Lagos — For decades, the Benin-Shagamu Expressway has remained a disturbing symbol of the general condition of roads in the country. It is in a perpetual state of disrepair and has continued to host potholes and gullies, despite numerous promises and large amounts of the tax payer's money voted to fix it. Only a decisive action can save the country this huge embarrassment.

The first hand experience by the Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Hassan Lawan, the other day on that road should serve as a catalyst for frontally confronting a problem that has greatly caused untold pain, deaths, and loss of property and man-hours.

According to reports, Lawan in the company of Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, was stranded at the Ajebandele-Ofosu section of the expressway for hours. The convoys of the two top officials, led by a combined team of the Police and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), had run into the perpetual traffic jam that had built up as a result of the bad spot there.

While the trauma lasted, the reports continue, both the governor and minister who were compelled to join the traffic control efforts witnessed the despair of the other travellers. Although their intervention restored some order, what happened thereafter could be better imagined. No doubt, the impatience of drivers contributes to the bottleneck at such points; but even that is often accentuated by the state of degradation of the roads.

Interestingly, the federal government has, yet again, awarded contracts worth N12.2 billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of two sections of the dual carriageway. Estimated completion periods for both projects are 18 and 30 months. Now, as always, the public is anxious to know how the government handles the work on the nation's longest stretch of road and arguably one of its most strategic. This major link between Lagos- the federation's industrial and commercial capital- and the rest of the country, notably south-south, south-east and parts of the north, has been neglected for long, of course, with grave consequences.

The present move, therefore, presents a good opportunity to heal this ever festering sore. In fact, considering the stubborn nature of the highway, total reconstruction, as against the current restricted scope, is required to bring a lasting solution and quench the apprehension that commuters have lived with over the years.

It is noteworthy that the minister's ordeal was recorded while on inspection tour of federal roads in the south-west. But that should not be a one-off thing, for, consistent monitoring by relevant officers of the ministry is required, not only for timely completion but to also ensure that the kind of quality that guarantees durability is achieved. In fairness to the minister, he has inspected major road networks, but certainly what is also useful are functional roads that would not kill the people they were constructed to serve.

So, government should quickly move away from mere words and contract award ceremonies to concerted action. It is also remarkable that the contractors have begun to execute the expressway jobs but what would give Nigerians the sense of safety and comfort they deserve is that the jobs are completed on time and within budget.

Until then, the people have reasons to be skeptical about government intentions. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo whose administration allocated hundreds of billions of naira to roads was reported to have admitted that our highways are shameful. An unfortunate comment indeed, since the people are not the ones to blame. Also, a former works minister who is still a member of the federal cabinet, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, once went to the same expressway and wept for the nation because of the poor state of that section of the road.

But now, we have had enough of promises and emotional shows. Nigerians want that road fixed once and for all, or at least made passable before the mass movement of people during the end of year festivities. This government should seize this moment and save Nigerians from further avoidable tragedies. With rail and internal water transportation dead, the roads are, unfortunately, all the country has.