Heavy flooding has rendered the Benin-Akure highway impassable, leaving hundreds of travellers stranded and communities displaced, according to a report by The Nation on Friday, July 2025. The flood, caused by prolonged torrential rainfall, submerged a significant stretch of the busy inter-state road, halting vehicular movement entirely.

A video posted by The Nation showed the chaotic scene, with desperate commuters resorting to using makeshift boats and canoes to cross the submerged road. Boat operators, seizing the opportunity, reportedly demanded as much as N3,000 from each passenger for passage across the flooded section.

“It’s heartbreaking. They’re collecting N3,000 just to cross with a canoe,” a stranded traveller said in the video. “Some of us can’t even afford that and we’ve been here since morning.”

Eyewitnesses reported that the deluge had affected several villages along the corridor, displacing residents who were seen carrying belongings and trudging through waist-high waters in search of shelter.

With no alternative routes and no visible government intervention, the situation grew increasingly dire. Commercial drivers, traders, and everyday passengers voiced their anger over the lack of timely response from relevant authorities.

A commercial driver, Olumide Adeyemi, expressed his frustration: “This road has always had problems, but this is the worst we’ve seen. People are stuck, businesses are suffering, and no government official has shown up.”

Traffic congestion extended for kilometers in both directions, with elderly individuals, women, and children among those affected. Many were forced to either pay the steep canoe fare or remain stranded without hope of immediate help.

Community leaders have issued urgent appeals to both federal and state governments for intervention. Chief Friday Igbinovia, a local leader in one of the affected areas, pleaded: “We need help. Families are displaced, and the road needs urgent repairs.”

As of Friday evening, weather forecasts warned of continued rainfall in the region, sparking fears that the flooding could escalate further if swift action is not taken. Emergency response agencies had yet to arrive at the scene by the time of reporting.