KEY POINTS

• FERMA countrywide are repairing key highways in readiness for the holiday traffic.
•  The project will generate over 12,000 jobs and repair over 12,000 road sections.
• The work is scheduled for completion mid December to allow for festive season delivery delays.

In a nationwide drive to improve the traffic situation as the country gets ready for the festive season, the Federal Government has commenced a nationwide road rehabilitation process with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) launched “Operation Connect to Your Destination – Phase 2” in Kano State. This initiative aims to enhance road conditions nationwide, ensuring smoother and safer travel for Nigerians.

The program focuses on eradicating potholes and also rehabilitating critical road sections to improve connectivity and support economic activities

Road repair targets massive to ease traffic

The project hopes to patch 18,850square metres of road surface, rehabilitate over 12,000 failed road sections, cover 2,700 square metres of road overlay and leave 653 kilometres of road motorable, according to FERMA Managing Director, Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi.

This initiative has the goal of improving journey times and making roads less traficked, particularly on major routes serving the north south divide which is known to be greatly traficked during holiday periods.

According to Vanguard, areas known for traffic have been pinpointed and prioritized. Some of these areas will see repair to avoid delays and for better traffic flow, Agbasi said.

‘This project is also expected to provide over 12,000 jobs which will boost the economy,’ he also added.

Expected to complete by mid-december

However, FERMA Head of Direct Labour Department, Engr. Sani Abdulkadir, mentioned that roadworks should have been wrapped up by mid-December, thus reducing travel disruption during the yuletide season.

Also in support of the initiative, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kano State encouraged responsible driving habits once the roads are back in shape.