Bad Roads Making Travel Dangerous in Edo, Residents

Edo State residents are calling for urgent repairs of major federal roads in the area. They say the bad condition of these roads is adding to insecurity and making it easier for kidnappers and robbers to attack travelers.

Residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that many parts of the roads are in terrible shape. This forces drivers to slow down, causing long traffic jams for those traveling in and out of Edo.

They explained that these jams leave commuters exposed to criminals who operate on less busy stretches of the roads.

Their worries come at a time when kidnapping and banditry are on the rise in Nigeria.

Both the federal and Edo state governments are working to fix several federal roads in the state.

Monday Igbinovia, who drives a commercial bus on the Benin-Auchi route, noted that the road is slightly better than in previous years. But he pointed out that many bad sections still make drivers slow down significantly.

He said, "The road is better than before but there are still portions where vehicles had to slow down because of potholes and failed sections. Anytime vehicles are forced to crawl, passengers naturally become worried about security."

Musa Abdullahi, a trailer driver who moves goods between northern and southern Nigeria, said the Benin-Auchi Highway is very important for the economy. He mentioned that the large number of trucks using the road makes it worse, creating traffic jams that put drivers at risk.

He explained, "The longer the articulated vehicles stayed on the road because of bad sections, the greater the security concerns for drivers and passengers."

Concerns have grown about parts of the Benin-Auchi-Okene, Benin-Ore, and Benin-Agbor roads. Road users have often complained about crimes happening along these routes.

Motorist Odiion Sufianu remembered when youths in Auchi protested about insecurity and erosion problems around the Jattu area. He said, "When roads become difficult to navigate, travellers are forced into vulnerable situations. Poor roads can reinforce insecurity."

Some transport operators, like Victor Yusuf and Joe Adaba, are urging for a complete rebuild of the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi Highway instead of just temporary fixes.

They believe a fully repaired highway will improve travel and lessen security risks from long traffic jams and slow-moving vehicles.

Passengers also share similar worries. Grace Okojie, who often travels, said delays from bad road sections usually make journeys longer and leave passengers anxious, especially when it gets late.

Road transport leaders argue that the state of the highways is both an economic and security problem. They say it raises vehicle maintenance costs and transport fares. Long travel times also give criminals chances to target stranded or slow-moving cars.

While there are still issues along the Benin-Auchi road, many users noticed big improvements on the Benin-Sapele-Warri Highway due to ongoing repairs.

A visit by NAN showed that areas that were once hard to pass, like Limit Road, Agip, PZ, and Adesuwa junctions, have been fixed and reopened.

Drivers said this change has cut down travel time and eased the traffic that used to trap commuters for hours.

In Ologbo, the border community between Edo and Delta states, truck drivers reported better traffic flow after years of heavy congestion.

Commercial driver Bashiru Danjuma noted the repairs have revived transport businesses and made it safer for long waits in traffic. He said, "The bad road reduced the number of trips we could make daily. Traffic congestion also created security concerns because people can remain trapped on the road for hours. The improvement has brought relief."

Food vendor Osariemen Osariodion remembered how a journey that normally takes an hour sometimes took up to five hours due to bad roads. A farmer, Ebu Oriosaye, said she often lost perishable goods because of lengthy trips.

Community leaders like Erahor Omoruyi and Vincent Iyoha said finishing the road project will boost economic activities and improve safety.

Daniel Omoregbe, the Chairman of the Sapele Road Bypass Axis Group, said things have improved a lot since construction started. Drivers on the Benin-Ore Highway also see progress on some parts, but they want quicker repairs on the remaining bad sections.

Luxury bus driver Adewale Akinyemi said construction has helped some parts of the route but noted that some areas still slow down traffic.

For many commuters, safety is a major worry. Peter Ekhator pointed out that drivers often make sudden moves to dodge potholes, which raises the risk of accidents for everyone on the road.

Osaro Igbinedion from the National Union of Road Transport Workers called the highways important for the country's economy. He said keeping them maintained and fixing them quickly will help reduce accidents and transport costs. It will also make travel safer for everyone.

In response to these worries, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) said they are working on several federal roads in Edo. Emeter Olisa, the Federal Road Maintenance Engineer in Edo, said FERMA is doing maintenance work along the Oluku Bypass in Benin City.

He added that this includes cleaning drainage channels, fixing shoulders, laying asphalt, and repairing road sections around bridges. Mr Olisa also mentioned a project funded by Sukuk along the Auchi-Benin route and concrete work on parts of the Benin-Sapele Road.

He assured the public that the government is committed to improving road infrastructure and making travel safer.

Experts in security and transport say that good road infrastructure is very important for public safety.