Adebayo Adenrele
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has warned against indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles on newly rehabilitated roads, spillage of petroleum products and vandalism of road facilities in Ekiti State.
The Director of West Operations at FERMA, Engineer Francis Isabiyi gave this warning during an inspection tour of Sukuk-funded road projects across the state.
The inspection, which forms part of a nationwide exercise, covered strategic road sections including a 1.2-kilometre stretch passing through Ikunri Modern Market, popularly known as Alubarika Market, in Ikunri-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area, as well as a 1.6-kilometre road linking Itawure to the Osun State boundary.
Speaking with journalists at Ikunri, Isabiyi expressed satisfaction with the quality of work on ongoing Sukuk-funded road projects, urging road users to take responsibility for protecting public infrastructure.
Isabiyi said the visit was part of a broader nationwide assessment of Sukuk-funded projects across the country, expressing satisfaction with the quality of supervision and compliance with specifications, noting that the agency’s intervention had significantly improved previously deteriorated sections of the road.
The Director explained that the intervention focused on sectional repairs targeting the most critical portions of federal roads, adding that similar projects were ongoing across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
He described the inspected road as a major trunk route with heavy traffic flow, linking Abuja through communities such as Ifaki and Omuo, extending toward Lagos and branching to Ilorin and Kogi State.
His words, “My sole reason for coming here is for a nationwide inspection, purely on Sukuk projects. “Our team has done a very good job here by supervising the contractor in accordance with our specifications and standards. I am very happy with what I have seen since I arrived.
“This type of work we are seeing here today is ongoing across all 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
“This road is very busy and carries a high volume of traffic from Abuja through several communities, including Ifaki, Ikole, Omuo, Ado, linking onward through Itawure to Lagos. From there, it branches to Ilorin and Kogi State.
“There are also several federal institutions along this road, including Ekiti State University, and it passes through major towns in Ekiti State. So, it is a very important trunk road.
“What we are doing is sectional repair, focusing on the most deteriorated portions. In this section alone, we have recovered over one kilometre. Before this intervention, the road was highly deplorable, as residents here can attest. Our team moved in and carried out the repairs.
“This same approach is being implemented across the federation, tackling major federal roads through sectional repairs.”My major advice to road users is that the government is spending a lot on construction and maintenance, but citizens must also take responsibility for protecting these roads. They are national assets that belong to all of us.
“After repairs, we still see indiscriminate parking of trucks on newly fixed sections. This leads to spillage of diesel and petrol, which damages the road. Communities should discourage such practices.
“We also have cases of vandalism, people removing guardrails from bridges and stealing installed streetlights. These are public assets funded by the government. We must treat them like personal property. Just as you would fix your car when it develops a fault, we must take ownership of our roads”.
Also speaking at Itawure, the Zonal Director, Southwest I (Oyo, Ekiti, Osun and Kwara states), Babatunde Alonge, described the quality of work on the Itawure Road axis as satisfactory, despite minor observations that would be addressed.
Alonge noted that the project, awarded earlier in the year, remained within its six-month timeline, commending the progress of the contractor.
He also cautioned motorists against reckless driving, emphasizing that improved road conditions should not translate into overspeeding.
“This road is now very good. Before, it was very bad, many vehicles were breaking down, and there were frequent accidents. But now that it has been repaired, it is okay. We really appreciate the government for fixing this road. May God bless them.
“This road will boost business in the area. Movement along the road has improved and businesses can now operate better. The work they did, including the culverts, is commendable”. He added
Residents, road users and drivers who spoke during the inspection commended the federal government for the intervention, noting that the repairs had eased movement, improved economic activities and reduced accidents in the area.
A road user at Ikunri, Abdullahi Wajud, said the road, which was previously in a deplorable condition, had become motorable, reducing vehicle breakdowns and enhancing safety.
Another commuter, Aina Yakubu, described the rehabilitation as commendable, expressing satisfaction with the quality of work done.
Musa Ismail also acknowledged the improvement but appealed to the government to extend repairs to adjoining sections still in poor condition, particularly between Ayedun and Ayebode.
At Itawure axis, a driver, Olumide Oje, said the development had significantly changed the economic outlook of the area, while another driver, Afolayan Idowu, expressed gratitude for the repairs, describing them as a relief from years of hardship.
A trader, Titilayo Ayelabowo, also commended the effort, calling for more infrastructural development across the state.
