CSOs demand publication of Benin–Asaba road concession agreement amid transit crisis

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Civil society organizations and media advocates are demanding the immediate public disclosure of the concession agreement for the Benin–Asaba road, calling for urgent remedial work on the severely deteriorated corridor while raising questions over the project’s financing, ownership, and governance structure.

The call was outlined in a Media Advocacy Briefing Memo issued by Rev. David Ugolor, publisher of The Common Good Letter, and released to the press in Kaduna.

The briefing memo details that the 125-kilometer highway connecting Edo and Delta States was approved by the Federal Executive Council in January 2023 under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

A 25-year concession for the corridor was awarded to the Africa Plus Consortium, with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) projecting total revenues of approximately N1.58 trillion from tolls and commercial activities along the right-of-way over the contract period.

The project’s financial structure has drawn scrutiny following varying public declarations.

In January 2024, the administration of former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki reported a N228 billion financing and equity arrangement involving InfraCorp and Triple A Infrastructure, noting that the state had invested nearly N1 billion in remedial works and intended to participate as an equity investor. Meanwhile, the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC) claims private financing mobilization in 2025, with plans to deliver the initial 65-kilometer section by April 2027.

Despite these updates, Rev. Ugolor emphasized that key underlying documentation remains unreleased. Crucial missing details include the full signed concession contract, schedules, amendments, and an explanation reconciling the reported N87.26 billion commercial close figure with the N228 billion financing structure and the N1.58 trillion long-term revenue projection.

The advocacy group also highlighted several key operational and administrative concerns:

Beneficial Ownership: Undisclosed shareholder structures and beneficial owners of BAECC and the broader Africa Plus Consortium, alongside the exact status of Edo State’s equity stake.

Corridor Management: Clarification on who authorized the stripping of roughly 30 kilometers of asphalt, the disposition of the excavated materials, and whether mandatory performance bonds, bank guarantees, and insurance policies remain active and enforceable.

Government Intervention: Specific contractual provisions governing emergency interventions by agencies such as the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) on concessioned routes.

“A concession does not extinguish government responsibility.

“Private capital may finance and manage the corridor, but public authorities remain responsible for contract enforcement, safety, transparency, and protecting the public interest,” Rev. Ugolor.

To resolve the impasse, the advocates outlined key demands the immediate publication of the full concession contract, business case, performance metrics, toll model, and risk-allocation framework.

Comprehensive disclosure of SPV shareholder registries, beneficial ownership, and financial commitments.

Implementation of a time-bound emergency traffic management and road repair plan.

An independent forensic engineering evaluation regarding the removal of the pavement and drainage conditions.

Verification of active performance bonds and monthly public reporting on safety and work progress.

Rev. Ugolor clarified that the initiative represents a drive for transparency rather than an explicit allegation of wrongdoing.

“A concession cannot serve as a shield behind which government and private investors hide while citizens suffer.

“Publish the contract, explain the money, identify the owners, and protect road users,” he stated.

The briefing memo urged media organizations to direct inquiries to the Federal Ministry of Works, ICRC, BAECC, Africa Plus Partners, the Edo State Government, InfraCorp, Triple A, and Afrinvest regarding their respective administrative, financial, and operational roles.

It also called for clarifying potential past professional relationships involving key actors to ensure proper conflict-of-interest safeguards were implemented, alongside an engineering audit of certified versus failed works.

Immediate advocacy steps outlined in the memo include filing formal Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to relevant federal and state bodies within 48 hours, hosting a joint media briefing with transport stakeholders and engineers within 7 days, and publishing a preliminary transparency scorecard within 14 days.