The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation and maintenance of existing roads before committing resources to the construction of new highways.
Obi made the appeal in a statement shared on his official X handle on Monday, stressing that government resources should be channelled towards restoring critical road networks that are already heavily relied upon by Nigerians.
According to the former Anambra State governor, many of the country’s major highways have deteriorated due to years of neglect, causing hardship for commuters, businesses and transport operators.
“I have consistently advocated that the Government should refrain from initiating new road construction projects until they have thoroughly rehabilitated and maintained the existing road network,” Obi said.
He argued that rather than focusing on new projects and dualisation programmes with limited immediate impact, attention should be given to repairing strategic roads that connect major economic centres across the country.
Obi specifically highlighted the Asaba–Benin Road as one of the highways requiring urgent government intervention, describing it as a vital transport route linking several states to Lagos.
He noted that the road serves travellers and businesses from states including Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Rivers, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Abia, Enugu, Benue and Kogi, among others.
The NDC presidential candidate expressed concern that the poor condition of the highway has contributed to prolonged traffic congestion, increased transportation costs and difficulties for road users.
He said the challenges facing the Asaba–Benin corridor reflect the wider condition of several federal highways across Nigeria, adding that maintaining existing infrastructure should be a priority before embarking on fresh projects.
“The Nigerian populace requires functional and motorable roads, not merely projects that garner public attention,” Obi said.
He further cautioned against prioritising infrastructure initiatives based on political visibility, urging the government to focus on projects that directly improve the daily lives of citizens and strengthen economic activities.
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