The Federal Ministry of Works has announced urgent intervention works on the damaged deck of the Benin-bound section of the Shagamu-Benin carriageway, assuring commuters of a swift and lasting solution.
In a statement issued Tuesday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, the ministry confirmed that engineers have already been dispatched to the site on the border of Edo and Ondo States.
“The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed the immediate deployment of a team of engineers to the location of the damaged bridge,” the statement read.
The affected bridge, built in 1981, developed a visible puncture on the Benin-bound side within one of its five spans. The ministry attributed the damage to age-related deterioration.
“In line with the proactive approach of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu, urgent action has been initiated on the damaged section. Repairs will take a maximum period of 45 days after the concrete works to allow it mature before reopening to traffic,” the statement added.
Umahi assured that the government is working on a permanent solution involving a full deck reconstruction of the twin bridges at the location, using innovative engineering technology.
He apologised to motorists for the inconvenience, noting that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) will help manage traffic on the unaffected carriageway during repairs.
The minister further disclosed that the Tinubu administration is intervening in the rehabilitation of over 30 bridges nationwide in 2025 alone, as part of efforts to revamp Nigeria’s road infrastructure.
Umahi also thanked the content creator who first raised the alarm over the damage, while urging Nigerians to appreciate the government’s ongoing efforts.
“The Renewed Hope agenda of revolutionising road infrastructure nationwide is on course, and the mission of revitalising the deteriorating federal road architecture is making significant progress across the board,” he said.
He reiterated that the transport sector remains a catalyst for economic growth, adding that Tinubu’s legacy projects will expand Nigeria’s road network to boost healthcare, education, tourism, regional integration, industrialisation, and overall development.
