The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in Ebonyi State, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for their commitment to improving federal road infrastructure across Ebonyi State.
The agency made the commendation while inspecting ongoing maintenance work on the Abakaliki–Ogoja road, which links Ebonyi State with Cross River State.
Speaking at the project site, the progress engineer of the FEMA Ebonyi State Field Office, Engineer Kelly Kweko, said the agency was carrying out remedial works to address potholes and other failed sections of the road.
“As you can see, we are on the Abakaliki–Ogoja Cross River State border road. We are fixing the failures and potholes along this road,” Kweko said.
He explained that the intervention had also included vegetation control as well as the rehabilitation of hydraulic structures such as drainage channels and culverts.
“At this point, we are maintaining the failed sections of the road. We have been able to cut out the potholes, clean them properly, apply tack coat, and lay asphalt. After laying the asphalt, we will compact it,” he added.
Kweko described the road as a strategic route with significant economic importance to the region, noting that it connects communities in the Southeast, South-South, and parts of the North-Central region.
“This road is a very important road. It is a Trans-Saharan road that connects the Southeast, South-South, and even the North-Central region,” he said.
According to him, the strategic importance of the road is further underscored by Ebonyi State’s mineral and agricultural resources, which are transported to neighboring states through the route.
“Ebonyi is a state that has so many mineral resources, sharp sand, and other agricultural essentials. This road is very strategic because it connects people from here to neighboring states like Cross River, Benue, and even as far as Taraba State,” Kweko said.
The engineer attributed the ongoing intervention to the infrastructural drive of the Tinubu administration, particularly the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Yes, of course. I want to use this opportunity to thank the President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for extending and giving us the opportunity to experience his Renewed Hope Agenda in Ebonyi State.”
Kweko also acknowledged the role of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in the maintenance of federal roads across the state.
“The Minister of Works is the Minister of all federal roads, and we are maintaining a federal road,” he said. We also want to thank him for giving us the opportunity, because if not for him, I believe this initiative would not have come to light,” he said.
The FEMA official further disclosed that the agency had intervened on several other problematic sections of federal roads in Ebonyi State.
He listed the Abakaliki–Enugu State border road and the Abakaliki–Afikpo road among the routes that had benefited from the agency’s intervention.
According to him, several failed sections around the Sperendo Flyover, including areas above and below the flyover, He stated that the agency had also addressed several failed sections around the Sperendo Flyover, including areas above and below it. addressed.
“We have worked on so many other routes in Ebonyi State. There were a lot of failed sections around the flyover, both on top and below it. As a result of our intervention, we have been able to address those failures,” he said.
Kweko also said the agency had worked on a previously dangerous section of the Abakaliki–Afikpo road around the Mami Market axis.
“I can tell you for a fact today that that road is no longer horrible. We have worked on those areas as well,” he said.
The ongoing intervention is expected to improve road safety, ease movement of people and goods, and strengthen connectivity between Ebonyi and neighboring states.