FERMA urges Ebonyi residents to avoid waste disposal in drainages

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in Ebonyi State has urged residents to avoid disposing of waste in drainage systems, as this can cause flooding and damage roads. Akinyemi Ojo, the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer of the agency’s Field Office, disclosed this to journalists over the weekend after the agency rehabilitated portions of the failed Abakaliki/Enugu highway.

Ojo explained that some concrete roads had failed due to foundational issues, which were identified through thorough investigation. “We discovered that the foundation was not properly handled, leading to water seeping up from the ground level, causing the failure. This issue is being addressed and corrected,” he stated.

He highlighted specific areas where interventions had been made, including a washout at km 8.700 along the Abakaliki/Enugu road. This issue was promptly rectified after the Civil Defense and DSS alerted the agency. Additionally, a previously dangerous bridge approach in the same location has been fixed and is now motorable. Another accident-prone bridge near FETHA 2 in Abakaliki has also been repaired and opened for traffic.

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Ojo emphasized that some road failures result from human activities. “People were dumping waste on one side of the road and into drains, causing blockages. When drains are blocked, flooding occurs on the carriageways, which leads to asphalt failure,” he explained.

He urged motorists and community members to manage the roads responsibly. “It is not everything that the government will do for us. We have our own little part to play by making sure that we are not pouring waste into the drains,” Ojo added.

This call to action is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the roads and ensuring the safety of all road users.