twenty six-year-old Timi Adeoye graduated two years ago from the
University of Benin and was a frequent user of the Benin-Ore route.
According to him, “travelling on Nigerian roads used to be a
nightmare for me; I still remember spending twelve long hours on a trip
from Lagos to Benin regularly since I got admission eight years ago. “
“The memory of those trips still leaves a distaste in my mouth”, he continues, “but I had to continue because I had to go school.”
Since it is the major link road between the west and south of Nigeria, it was appalling that it was in that state of decay. From 2006 to as recently as 2012, anyone who plied the Benin-Ore route could have testified to its horrific state. The deplorable condition of the road aside, there were armed robbers infested the area, and travellers were inclined to always say a prayer to avert terrible traffic jams lasting hours, and loss of lives and property. As Adeoye aptly describes it, it was “hell on Earth”.
Popular columnist, Sonala Olumhense once said, “If you are a
Nigerian, chances are you know someone who has spent an entire day, at
least once, traveling the 140-mile Sagamu-Benin City road, or been
killed trying to do so.“
As the legend goes, a former minister of works was reported to have
cried openly while once inspecting the same road, calling it a guzzler
of lives. Citizen upon citizen has resorted to pleading with successive
governments on national television and through other media to see to the
swift repairs of the said road. Despite all this, coupled with
criticism from traditional monarchs, especially the Oba of Benin whose
domain has been a major victim, unfulfilled promises continued to be the
order of the day.
Sagamu-Benin is part of the Lagos-Mombasa, as well as Algiers-Lagos sections of the Trans-Africa Highway, and of Nigeria’s East-West Road. First constructed in the 70s, it was originally a three-hour route. Since it began to deteriorate, contracts have been awarded every other year by different governments. Somehow, nothing concrete has been done.
Then good luck came along, even literally. At last, the cries of Nigerians had broken through to the top echelons and the current government’s determination to get the road fixed and usable again was to put a smile on the faces of those who ply the road.
“The memory of those trips still leaves a distaste in my mouth”, he continues, “but I had to continue because I had to go school.”
Since it is the major link road between the west and south of Nigeria, it was appalling that it was in that state of decay. From 2006 to as recently as 2012, anyone who plied the Benin-Ore route could have testified to its horrific state. The deplorable condition of the road aside, there were armed robbers infested the area, and travellers were inclined to always say a prayer to avert terrible traffic jams lasting hours, and loss of lives and property. As Adeoye aptly describes it, it was “hell on Earth”.
Timi Adeoye: Benin-Ore-Shagamu Expressway Under Goodluck Jonathan
Timi Adeoye: Benin Ore Road during my days as a Student, before Goodluck Jonathan
Sagamu-Benin is part of the Lagos-Mombasa, as well as Algiers-Lagos sections of the Trans-Africa Highway, and of Nigeria’s East-West Road. First constructed in the 70s, it was originally a three-hour route. Since it began to deteriorate, contracts have been awarded every other year by different governments. Somehow, nothing concrete has been done.
Then good luck came along, even literally. At last, the cries of Nigerians had broken through to the top echelons and the current government’s determination to get the road fixed and usable again was to put a smile on the faces of those who ply the road.
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