Owerri – The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, in Imo state says it has commenced vegetation and silt control works along federal highways in the state.
INDEPENDENT gathered that the exercise, which commenced along Ihiala-Orlu-Umuduru federal highways, would be undertaken along all other Trunk “A” roads in the state.
According to the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer in the state, Mr. Emeka Maduagwu, the Agency intended to make maximum use of the dry period to open up blocked channels and hydraulic structures on federal roads. “We also want to clear thick vegetation that are on the verges of the road to enhance driving visibility and reduce crashes.”
He also said that the Agency had engaged the youths and locals along the route corridors to execute these operations, which he noted, created some sort of employment for them.
Maduagwu further stated that de-silting of hydraulic structures helped the environment to curb flooding as surface run-offs were properly channeled while safe guarding and protecting the service life of the asphaltic pavement.
He said, “FERMA has also commenced repair works along Afor-Enyiogugu-Sam Mbakwe Airport Road. The stretch had been in a state of disrepair for several months, inflicting untold hardship on the road users.”
It was also gathered that the Agency had put in place a work plan that would see her make such major intervention on critically failed stretches on federal roads nationwide. The work plan, he said, is to be executed within the next nine months.
Meanwhile, Maduagwu had advised the engaged youths to make maximum use of the opportunity and render service to the nation, adding that the Agency was working on fashioning out ways to sustain the programme and engage youths who distinguish themselves.
“It is not just about de-silting and vegetation control, while we achieve these, we also want to make sure crime is reduced, unemployed youths are employed to be part of the road maintenance process. The roads remain a very important national asset,” he contended.
One of the indigenes of Afor-Enyiogugu, Mr. Collins Okafor who spoke to INDEPENDENT on site thanked the Federal Government for remembering them, saying that their people have been suffering to pass through the bad area for too long.
Okafor said, “They (FERMA) should also help us by putting gutter so that the work will last.”
The post FERMA Commences Repairs Of Failed Roads In Imo appeared first on Independent Nigeria.
FERMA Commences Repairs Of Failed Roads In Imo
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