The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency has embarked on a campaign to patch all potholes on federal roads in Enugu State ahead of the ember months.
The Federal Road Maintenance Engineer, FERMA, Enugu Field Office, Engr. Jang Tanko, said the agency has deployed special machines, known as ‘pothole patchers’ for the road rehabilitation programme.
Tanko explained that the pothole patchers were specifically procured for the exercise.
Speaking to newsmen at the 9th Mile – Obolo Affor – Otukpa Benue State Border Road, Tanko said the road repair programme is being replicated in all parts of the country.
“What you are seeing now is what is being replicated all over the country, the agency is into massive repairs of most of the federal roads, especially critical ones like this one.
“The essence is to keep these roads free of potholes and failures, using a machine known as the pothole patcher,” he said.
Tanko added that the 9th Mile – Obolo Affor – Otukpa road was chosen for the commencement of the exercise in Enugu State because of its strategic importance in the movement of people, as well as goods and services, in the country.
According to him, the agency intends to clear all potholes on the road before the ember months, when it is expected to record an even higher volume of traffic.
He further explained that the ongoing repairs on the road would help to ease the gridlock that is usually witnessed at the 9th Mile corner of Enugu.
Tanko disclosed that the FERMA management sent out inspection teams, made up of the agency’s executive directors, to assess the quality of work on the roads.
The inspection team for the South East 1 Zone, comprising Enugu, Anambra and Imo states, which was headed by the Executive Director, West Operations, Engr. Peter Ibu, also inspected works on the Nsukka – Adani road, as well as the Udi – Ozala – Nara road.
Other federal roads inspected by the team are the Enugu – Onicha old road, and the Enugu – Port Harcourt road.
Tanko said the team assured that FERMA would very soon address washouts identified on federal roads within Enugu State.
He stressed that efforts are being made to ensure that the roads are in good condition before the Christmas and New Year festivities.
