FG begins remedial works on major roads nationwide

Following the dilapidating state of federal roads across the country, the Federal Government has commenced remedial works on major highways nationwide to ensure safety of commuters during Yuletide.

Controller, Federal Ministry of Works in charge of Enugu State, Olufemi Oyekanmi, disclosed this yesterday, while inspecting ongoing works on some of the affected roads in the state.

Some of the works are, rehabilitation of the 15km Ninth Mile section of the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, bypass at Ninth Mile and rehabilitation of the 90km old Enugu-Onitsha Road (Opi Junction-Ukehe-Okpatu-Udi-Oji River to Anambra State).

Oyekanmi said of the aim was to ensure that Nigerians celebrate a pleasant Christmas, adding that it was a deliberate effort to ensure that major roads across the country, irrespective of their contractual status, were good enough during the festive season.

He said he was delighted that the Federal Government was at the verge of completing rehabilitation work on the Enugu section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway adding that he was particularly delighted at the award of the contract for rehabilitation of the Ninth Mile section of the road at the cost of N2.64b.

He said the contact would ensure the complete recovery of the deplorable Ugwu Onyeama section of the road up to 82 Division, Abakpa, which had caused loss of lives and property.

“This is obviously the worst section of the road but the work was officially handed over to the contractor two weeks ago. At this time of the year, the ministry made it a policy to make the roads motorable and we have secured the contractor’s commitment to hasten the work,” he said.

Oyekanmi said the ministry’s target was to ensure that at least one lane of the dual carriage way was completely rehabilitated from Ninth Mile to 82 Division before Christmas.

He said that the move would reduce the difficulties encountered by the road users and appealed to commuters to be patient, as the road would be put to good use.

Responding, Project Manager, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), Harel Vaknin, said the company would do its best to deliver the job on schedule.