The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency on Tuesday commenced the removal of silts and construction of failed drainages along the popular Abuja-Mararaba-Keffi highway.
The drainage clearing exercise, which started from Km 9 along Mararaba market, saw several FERMA officials opening up the waterways to pack out silts while the direct labour workers made a spirited effort to decongest the traffic.
On the Masaka axis of the Abuja-Keffi road, there were massive remedial works on the failed drains, the Ado bridge and the setback separating the dual carriage roads.
Addressing newsmen, FERMA roads maintenance engineer in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Martin Eze, disclosed that the exercise was a continuation of the ‘Operation desilting of waterways’ programme flagged off two weeks ago by FERMA Managing Director, Dr Chukwuemeka Agbasi.
Eze, who admitted that FERMA’s biggest challenge was managing humans, appealed to traders and residents staying close to the drainages to desist from throwing refuse into the hydraulic structures.
He said, “This is a continuation of the programme recently launched by our MD, Dr Emeka Agbasi. We are currently at Km 9 along the Mararaba-Keffi Road. The essence is to make sure that all waterways, drainages and hydraulic structures are open and free for water to flow during this rainy season.
“That way, it will make our roads last longer. We appeal to road users, especially people who stay close to the drainage facilities not to pour refuse into them. Some people will wait for the rain to start to pour their refuse into the hydraulic structure thereby blocking the waterways.
“We frown at this and therefore call on Nigerians, especially road users and people close to these structures not to abuse them.”
When asked to address the fear that some traders may be displaced as a result of the ongoing exercise, the FERMA maintenance officer dismissed the insinuation.
According to him, the exercise is solely to clear the waterways.
“The fear of displacement does not arise as we are not reconstructing the roads or expanding them. We are only maintaining the existing roads. So it won’t affect anybody for now.
“It is a continuous process. We carried out a similar one in December last year until people came again to silt the drains. I think one of the major challenges we have is managing the people and their activities. But I can assure you this exercise will be completed before the rainy season takes over,” he stated.