Tinubu determined to salvage 36,000 Km of bad roads inherited – Goronyo

From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja

The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, has reaffirmed Federal Government’s commitment to improve road maintenance across the country in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Minister disclosed that when Tinubu assumed office in 2023, he inherited 36,000 Kilometres of roads across the country that were in bad shape, but stressed that new innovations have been sought to fix those bad roads and ensure the good maintenance of all roads in the country.

The Minister who gave this disclosure on Monday in lokoja while inspecting some roads reconstructed by Federal Road Maintenance Emergency Agency said the Federal Government was devising a new strategy to put those roads in order.

He said President Tinubu was determined to salvage the country from the past rots and urged the citizens to give him the needed maximum cooperation .

He stated that the government is exploring new innovations and initiatives to increase funding for the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), ensuring Nigerian roads become more motorable for all.

The minister who met with the agency’s staff, assured them of improved welfare and urged them to be more dedicated to their duties, stressing that the current administration has no place for lazy staff.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Emeka Agbasi expressed satisfaction on the level of job done on most of the projects visited in Kogi State, assuring that the agency remains committed to delivering motorable roads to Nigerians in line with President Tinubu’s r
Renewed Hope Agenda on road infrastructure.

Dr. Agbasi said some of the roads repaired in the state were so strategic and enhance the socio-economic development of the state.

Agbasi specifically said the spot reconstructed in Ogori Mangogo- Ibilo road was actually a hot spot for robberies and kidnappings in the past where innocent motorists were attacked and dispossessed of their belongings but with the fixing of the road, the area has remained calm

This development, he said has made the community to come to express their gratitude to FERMA for repairing the road and fixing the culvert, saying no stone will be left unturned to make the citizens happy on good road infrastructure.

The Minister who inspected some roads and culverts carried out by FERMA in the state expressed satisfaction over the quality of the job done.
Ajaokuta- Itobe road, Okene- Adogo road and Ogori Mangogo- Ibilo roads were some of the roads inspected by the minister and his entourage.

Earlier, the state director of FERMA said a recent assessment and inventory of the roads in Kogi State showed that the length of road in good condition are 189km, length of road in a fair condition 510km , kength of road in a poor state 216km and length of road in a bad state is 348km

He said Kogi State’s unique location makes it a gateway to many states and regions, bordering 10 states and connecting the North, East, South, and West.

“Following the Managing Director’s directives that no road should become impassable for 24hours, the Direct Labour projects has always been channel to emergency and preventive measures, to ensure that we don’t have breakdown of traffic.

“Emergency such as Washout, Collapse Section, and Dangerous Potholes while the Preventive measures includes Desilting of Blocked channels, Vegetation Control, Replacement of Bridge Handrails and so on.

“With this measures, we are proud to say that there was no Federal Road affected by the ravaging flood of 2024,” he added