Dave Umahi, Nigeria’s “Media Minister” Of Works, Should Shift Attention To Deteriorating Lagos-Benin-Asaba Road—Mike Nliam

<h4>Dave Umahi&comma;<&sol;h4>&NewLine;<p><strong><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng&sol;">OpenLife Nigeria<&sol;a><&sol;strong> reports that the Chief Executive Officer of Flavour Lab Entertainment Ltd&comma; Mike Nliam&comma; has advised the Minister of Works&comma; Engineer Dave Umahi&comma; to shift attention to the deteriorating Lagos-Benin-Asaba Road and commence repairs to avoid economic waste&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The University of Ilorin graduate and celebrated filmmaker noted that damaged road surface and potholes can cause damage to vehicles and increase the chance of traffic accidents&comma; which can ultimately endanger lives&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Mike Nliam added that such dysfunctional state of road can impede efficient transportation and hinder economic development&comma; emphasizing that good road network is the lifeblood of commerce and industrial engagements&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Recalling his recent experience of hellish proportion on the Lagos-Benin-Asaba Road&comma; Nliam stated that the <em><strong>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Shagamu to Ore is a total disaster&period;”<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>His reflection and overview on the state of Nigerian roads are reproduced below unedited<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>The road from Shagamu to Ore is a total disaster&period; From Ore to the Benin Bypass things get a bit smoother&comma; except for that horrible stretch around Omotosho in Ondo State &period; But once you hit the Benin Bypass leading to the Benin–Asaba highway&quest; Pure hell&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>That Benin–Asaba expressway is almost completely gone&period; Imagine — a road built back in Tony Anenih’s time under Obasanjo is now like 90&percnt; useless&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>If you’re driving from Lagos to Onitsha&comma; let me just save you the suspense&colon; the only &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;good” parts are Lagos-Ibadan expressway to the Shagamu <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;vanguardngr&period;com&sol;">By Pass<&sol;a> connects d Shagamu–Benin Expressway&comma; and then from Ore to the beginning of the Benin Bypass&period; Everything else will test your patience&comma; your car&comma; and your faith&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>Honestly&comma; someone needs to tell David Umahi — our &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;media minister” of works — that press briefings and TV interviews won’t fix these roads&period; The trillions budgeted for federal highways need to actually show on the ground&period; Driving shouldn’t feel like punishment&comma; but right now&comma; that’s exactly what it is&excl;<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;