Apparently worried over the poor condition of federal roads in Ekiti State, the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has urged the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to, as a matter of urgency, classify the roads as emergency situation and make concerted efforts to fix them without further delay.
Oyebanji spoke when he paid a working visit to the Managing Director/ CEO of FERMA, Engr Nurudeen Rafindadi.
He said Ekiti people are eager to see the federal roads become motorable just as the Yuletide season approaches.
The Governor said Ekiti roads were among the best in the country until early this year when an unprecedented huge number of heavy trucks started plying the roads as alternative routes to Abuja, South East and parts of the North..
He said the huge number of articulated vehicles caused untold damage to Ekiti roads, making it difficult to access the state.
AON Kicks As Aviation Minister Tells Senators, No Going Back On Nigerian Air
Oyebanju stressed the importance of good roads to safety and economic development, urging the agency to priotise Ekiti roads, as the state is already cut out of other parts of the country.
He said “I urge you to classify Ekiti roads under ” emergency category”. ” We need access so that investors will come. Please come to our aid. As it is now, we are cut off”.
In his response the FEEMA Boss, Engr Rafindadi said the agency had no excuse for not fixing Ekiti roads, in view of its economic advantage to the country as well as the fact it would constitute an embarrassment to the agency.
The FERMA Boss however cited finance as a major issue affecting its operation,but promised, that Ekiti roadswould be accorded top priority so as to enhance safety and economic growth as demanded by the Governor.
Rafindadi also suggested that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) should start factoring road maintenance to its distribution cost, stressing that road has become the only medium of distribution of Petroleum product across the country with attendant stress on the roads.
