FERMA WILL DELIVER ABUJA-KADUNA HIGHWAY POTHOLE FREE.....ENGR. ADEBAYO ADEDAYO, Northwest 1 Zonal Director FERMA Says
On the spot assessment of the project by NAIJ NEWS ALERT reveals that FERMA, in its determination to meet the twelve weeks deadline has already begun repairs of critical potholes and damages on the road, with two teams of workmen carrying out extensive maintenance and well-coordinated supervision of the project.
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| Engr. Adedayo FERMA's Zonal Director, Northwest 1 listening to Kaduna team leader Engr. Sani Abdulkadir (FRME) |
Speaking with the Northwest 1 Zonal Director of FERMA, Engr. Adebayo Adedayo who was on inspection of on-going repairs along the Tafa axis which is the border between Kaduna and Niger states, the Zonal Director while fielding questions from the media, disclosed that, FERMA has not exhibited any form of laxity in its approach to its mandate which resulted to reoccurring failures of the roads within its supervision.
According to Engr. Adedayo, “FERMA has now being re-positioned and that with that readiness on our part and with the backing of the Federal Government and based on Mr. President’s national Broadcast on January 1st, 2018, the Agency is now repositioned under the new management with the backing of the Federal Government to release adequate funds, I can tell you that this particular road from Abuja to Kaduna down to Kano, there will be no pothole”.
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| Patched pothole by Kaduna team 2 ready for use |
“All failures will be addressed and within the next few weeks, you will see that the entire road will be pothole free. There will be no distress on the road. That I can assure you”, he assured.
On the projected twelve weeks for the completion, Engr Adedayo says; “twelve weeks is even more than enough to tackle the situation especially
with my team of dedicated of workers particularly with the Kaduna team”.
“I am telling you that within the next few weeks, from here at Tafa to Kaduna, with adequate funding and backing, we will complete the job by two weeks as against the projection of twelve weeks”, he said.
On the issue of adequate funds and the readiness of the Agency, the Zonal Director disclosed that the agency is ever-ready as Nigerians should expect the best of FERMA as it is poised, under the leadership of Engr. Nurudeen Abdurahman Rafindadi FNSE, the Acting Managing Director, will deliver on its mandate; pothole free roads.
Engineer Sani Abdulkadir, Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer in charge of the Kaduna Field Office on his part, corroborated the assurances of his Zonal Director as he assured that the time frame is feasible for the agency to deliver the roads back to Nigerians, devoid of potholes.
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| Engr. Abdulkadir, Kaduna FRME ensuring that all goes well as his team tackles potholes |
According to Engr. Abdulkadir, “the completion date is very realistic. For Mr. President to have made such a statement, he must have a very good arrangement for the Agency”.
“We have been talking about the issue of funding as one of our major challenge but with Mr. President emphasizing on the need for us to work within twelve weeks and clear all dangerous potholes on the roads, I believe that there must be an adequate arrangement for us to achieve that deadline”.
“For us in FERMA, Kaduna Field Office, we are fully prepared and determined even as you can see; we have two gangs of workers working simultaneously and we in Kaduna, we can raise up to three gangs of workers to work in different locations. So, we are fully prepared”, Engr. Abdulkadir stated.
“With adequate funding, within two weeks we can tackle this task”, the FRME assured.
On sustainability of the maintenance work on the road, Engr. Sani Abdulkadir said;
“As we all know, the mandate of FERMA is to ensure that Nigerian roads are kept in motorable condition. The Kaduna-Abuja road is an old road and there are already, plans by the Federal government to carry out major rehabilitation on the road; from Abuja up to Kano. So, what we are doing is a palliative measure to ensure that motorists plying the road enjoy a smooth drive which, invariably, will reduce road accidents which might occur due to the bad nature of the road”.
“Our goal is to eliminate, as quickly as possible, all dangerous potholes on the road and this is in line with the government’s vision to ensure safety of road users”.
Engineer Abdulkadir, as “team leader” of the project disclosed that the quality of work being done through “Direct Labour” by the Agency is very appreciable”.
“The repairs on the road are quite appreciable. The potholes are well shaped and properly compacted. Motorists driving from the Abuja axis have been commending my team and that is satisfying. Our target for now, is to eliminate all dangerous potholes. Other distresses o the road; such as alligator cracks which are serious signs of failures as it is an indication that within the next few months or years, the section may collapse. Such areas will not be tackled now as we are only carrying out emergency interventions. I believe it will come in handy and the road users will benefit from it”, he said.
Motorists were full of appreciation of FERMA's commitment to the speedy and effective repair works along the road.
Unekwu Okeme Suleiman a commercial motorist who plies the Abuja-Kaduna road daily, commended FERMA personnel for their dedication to fulfill President Buhari's directive as the repair works has made the road safe and motorable again.
A visit to motor parks in Kaduna to feel the pulse of drivers plying the route revealed the excitement of commercial drivers following the presence of FERMA's team of engineers supervising the rehabilitation/repairs.
Munir Tanko expressed his happiness with the quality of work being carried out and appealed that security personnel should be provided for the workers considering the fact that they work till late in the evenings on the road.
Onyeka Maduabuichi, a transporter told NAIJ NEWS ALERT that with the return of FERMA to maintaining the roads, he is confident that the journey will be enjoyable and pleasant.
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