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FERMA Begins Repairs on Failed Sections of Benin-Sagamu Road
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
Following public outcry over the deplorable state of federal roads in Nigeria and Edo State in particular, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said it has embarked on repairs of failed portions of the Benin-Sagamu expressway, saying commuters would soon breathe a sigh of relief.
FERMA Maintenance Engineer in Edo State, Engr. Muktar Abdulrahim, who disclosed this yesterday, in Benin City, noted that the agency had successfully addressed the issue of punching failure (holes) on the bridge deck at Isoko camp, a notorious spot known for causing traffic congestion.
He said, “The failure on the deck has been reinstated, and we are awaiting the completion of the concrete curing period before it can be reopened for use. We use this medium to appeal to motorists and other road users to exercise patience while the concrete undergo the curing period.”
Furthermore, Abdulrahim stressed the need to address the underlying causes before tackling the failures themselves.
“We have observed that these failures are primarily due to blocked water channels, resulting in water accumulation on the roadway. To address this, we are actively desilting existing lined drains and constructing additional ones to ensure proper drainage.
“Our efforts also encompass unblocking weep holes at the Ovia bridge and introducing water channels at the bridge approach to prevent water pooling, a factor contributing to the road’s deterioration.
“Once these preventive measures are implemented, we will concentrate on rectifying the failures. By addressing the root causes and then conducting the necessary repairs, we are confident that the resulting improvements will stand the test of time,” the FERMA official assured.
Abdulrahim disclosed that the team has also moved to the Okada area, where a water pond had rendered a section impassable for motorists, added: “Currently, we are actively working in that region. Our plan involves extensive desilting of the existing carriageway, culverts, and lined drains.
“We will also construct additional line drains to enhance proper water discharge. Subsequently, we will proceed with repairs on the affected carriageway itself. This will entail stabilising the base using hardcore and stone base before applying an asphalt.”
The maintenance engineer commended the swift response of the Acting Managing Director of FERMA, Mr. Chimezie Amos, in addressing the concerns of motorists and promptly mobilising teams to address the failures.
He recalled that recent events, worth mentioning was the Edo State House of Assembly summons on FERMA officials to address the deteriorating conditions of the road, which not only resulted in traffic congestion but also auto accidents.
Regarding other bad sections of federal roads in Edo, Abdulrahim stated that the agency prioritised repairs based on the severity of the issues.
“We are optimistic that in the near future, we will extend our efforts to other roads to commence necessary maintenance,” he assured.
In spite of the adverse weather conditions, Abdulrahim highlighted that the agency persevered and adopted innovative engineering techniques to initiate repairs promptly and alleviate the difficulties faced by users of Lagos-Shagamu road that is heavily-traveled.