People of the communities on Ifaki-Ikole-Omuo highway, a popular route for vehicles travelling from other parts of the South West region to Kogi State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja have expressed joy at the commencement of the rehabilitation of the road.The busy road, running through Ido/Osi, Oye, Ikole and Ekiti East local government areas of Ekiti State has been a source of concern to the peoples of the area, with traditional rulers of the various communities at different times calling on the Federal Government to do something about the condition of the road.With the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) kick off the rehabilitation of the road ahead of the heavy traffic expected during the yuletide season, the people have called for effective monitoring and quality job on the road.Speaking after the visit of the new FERMA management to the road and others in Ekiti State, a resident of Ifaki-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, Mrs Aderonke Aluko, said she expected bumps at some parts of the road, especially in the towns, pointing out that this would help reduce the rate at which people were killed via vehicle accidents on the road.The Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer for Ekiti State, Mr. Nkereuwem Asuquo, while speaking on the kick-off of the federal roads rehabilitation in Ekiti State ahead of the Yuletide season, said the measure was targeted at preventing accidents caused by bad roads.Asuquo, who spoke in Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area after inspecting Ifaki-Ikole-Omuo road and some other federal roads in the state with the new management of FERMA, led by the Managing Director of the agency, Mr. Gabriel Amuchi, said FERMA had intensified efforts to ensure that motorists had a smooth ride during Christmas and beyond, adding that FERMA was preparing for the usual heavy traffic during the season.According to him, FERMA was out to ensure that that no life was lost owing to the presence of potholes on the roads.He expressed the satisfaction with the level of work done in the patching of the Ifaki-Ikole-Omuo road, pointing out that the filling of the holes would be extended to the boarder of Ekiti with Kogi State.'The practice of proactive and preventive road maintenance strategy of the new management of FERMA will go a long way in stabilising Nigerian roads. By the second week in December, the Ifaki-Ikole-Omuo road which serves as access road for motorists coming into Ekiti and other parts of the South West from Abuja would be completely free of potholes.'He assured that the agency would intensify the inspection of roads by the surveillance unit of FERMA, adding that this would be regular to ensure that every problem on the roads was nipped in the bud.
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