Declare Emergency On Ekiti Federal Roads, Oyebanji Urges FERMA

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has called on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to urgently classify federal roads in the state as emergency situation and make concerted efforts to fix them without further delay.

Oyebanji made the plea while on a visit to the Managing Director/ CEO of FERMA, Engr Nurudeen Rafindadi, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said Ekiti people are eager to see the federal roads become motorable just as the Yuletide season approaches.

The Governor stated that Ekiti roads were among the best in the country until early this year when an unprecedented huge number of heavy trucks started plying the roads as alternative routes to Abuja, South East and parts of the North.

He said the huge number of articulated vehicles caused untold damage to Ekiti roads, making it difficult to access the state.

Stressing the importance of good roads to safety and economic development, Governor Oyebanji urged the agency to priotise Ekiti roads, as the state is already cut out of other parts of the country.

“I urge you to classify Ekiti roads under ” emergency category”. ” We need access so that investors will come. Please come to our aid. As it is now, we are cut off” the Governor said.

In his response, FERMA Boss, Engr Rafindadi said the agency had no excuse for not fixing Ekiti roads, in view of its economic advantage to the country as well as the fact it would constitute an embarrassment to the agency.