‘Mischievous Deceit’ – Presidency Fires Back At Peter Obi Over Asaba–Benin Highway Project

The presidency has called out former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, for mischief and deceit over his recent submissions on road constructions in Nigeria, particularly, the Asaba–Benin Highway.

The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, rubbished Obi’s claim that the federal government should focus on the rehabilitation and maintenance of existing roads rather than embarking on new road construction projects.

Naija News recalls that Obi had earlier on Monday said the country’s scarce resources should be channelled towards fixing major highways that have fallen into disrepair instead of initiating new projects, which, according to him, offer limited immediate benefits.

He made the call in a statement titled “My Stance on Road Development,” via his 𝕏 handle.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate cited the Asaba-Benin Road as one of the country’s most strategic highways that requires urgent intervention.

According to him, the road serves as a major transport corridor linking several states in the South-East, South-South and parts of the North-Central to Lagos.

However, in a swift response, Olusegun questioned Obi’s stance, accusing him of consistently misleading his followers and the general public with his claims.

“I don’t know what to call this if it’s not mischievousness. I am sure Mr. Obi knows that this same road is currently under reconstruction, but his daily need to romance his gullible audience pushed him to this wall of deceit,” the presidential media aide wrote on 𝕏.

He also went on to reveal some claims on the reconstruction of the Asaba–Benin Highway, stating that the reconstruction of the 125km Asaba–Benin highway was flagged off in March 2025, with an expected completion date of September 2027.

He added that it is fully funded under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, and features a 10-lane carriageway (five lanes on each side) spanning from King Square to the Benin bypass to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Olusegun added that “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is currently executing the reconstruction of over 70 federal highways and strategic road projects simultaneously. These developments cover all 36 states, including major legacy highway corridors, regional superhighways, and targeted bridge reconstructions.”

He listed some of the key linking roads currently undergoing reconstruction, including:

– Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Dual Carriageway (350km).

– Kano–Kongolam Road (132km).

– Ibadan–Ife–Ilesa Road (103km).

– Sokoto–Gusau–Funtau–Zaria Road (275km).

– Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway (56km).

– Benin–Asaba Superhighway (125km).

– Keffi–Nasarawa–Toto–Abaji Road Phase II (129.3km).

– Enugu–Onitsha Expressway (72km).

– Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway: (Section 1 – 123km)