KADUNA FERMA OFFICE EMBARKS ON 'OPERATION SAFE PASSAGE FOR 2022'

"The objective of the program is to eliminate potholes and other critical failures along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway (Kaduna-Western bye-pass) and part of Kaduna-Abuja road, which expectedly, would be complete by the end of the first quarter of this year." Engr Dr Atiku.

Following on its mandate to ensure that Nigerians enjoy a safe drive on the roads across the country, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA Kaduna State Field Office has launched a maintenance program tagged 'Operation Safe Passage'.

According to the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer FRME in charge of Kaduna operations, Dr. Engr Atiku Abubakar Sadiq, the objective of the program is to eliminate potholes and other critical failures along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway (Kaduna-Western bye-pass) and part of Kaduna-Abuja road, which expectedly, would be complete by the end of the first quarter of this year.

“The main aim is to give the people of Kaduna and road users plying this route, an easy and safe passage as they resume works and business activities in the New Year 2022 after the end of year festivities.”

In actualizing this, Engr. Dr Atiku Abubakar Sadiq led a team of Stakeholders in road maintenance and operations in Kaduna State on January 17, to the FERMA work sites of 'operation safe passage'.

Engr Dr Atiku Abubakar

The Joint Inspection team included the Kaduna State Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Hafiz T. Muhammad, MD of Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA), represented by Engr. Paul Manu and the Commandant of KASTLEA, represented by the AGM (Ops), Mr Aliyu Manga. The representative of the Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Mohammed was already at the site along Kaduna-Abuja road, when the team arrived.

Dr. Atiku welcoming the team of stakeholders

Following the extensive maintenance works, commuters and road users have again applauded the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA for coming to their rescue as the once very dangerous portions have become motorable.

The inspection began from Bakin Ruwa (Rigasa Railway Station Junction), down to Abuja Junction, linking to Kaduna-Abuja Dual Carriageway before making a U-turn at the tollgate and back to the same point where the inspection started but at the opposite bound.

On the inspection tour, the team stopped at the portions earlier identified as dangerous or critical, to inspect the completed or ongoing works by FERMA at those locations.

At the end of the inspection tour, the team of stakeholders expressed their satisfaction with the ongoing works undertaken by FERMA as they have confirmed that all dangerous failures along the routes had received attention while the less dangerous ones were also receiving attention.

The inspection team lauded the efforts of FERMA, Kaduna under the leadership of Engr Dr Atiku Abubakar for coming up with this novel initiative tagged 'operation safe passage'.

Recall that, Kaduna Western Bye-Pass (The Nnamdi Azikiwe Express Way) was handed-over to the Kaduna State Government in 2016 for maintenance and upgrading. Similarly, Kaduna-Abuja road is currently undergoing major rehabilitation by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

Traditionally, FERMA is not supposed to work on the above-mentioned roads since they were handed-over to the Kaduna State Government and Federal Ministry of Works and Housing respectively.  However, considering the public outcry and pleas from top government functionaries at both state and federal levels,  the management of FERMA under the leadership of Engr. Nuruddeen Rafindadi approved a number of interventions including the ongoing 'Operation Safe Passage'.

Notable among them was the 'COVID-19 Special Intervention' executed between January and June 2021.  At the end of that intervention, the road, which was in critical condition at that time, was maintained and made safe and motorable to the plying motorists.

At the time of completion of this project, the road was declared pothole-free and critically failed sections were scarified and overlaid with asphalt. 

Due to the length of time from the completion of the aforementioned projects to date, many failures have developed, leading to the public outcry and pleas from the top government functionaries at both state and federal levels.

Hence, the need for the current ‘Operation Safe Passage’.