The Managing Director of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Chukwuemeka Agbasi, has pleaded with motorists plying the North-east roads to exercise caution and be more patient with it as it intensifies efforts at fixing the failed sections of the road.
Agbasi, who was represented by Engineer Mansur Adama, made the plea in Gombe during an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH.
Mansur, during the inspection of the 102km road operation, tagged: “connect to your destination” which was undertaken through direct labour under the North-east zone II, said, “We were in Adamawa we realised that their work was done well. They were lucky to have the materials during the yuletide period.
“In Gombe, unfortunately, they had challenges pertaining to getting materials, especially asphalt. Most of the companies closed during the yuletide that’s why they are currently doing their patching and maintenance activities and we are happy to see the work going well, and we are expecting the same in Bauchi.
At the moment, I think it’s fair and they are doing very good work”.
On the direct labour employed by FERMA, Agbasi informed Arewa PUNCH, “It’s actually an annual event. Every end of the year, FERMA comes up with different initiatives even though it’s branded different names. It’s branded at the moment as ‘connect’ to your destination and it’s handled by the direct labour unit of the Agency and they allocated for every state within the country so that motorists coming back from the holiday can have easy movement.
“Some states were lucky to have that material available they have completed their jobs what we are looking for is to plan ahead so that we can have materials supplied ahead of time so that the activities will hold within that period of the yuletide”.
Speaking on the plight of road users with regard to the several failed sections of the federal highways across the country, Agbasi called on road users to be patient with the Agency, saying, “Sometimes, we have issues releasing funds but that will be handled because we have a new management and administration and I believe they are keen to doing that in an effective way”.
Also speaking, the acting Zonal Director of FERMA, North-East II, Engineer Irikefe-Eugene Baror, said the “operation connect” road campaign was geared towards making the roads more motorable.
He pointed out, “We went to Adamawa yesterday, and the job was a tremendous success. What we are seeing here today is also what we replicated in Adamawa they are doing a good job.
“We don’t expect less from work to be inspected in Bauchi because the three states are interconnected, and they collaborate among themselves”.
Like Agbasi, Baror urged road users to be patient with FERMA, urging that, “they should look forward to a better understanding with the renewed hope agenda of Mr President that infrastructural development is part of his agenda and definitely road maintenance.
“There are new innovations coming up, and definitely, the Managing Director will open up on the new innovations on track”, he added.
A motorbike rider along the Gombe/Potiskum highway, Ibrahim Haruna lauded the government for the initiative, saying, “I’m grateful to the government for undertaking these repair works”.
Also speaking, one of the drivers who operates the Gombe-Potiskum route, Mohammed Isa lamented the challenges he and his colleagues faced before the FERMA intervention.
He said, “We spend all the money we make from transportation to fix our vehicles. The condition of the road usually affects our tyres and you know how expensive it is to procure new tyres. We are very grateful to the government for fixing that stretch of road”.
A federal road maintenance engineer, Charles Avishigh, who was also on the trip, called on road users to be patient with the road maintenance agency.
He remarked, “The motoring public should be patient with us as we do this work. Additionally, we want to appeal to them to be part of the maintenance process through the way they use the roads”.
He stressed, “Some road users in certain locations have been involved in actions with negative consequences on our roads, thus making it even worse than they currently are.
“Therefore, we urge them to be road users with care so that we don’t lose what we already have while looking for something better”.
While educating on international best practices on road usage, Avishigh identified two major factors to be considered in proper road maintenance.
These he identified to include, “Those that transit in vehicles and those that transit on foot. We also have those who reside along the routes. We have had instances where people dig up materials on the road to use for personal construction. We have people whose vehicles break down on the road, and they leave them there, open up engines, drain out diesel or fuel both of which have a negative impact on asphalt surfacing of the road.
“Motorists should take their cars off the roads and stop tampering with the roads. It may surprise you that some of the washouts of roads cutting out started from people hauling materials or mining materials from our embankments for personal purposes. We will continue to appeal that they make the roads available for all”.
On his part,, another Federal Road Maintenance Engineer who is based in Adamawa State, Engineer Yusuf Kawuwa told Arewa PUNCH that the road links North-east and South-east of Nigeria.
According to him, “We have completed this work. This road helps with the movement of goods and services. Basically, it’s maintenance of segmented failed sections with asphalt. We are pleading for more funds to come so that we continue to the end of the road”.
