Passengers travelling through the Benin City Bypass in Edo State have complained about hours-long delays caused by poor road conditions, with viral videos showing vehicles and travellers stranded along the federal highway.

The complaints, which circulated widely on X from Wednesday, August 19, 2026, also questioned the government’s priority on new projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway while existing roads remain in poor condition.

Passengers Describe Hours on Road

In one of the videos shared by @ChuksEricE, a passenger said travellers had spent more than five hours on the bypass.

“We have spent more than five to six hours on this Benin City Bypass. Instead of fixing existing roads, they are busy emphasising the Lagos coastal road,” he said.

A second video recorded later in the day showed another passenger expressing concern about the prolonged delay and security situation.

“With the insecurity in the country, look at us, we are still stuck on the road. I left Lagos for Delta State at 5:30 a.m., and as of 8 p.m., we are still stuck on the road,” he said.

The passenger added that he would have travelled by air if he could afford a ticket, asking whether Nigerians should start selling their properties to pay for flights.

Road Conditions Draw Criticism

The footage showed muddy and failed sections of the bypass, with vehicles either moving slowly or remaining stationary. Some travellers were also seen walking along the road with their luggage.

The videos recorded both daytime and nighttime conditions, with trucks and cars seen halted under vehicle headlights.

The posts attracted significant engagement, with several users sharing similar experiences of travelling between Lagos, Edo and Delta states.

Umahi Draws Attention

Some accounts sharing the footage directed the complaints at the Minister of Works, David Umahi.

A post by @NigeriaStories said the stranded passengers were drawing the minister’s attention to the condition of the road.

The Benin City Bypass is a federal road, while the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the Federal Government’s major highway projects being implemented under the Ministry of Works.

The comparison has therefore revived debate over whether adequate attention is being given to maintaining existing highways while new infrastructure projects are being developed.

Federal Road Faces Longstanding Problems

The Benin bypass forms part of important road connections between the South-West and South-South regions, carrying passengers, commercial vehicles and goods between major cities.

Parts of the route have faced recurring complaints over failed sections, heavy-vehicle damage and congestion. Edo State authorities have also undertaken repairs on some local roads in Benin City under Governor Monday Okpebholo, although the bypass itself remains under federal responsibility.

As of August 20, 2026, there was no widely reported official response from the Federal Ministry of Works or the Edo State Government specifically addressing the latest viral videos.

For commuters and transporters, the problems extend beyond inconvenience, with prolonged traffic contributing to vehicle damage, higher transport costs, delayed goods movement and increased security concerns when travellers remain stranded for hours.

The viral complaints have renewed debate over the condition of federal roads in the South-South and whether maintenance of existing critical highways should receive greater attention alongside major new road projects.