Motorists using the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway have been lamenting the deteriorating condition of the highway, particularly the Asaba axis. The road has been plagued by gridlock for over a month due to numerous failed sections.
During a visit by South-South PUNCH on Tuesday, a persistent traffic jam was observed, causing frustration for travelers and significant delays. The dilapidated portions of the road have left travelers stranded for hours in gridlock.
Notable problem areas include Bonsac by Ezenei junction, Okwe General Hospital by Abraka junction, and the Summit area. Many drivers, especially those traveling from Abuja, Lagos, and Benin, have been forced to navigate through town, only to become stuck again before reaching the Asaba toll gate.
Commercial driver Agu shared his ordeal, stating he was trapped in the gridlock for over five hours. “This traffic gridlock starts as early as 6 am and continues into the night. Some spend two days trying to reach Onitsha,” he said, urging the government to rehabilitate the road.
Federal Controller of Works in Delta State, Mr. Ogar, acknowledged the issue and said the entire stretch of the road is under contract, with work starting at the Delta-Edo boundary. He assured that the contractor would address the failed sections in Asaba soon. “I will press the contractor to prioritize these areas upon my return from the National Council of Works meeting in Abakiliki,” Ogar stated.
