Political economist and public affairs analyst, Professor Pat Utomi, has expressed concern over the state of Nigeria’s road infrastructure after a trip from Lagos to Asaba took 15 hours, despite the absence of any vehicle breakdown.

Utomi shared the experience late Monday on X (formerly Twitter), describing the journey as a stark illustration of infrastructure decay, weak governance, and misplaced national priorities.

“My car left Lagos at 5am. It has just arrived Asaba after 8pm. It had no breakdowns,” he wrote. “It made Benin at 10:30. That was a three-hour drive in the 80s. But the real news is that it took six hours to cross Benin.”

According to Utomi, the delay was not caused by accidents or mechanical issues but by a combination of severely deteriorated roads, traffic congestion, and alleged extortion by security operatives along the route.

“From police trying to extort money to terribly bad roads, Detty December got dirty,” he added.

His remarks have renewed public frustration over the condition of major federal highways, particularly the Lagos–Benin–Asaba corridor, a critical economic route linking the South-West, South-South, and South-East regions.

Motorists and transport operators have long complained that journeys which once took a few hours now stretch into an entire day, increasing transport costs, damaging vehicles, and posing safety risks.

Critics argue that the situation highlights contradictions in government spending priorities, as large sums are committed to new flagship infrastructure projects while existing roads deteriorate.

While the Federal Government is investing trillions of naira in a proposed coastal highway, many Nigerians say key commercial and agricultural routes have been neglected.

A logistics operator in Benin, who spoke anonymously, said delays on the Lagos–Onitsha axis have disrupted supply chains, increased costs, and transferred the burden to consumers.

Utomi’s comments have also drawn attention to the limited effectiveness of Nigeria’s railway system, which many believe should serve as a viable alternative to long-distance road travel. Despite heavy investments in rail infrastructure, issues such as limited coverage, safety concerns, and operational challenges continue to push travellers and freight back onto overstretched roads.

Policy analysts warn that the implications are far-reaching, including higher inflation driven by transport costs, reduced productivity, increased road accidents, and widespread public frustration.

“When a journey that once took three hours now takes 15, it reflects a deeper systemic failure,” said a Lagos-based development economist.