By Abiodun Lawal
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has begun routine and preventive maintenance work on the Isaga-Abeokuta-Igboora Road in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun.
Speaking at the flag-off on Wednesday, the Federal Road Maintenance Engineer for Ogun, Mr Mustapha Yakubu, said the maintenance is to improve safety, enhance visibility and extend the lifespan of the road.
He said the approval was granted by FERMA’s Managing Director, Mr Chukwuemeka Agbasi.
Yakubu explained that the project involves vegetation control, desilting of the carriageway and pothole patching, adding that similar maintenance works had been carried out on the Isaga-Ilaro-Owode-Ado Odo and Abeokuta-Bakatari roads.
He noted that clearing vegetation along the corridor would improve visibility for motorists and eliminate hideouts often exploited for armed robbery and other crimes.
Yakubu added that desilting the carriageway and patching potholes would ensure a smoother ride, prevent further deterioration and extend the lifespan of the highway.
“Upon completion of this work, we believe it will improve visibility and enhance the safety of motorists.
“It will also help eliminate hiding places that may be used by criminals to perpetrate criminal activities along this corridor,” he said.
He disclosed that 50 youths from communities along the corridor were engaged for the exercise under the agency’s youth empowerment programme aimed at tackling unemployment.
A community leader, Chief Adeniji Adeniyi, commended the Federal Government and FERMA for the intervention, saying that the bad portions of the road had been responsible for several accidents.
Similarly, a trader operating along the route, Leke Nuga, welcomed the intervention, saying that clearing the dense bushes along the roadside would reduce security threats for residents and traders who work late into the evening.
A commercial driver, Mr Jimoh Aboyade, said the repairs would reduce damage to vehicles and ease the hardship faced by motorists plying the corridor toward Iseyin. (NAN)
Edited by Folasade Adeniran
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