Mu’azu Shehu
Some residents in Kebbi State have commended the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for the completion of road projects appropriated to Kebbi in 2021.
The agency completed 10 road projects appropriated to the state under the Special Maintenance Repairs and Special Intervention of COVID-19 projects in 2021.
The residents expressed their views on Sunday in Sakaba, Koko/Besse, Argungu and Birnin Kebbi local government areas of the state.
Malam Musa Bamaiyi, a resident from Dirin Daji, in Sakaba LGA, lauded FERMA for the construction of culverts certification of 1.5 kms and patching of potholes of Rijau- Ribah-Wasagu road.
“The completion of the projects have eased the sufferings we faced in our vehicular movements from one local government to another in Zuru Emirate, especially during rainy season.
“We were sometimes thrown in oblivion thinking that the two waterways along Rijau- Ribah- Wasagu road would cut off by the heavy downpour and wash-away.
“With the construction and certification of new culverts, we are at ease now, happy, and we thank the Federal Government as well as the FERMA for coming to our aid,” he lauded.
Bamaiyi urged the motorists to drive safely and abide by the road safety rules and regulations in order to protect lives, property and infrastructure in the area.
Muhammad Ja’afar, a resident of Koko, commended the agency for the installation of more than 100 solar street lights and drainages as facilitated by Alhaji Shehu Muhammad, a member representing Koko/Besse and Maiyama Federal Constituency.
“Though, we have almost stable electricity supply but what we lacked were street lights and drainages along the township roads but now, you can see solar street lights all over the roads in our town.
“The light has facilitated the spring up of petty businesses in the area as traders throng and flank during the night to market their stuffs,” he said.
Ja’afar thanked the agency for executing the projects and Shehu for his efforts to ensure that his people benefited from the democratic dividends.
On the special maintenance repairs of Tuga- Ka’oje road in Bagudo LGA, Malam Mustapha Ka’oje, a resident of Birnin Kebbi, who hails from Bagudo area, commended the agency for executing quality work and promptly completion of the work.
“If you could recall, the bridge was cut off as a result of the flood in 2020 that wrecked havoc on infrastructures in many states, including Kebbi state.
“You all know that the road and bridge are our means to reach to our business partners and to some extent relatives in the two neighboring countries.
” These things are important to use and bringing them back to us is like rekindling our hope to progression and prosperity,” he said.
Ka’oje thanked FERMA for repairing the bridge and rehabilitating the road in due time.
Musa Yahaya, a resident of Argungu LGA, also commended the agency for empowering the youth through its direct labour last year.
“I am one of the beneficiaries of the FERMA direct labor projects, and I had no job before I started labouring with the agency but even a full- fledged state government worker cannot compete with me in terms of taking care of the family as I am now better up with this direct labour.
“More than 1,000 youths have benefitted from the agency’s work as we have contacts with other labourers in other areas where they are undergoing similar road work in the state,” he said.
Yahaya called on the Federal Government to prioritise direct labour as indirectly the federal government was employing the unemployed people.