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KEHINDE AKINTOLA
Federal Government has concluded arrangements for the construction of 19 major road projects in 11 states of the federation, through the implementation of Executive Order 7 initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Executive Order 7 was designed to develop and deliver public-private partnership with notable investment, as part of the administration’s efforts toward bridging the road infrastructure gap in the transportation sector.
Under this arrangement, the 19 road projects are to be undertaken by six leading manufacturing and construction firms, spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Nurudeen Rafindadi, Managing Director, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) disclosed this during an interactive session with delegation from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
He assured the team who were on a visit to seek partnership with FERMA, of government’s resolve to enter into understanding with them in identifying, discussing and proffering solutions to the social-economic challenges on infrastructure, which is the hallmark of the Buhari administration’s huge investment and concern, especially on road infrastructure.
“Investments in roads have significant potential for the use of resources, create decent jobs, support the economy and strengthen commerce. Long lasting impacts such as improved access to goods and services and production contributes to sustainable poverty reduction with obvious economic and social development. Any collaboration that will help advance FERMA’s mandate of making roads in Nigeria safe and motorable at all times is welcomed,” he said.
Rafindadi added that the visit of JICA was prompt and timely as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recently signed Executive Order (EO) 007 on the Road Infrastructure Refurbishment and Development Tax Credit Scheme, which provides a platform for private companies to undertake the construction and refurbishment of eligible road infrastructural projects.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency according to the head of the delegation, is a governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.
The delegation was made up of representatives of different organizations involved in various endeavors that serve as support service to road maintenance. Some of their services include; provision of truck scales to solve traffic accident caused by overloaded vehicle, provision and installation of LED guide on the road to avoid traffic accident, provision of product of quick drying asphalt, concrete repairing agent to shorten repair time thereby avoiding traffic jam.
In a related development, the FERMA chief assured Nigerians of the agency’s commitment towards bringing succour to Nigerian road users through timely interventions and maintenance of roads across the nation.
Rafindadi who acknowledged the receipt of a commendation letter from the Management Board of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on the completion of rehabilitation work on the hitherto deplorable roads within the hospital, added that a nation’s road infrastructure is considered to be one of its most valuable asset, as a good road network promotes economic growth and social interaction.
According to him, FERMA was only fulfilling its mandate of making roads friendly and passable to users by rehabilitating roads in LUTH, he said there were many more roads across the nation that have been rehabilitated, while others are being monitored for timely intervention where necessary.
Recently, a monitoring team led by Engr. Yusuf Alfa of Operation II, inspected repairs of failed stretches by Direct Labour along Yola-Furore Road in Adamawa State and Bauchi-Jos Plateau State Border road and Bauchi-Kari-Yobe State Border road in Bauchi State.
The Kagoro-Manchok-Vom road linking Kaduna State to Plateau and other North-Central States which serves as a route for the transportation and evacuation of agricultural produce from rural areas to urban centres, thus enhancing the social-economic development of the communities along the road was also visited by another monitoring team.
BADEJO ADEMUYIWA has 23 years experience as a Finance Writer, specialising in Insurance and Investigative Reporting.
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