problem; it’s a ticking time bomb. Recently, 19 narrowly escaped with some injured, and Deltans are left wondering, what next? Will tomorrow bring another close call, or something worse? The city roads weren’t built to handle this, and neither are its citizens.
Until concrete steps are taken, residents and commuters remain in limbo, caught between infrastructures unfit for purpose, the safety hazard, and the economic weight of heavy-duty traffic that seems cannot be stopped.
