The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate the Agbede and Okpella sections of the Benin-Okene Federal Highway in Edo State, citing the deplorable condition of the road and the hardship it has imposed on motorists and residents.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by the member representing Etsako East/Etsako West/Etsako Central Federal Constituency, Edo State, Mr Anamero Dekeri.

Moving the motion, Dekeri said the affected sections of the highway had deteriorated significantly, making travel increasingly difficult, hazardous and unpredictable for motorists, commercial drivers, commuters and other road users.

He lamented that the failed portions of the road had subjected commuters to prolonged delays, with journeys that ordinarily should take a short time stretching into several hours or even days.

According to him, the situation had resulted in physical exhaustion, loss of productive time, increased transportation costs and avoidable hardship for road users.

“The House is disturbed that the failed sections of the road, particularly around Agbede and Okpella, have subjected commuters to prolonged delays,” he said.

Dekeri also expressed concern over the impact of the road’s deterioration on residents and communities along the affected stretches, noting that dust, noise and traffic bottlenecks had disrupted daily life and affected public health.

He said the worsening condition of the highway had forced some residents to abandon their homes and relocate to safer areas.

The lawmaker noted that the Benin-Okene Federal Highway was a major transportation corridor linking the southern and northern parts of the country, making its continued deterioration a matter of national economic and security concern.

The highway forms part of the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi-Okpella-Okene-Ajaokuta-Lokoja route, which facilitates the movement of people, agricultural produce and other goods between the South and North. Its strategic importance to interstate commerce and regional connectivity makes the condition of its failed sections particularly troubling.

The Federal Government had, in February 2025, flagged off the dualisation of sections of the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi-Okpella-Okene-Ajaokuta road project in Edo and Kogi states. The exercise followed the termination and re-award of contracts for some sections of the project after concerns over the performance of the previous contractors.

In March 2024, the Federal Ministry of Works had also directed contractors handling the wider Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi-Okpella-Okene-Lokoja corridor to accelerate rehabilitation works or risk having their contracts terminated.

Against this background, Dekeri warned that continued neglect of the failed portions could result in loss of lives, displacement of residents, damage to property and further economic hardship for affected communities.

He said the situation required emergency intervention beyond routine maintenance, including immediate remedial works to restore safe passage and comprehensive, lasting rehabilitation of the affected sections.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the Agbede and Okpella sections of the highway to facilitate immediate and comprehensive intervention.

It also called on the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to “urgently mobilise contractors and provide the necessary funding and technical support for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected portions.”

The House further urged the Ministry of Works to provide safe and accessible alternative routes for residents of Agbede and Okpella, “particularly those whose homes and communities had been cut off by the failed highway, to enable them to access their homes and carry out their daily activities.”

The lawmakers said prompt intervention was necessary to restore the highway’s functionality, protect lives and property, and ease the burden on communities and other road users.