HIGH COST OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, INSECURITY HAMPERS ROADS MAINTENANCE IN KEBBI STATE.
By: Abdullahi Tukur in Birnin Kebbi
Insecurity and high cost of construction materials are the major challenges affecting maintenance work of Federal Roads by Federal Roads Maintainace Agency FERMA in Kebbi State.
The Head of the agency in the state, Engineer Rilwanu Usman, stated this to Radio Nigeria in Birnin Kebbi.
According to Engineer Usman, since the deterioration of security situation in the country, the agency had been having challenges in executing maintenance works.
He explained that high cost of materials that are not available in the state such as asphalt and aggregates which are accessible in Niger and Zamfara states also constitute another challenge.
“when the insecurity become more severe, the challenges also double up in the sense that we used to go to Zamfara to buy different sizes of aggregates but now only one quarry is working and asphalt in Niger state” .
He said, during the year under review, the agency had rehabilitated over one hundred kilometers of road across the state.
Engineer Usman also revealed that, the agency had reconstructed three number 3/3 box culvert that cut off the road along Tuga to Kaoje to neighboring Benin and Niger Republic as well as the embarkment well reconstructed and protected.
Likewise, the agency equally reconstructed the cut off road along Argungu to Sokoto to Kangiwa that linked to Niger Republic.
Engineer Usman said, the agency had also constructed over four kilometers road within Adamu Augie College of Education Argungu which the Senate President Commissioned last month.
“The agency undertake direct labour work as well as award contract to contractors to execute projects”.
While assuring the public of the agency’s determination to provide succour to vehicles users as well as enhancing economy of Kebbi state, Engineer Usman said, the agency had patched so many portholes on major roads across the state.
