Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A former Nigerian Ambassador to Norway, Sweden and Denmark, Godknows Igali, has launched a scathing attack on the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, over the deplorable condition of major roads in the Niger Delta, stating that listening to the minister's claims about road repairs makes him feel like "breaking" his television. Igali, who is also the National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), made the remarks during a live appearance on Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday, August 27, 2026. He expressed deep frustration over the state of critical infrastructure, particularly the East-West Road and the Benin-Asaba corridor, insisting that the reality on the ground contradicts the minister's assertions of significant progress.
The former envoy, who said he frequently travels across the region, painted a grim picture of the situation, noting that journeys which once took less than an hour now require several hours. "When I listen to the Minister of Works sometimes, I feel like breaking my television. Because I move around every time. I had to come in from Port Harcourt to be able to have this conversation with you. And the roads are not there," Igali stated. He specifically highlighted the deterioration of the East-West Road, lamenting that the commute between Sapele and Warri, which previously took about 40 to 45 minutes, now takes approximately three hours. He further noted that the travel time from Sapele to Benin has similarly ballooned from one hour to three or four hours.
Igali also drew attention to the recent protests by residents and commuters over the condition of the Asaba-Benin road, describing the demonstrations as a clear sign of the severe public frustration over the poor state of the highway. "And the other day, just last week, we saw people demonstrating that the road from Asaba to Benin is so bad. And people came out demonstrating," he said. The former ambassador described the situation as a "height of injustice," particularly given the Niger Delta's status as a major source of Nigeria's revenue. "We are not asking for more than we should have. We are just saying be fair, be equitable, be just, be fair to all such people," Igali added.
Igali's criticism follows recent public outrage and severe gridlock on the Benin-Asaba Expressway, which prompted Minister Umahi to inspect the highway and blame the concessionaire for stripping more than 30 kilometres of asphalt without providing adequate replacement. The Federal Government has since commenced moves to terminate the concession, while President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate, full-scale reconstruction of the affected sections. Igali warned that Nigerians are becoming increasingly conscious of their rights and more willing to demand accountability from government officials. "Our people are watching. No, people are now wiser. They are reasoning, they are wiser. The political bandwidth is now wider for people to reason and participate," he said.
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