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By Nasir Kura
The Managing Director of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr. Nurudeen Rafindadi, said on Thursday that the agency have identified about 353 roads for rehabilitations ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Briefing State House correspondents in Abuja, Rafindadi said the agency has also intensified rehabilitation works around 16 major road corridors across the country, necessitated by the festive season.
He said some of the roads earmarked for repairs are Oyo-Ibadan road in Ogun state, Minna-Tegina road in Niger state, Sheda-Abaji road in FCT/Kogi state, Abaji-Kotonkarfe road in Kogi state and the Itakpe-Federal College of Education Road around Okene in Kogi state.
Others are Agbo-Asaba road in Delta state, Benin-Warri road in Delta state, Lokoja-Ajaokuta road in Kogi state, Itobe-Ayangba-Ankpa-Otukpa road in Kogi state, Uyo-James town road in Akwa Ibom state, Ogoja-Katsina Ala road in Cross River state, Biu road in Gombe state, Damaturu-Mauduguri road in Yobe state, Bauchi-Jos-Akwanga roads in Plateau and Nasarawa states, Bauch-Potiskum road in Bauchi and Yobe state, and Katsina-Jibia road in Katsina state.
He said the construction works were in top gear in some arterial roads, especially those frequently used during the holiday season including Onitsha dual carriage way, Abakalike-Ogoja-Ikom roads, Katsina Ala-Zakibiam-Ukari road, Akwanga-Lafia -Makurdi road, Akwaga-Keffi-Abuja road, Ibadan-Ilesha dual carriage way, Akure-Owo-Eluku road, Owo-Akumgba-Ibilo-Okene road, and Kabba-Amuwo road.
“The implementation plan is in two parts: First part which has commenced, from the first week of December involved stocking of road repair materials and subsequent palliative repair on identified road sections that are damage along these roads that I mentioned under this category prioritisation.
“The second part of this implementation is to intensify and expand all ongoing direct labour specifically along the roads that I mentioned and other major arterial roads with isolated potholes.
“There are many roads that have become a perennial cause for attention for FERMA especially roads that are leading into major population centers and major urban areas, for instance, Abuja-Keffi road which is a major gateway into the FCT. This is a road that has a year round attention and by the nature of the problem they require constant attention,” he said.
