Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu and its Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, are facing mounting criticism over the deteriorating state of federal highways across Nigeria, with a scathing new opinion piece describing the situation as "FG and Umahi's roads to hell." The article, penned by veteran columnist Dele Sobowale and published on August 24, 2026, has ignited a fresh wave of public anger, pointing to the pathetic condition of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Expressway and the alarming flooding on the Lagos-Calabar Expressway, which is not even 15 per cent complete. The criticism comes at a time when the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has declared that over 60 per cent of federal roads are in a deplorable state, and the Senate has declared a key highway in Benue State a national security concern.
Sobowale's article, which has been widely circulated, paints a grim picture of the Tinubu administration's infrastructure legacy, warning that if the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, touted as a flagship project, already shows evidence of long-term stress, the situation will be catastrophic for Nigerians plying it in the future. The columnist accused Minister Umahi of building the sort of "rickety roads" in Lagos and coastal states that he left behind in Ebonyi State. He also alleged that the minister was recently in Lagos "half-begging, half attempting to blackmail Governor Sanwo-Olu to cough up funds to repair the mistakes made by Engineer Umahi and the contractors who hastily embarked on the road without Environmental Impact Assessment". The article further noted that parts of the road have already been vandalised, even before completion.
The criticism extends to the broader state of federal roads, with Sobowale lamenting that Nigerian roads have not received the attention they deserve in the last eleven years, and that the neglect has only worsened under the current administration. This sentiment is echoed by NARTO, which has called on the government to consider public-private partnerships, concessioning, or other arrangements to put the roads in good shape. The Senate has also taken notice, declaring the dilapidated Onyagede-Ogobia Federal Road in Benue State a national security concern and urging the Federal Government to initiate emergency repairs and a full N15 billion reconstruction program. The Senate noted that the road's deplorable condition has hampered security operations and delayed emergency response.
A viral video showing motorists stranded in heavy traffic along the Benin–Edo Expressway has also sparked criticism of Minister Umahi. In the video, a frustrated motorist questioned why the minister continues to emphasise the Coastal Highway while commuters are struggling with what he described as a "terrible road". The man also took a swipe at Umahi's self-styled description as the "Lion of the South East," asking him to pay attention to the challenges on major roads across the country. These concerns come amid ongoing public debate over the Federal Government's road infrastructure projects and priorities under the Ministry of Works.
In response to the criticism, Minister Umahi has previously defended his record, arguing that President Tinubu inherited terrible roads and that the government is addressing them. He has also invited anti-corruption agencies to probe road projects under his ministry. However, critics like Sobowale remain unconvinced, arguing that the minister's major achievement in three years has been "attracting attention to himself through a scandal involving homicide". The columnist also warned that the Lapai-Bida, Benin-Sapele, and Asaba-Onitsha roads each carry more loads than all the federal roads in Taraba, Ebonyi, and Kebbi states combined.
The state of Nigeria's federal roads has become a major political liability for the Tinubu administration, with the public growing increasingly frustrated with the deteriorating infrastructure. The situation is particularly acute in the South-South and South-East regions, where key economic corridors like the Benin-Sapele-Warri Expressway have become virtually impassable. As the 2027 elections draw closer, the government's failure to address the nation's infrastructure deficit is likely to become a central campaign issue. For now, the roads remain a symbol of the government's broken promises and a source of immense hardship for millions of Nigerians.
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