Insecurity and high cost of construction materials are the major challenges affecting maintainance work of the Federal Roads Maintainace Agency FERMA in Kebbi State.
The Head of the agency in the state, Engineer Rilwanu Usman, stated this to Radio Nigeria in Birnin Kebbi.
Engineer Usman, explained that, most materials that are not available in the state such as asphalt and aggregates which the agency used to procured from the neighboring states of Niger and Zamfara are also not available.
“when insecurity became severe, challenges doubled in the sense that we used to go to Zamfara to buy different sizes of aggregates but now only one quarry is working and asphalt in Niger state is not available”.
He said, the year under review, the agency had rehabilitated over one hundred kilometers of road across the state.
The Head of the agency also revealed that, the agency had reconstructed three number 3/3 box culvert that cut off the road along Tuga to Kaoje to neighboring Benin and Niger Republic as well as the embarkment well reconstructed and protected.
He said, the agency equally reconstructed the cut off road along Argungu to Sokoto to Kangiwa and also linked to Niger Republic.
Engineer Usman explained that, the agency had constructed over four kilometers road within Adamu Augie College of Education Argungu which the Senate President Commissioned in November this year.
“The agency undertook direct labour work as well as awarded contract to contractors to execute projects”.
While assuring the public of the agency’s determination to provide succour to vehicle users as well as enhancing economy of Kebbi state, Engineer Usman added that the agency had patched so many potholes on major roads across the state.
Abdullahi Tukur