Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to focus on rehabilitating Nigeria’s deteriorating road network before launching new road construction projects.
In a post shared on his X account on Monday, Obi argued that restoring major highways across the country would have a greater impact on Nigerians than introducing fresh road projects or expanding existing ones.
He maintained that governments should first ensure the country’s existing roads are safe and motorable before committing resources to new infrastructure.
According to Obi, repairing strategic highways should take precedence over projects that offer limited benefits while leaving key transport routes in poor condition.
Using the Asaba–Benin Road as an example, he described the highway as one of Nigeria’s most important road corridors, connecting travellers from several South-East, South-South, and North-Central states to Lagos.
He lamented that the road has deteriorated significantly, causing frequent traffic congestion, delays, and economic losses for commuters, transport operators, and businesses that rely on the route.
Obi said the condition of the Asaba–Benin Road reflects the state of many major highways across the country, stressing that urgent rehabilitation and regular maintenance should be the government’s priority.
He further warned against pursuing new road projects mainly for political recognition while neglecting existing infrastructure that millions of Nigerians depend on daily.
The former governor concluded that Nigerians need durable and accessible roads rather than high-profile announcements of new construction projects that fail to address the nation’s immediate transportation challenges.