A political dispute has erupted in Nigeria’s Edo State over the origins and ownership of a major highway project, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accusing Governor Monday Okpebholo of misrepresenting facts about the Benin-Asaba Expressway reconstruction. The PDP claims the governor is attempting to rebrand an initiative spearheaded by his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s federally backed infrastructure agenda.
In a strongly worded statement, Chris Nehikhare, spokesperson for the PDP’s caretaker committee, asserted that Governor Okpebholo’s claims of initiating the project distort documented timelines. Nehikhare cited a ₦228 billion (approximately $165 million) public-private partnership agreement signed in January 2024 between the former Obaseki administration and private firms Triple A Infrastructure, InfraCorp, and Africa Plus Partners. The deal, he stressed, was structured under Nigeria’s Highway Development and Management Initiative—a federal program aimed at overhauling major roads nationwide.
“This project was never the brainchild of the current state or federal administrations,” Nehikhare said, dismissing recent assertions by the governor’s office that tied the project to Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.” He labeled the governor’s statements as “political propaganda” designed to manufacture credit ahead of September’s gubernatorial election. The PDP further alleged that delays in executing the 265-kilometer highway, which connects Edo to Delta State, were politically motivated to align with campaign cycles.
Questions have also been raised about the governor’s involvement in the initiative. While Okpebholo has conducted multiple high-profile inspections of construction zones, the PDP likened these visits to “staged theatrics,” arguing they lack substantive influence on project timelines or funding. The party emphasized that financing and oversight remain tied to the preexisting agreement secured under Obaseki, with no new financial or logistical commitments from the current administration.
The Benin-Asaba corridor, a critical trade and transit route in southern Nigeria, has faced decades of neglect, contributing to logistics bottlenecks and regional economic stagnation. Its redevelopment—promising improved connectivity between agricultural hubs and urban centers—has been framed by both parties as central to Edo’s growth. However, the PDP insists the project’s original vision risks being overshadowed by electoral posturing.
Nehikhare urged the governor to prioritize “authentic, community-driven development projects” rather than claiming inherited initiatives. The challenge underscores deepening tensions in Edo, where infrastructure development has become a flashpoint in the lead-up to what analysts predict will be a closely contested election. Observers note the spat reflects broader national patterns, where successive administrations often clash over ownership of legacy projects amid Nigeria’s complex federal-state governance structure.
With construction ongoing, stakeholders are calling for transparency to ensure the highway’s completion transcends political timelines. As Nehikhare concluded: “Edo’s people expect tangible progress, not rewritten histories.” The controversy highlights the intersection of infrastructure development and electoral politics in a region eager for sustainable investment.