Residents of Asikolaye, Kurmin-mashi, and adjoining communities along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway in Kaduna have expressed their appreciation to the Kaduna Field Office of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA following their take-over of the rehabilitation of the damaged and failed portions of the highway.
The intervention agency has commenced rehabilitation work on the road, which had become a nightmare to travelers and commuters on this major highway that provides link to vehicles and trucks going to adjoining states to Kaduna and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
In a chat with reporters on Friday, the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer in-charge of the Kaduna Field Office, Engr. (Dr.) Atiku Abubakar explained that the agency took up the task of rehabilitating the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway to ensure a smooth drive along that route.
This, Abubakar said, follows the invitation of the Kaduna State Government, through its Honourable Commissioner for Works; whose infrastructural strides and upgrade of the road networks within the state has brought about a new face-lift to the aesthetics of the metropolis. This formed the invitation to FERMA to handle the rehabilitation works on the Nnamadi Azikiwe Expressway.
He made this known while inspecting the on-going rehabilitation works on some sections of the road.
According to Engr. (Dr) Abubakar, residents of these affected areas on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway including travelers have suffered untold hardship while commuting through and FERMA as a federal agency is committed to delivering on its mandate; which is to efficiently monitor and administer road maintenance with the objective of keeping all federal roads in good and safe condition.
He promised, in his capacity as the FRME, Kaduna Field Office, to see to the quality completion of the ongoing rehabilitation projects within the jurisdiction of his office.
Engr. (Dr.) Atiku Abubakar, it is recalled recently assumed office as the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer at the Kaduna Field Office and has since hit the ground running in his avowed commitment at ensuring that his positive achievements is imprinted in the success story of FERMA.
Some of the commuters spoken with commended FERMA for taking up the task of rehabilitating the road based on its reputation for delivering quality maintenance works on Nigerian roads.
A trailer driver, Husseini Ahmadou commended the federal government for coming to their aid following the long hours they have to spend on the tortuous drive from the Mando Round-about until they turn off at the Abuja flyover.
He also praised the Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai who is taking Kaduna state to an enviable position by reconstructing roads within the state even as he thanked FERMA for making the pains accompanying the rehabilitation easier for commuters.
Passenger cars and commuters within the axis that commute the route are heaving sighs of relief with the quality of on-going work along the stretch especially on the damaged sections that have made driving along the road a huge pain and a drain in the pockets as their vehicles have to undergo regular maintenance.
Okafor Chimdika, a spare parts dealer at the New Panteka market says, “This will be a huge relief to many of us even though we come here to make money but we are equally feeling the pinch as we either pay high fares or also maintain our cars and motorcycles”.
