FERMA Begins Maintenance of Cross River Border Highway to

The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has commenced routine maintenance on the Abakaliki–Enugu–Cross River border highway, a major federal corridor linking the South-East to Cross River and neighbouring countries, as part of the Federal Government’s road preservation programme.

Key Highlights

• FERMA begins routine maintenance on the Abakaliki–Enugu–Cross River border highway.

• Work includes pothole repairs, vegetation clearance and drainage desilting.

• Project aims to improve road safety, security and travel time.

• Maintenance is expected to reduce flooding and generate local employment.

• Residents commend the intervention after years of fatal accidents.

The maintenance exercise, which commenced on Wednesday under FERMA’s Routine and Preventive Maintenance Work Programme (RPMWP), is designed to improve road safety, preserve critical infrastructure and enhance the smooth movement of people and goods along the strategic highway.

The Federal Road Maintenance Engineer for FERMA’s Ebonyi Field Office, Akinyemi Ojo, said the intervention aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its objectives of improving transportation, enhancing security and supporting economic activities.

According to Ojo, the programme is aimed at preventing further deterioration of the highway while ensuring it remains safe and motorable for commuters.

He explained that the maintenance work includes vegetation control, desilting of culverts and drainage channels, and the patching of potholes to extend the lifespan of the road.

“This routine maintenance initiative is designed to preserve federal road assets, improve motorability and ensure safer travel for motorists. It also reduces travel time and enhances the overall condition of the highway,” he said.

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Ojo added that clearing overgrown vegetation would improve visibility for motorists and reduce security risks by removing hiding places often exploited by criminals along the highway.

He further noted that the project would create direct employment opportunities for residents of host communities while helping to mitigate flooding through sustainable drainage maintenance.

Residents of Onuebonyi and Igbeagu communities praised FERMA for the intervention, describing the highway as one of the busiest transport routes in the region.

A community resident, Sylvester Odom, said more than 30 people had lost their lives in accidents on the affected section of the road over the past two years due to numerous potholes and poor road conditions.

“We have lost many lives on this stretch of the highway because of its poor condition. The potholes have caused several fatal accidents, especially for motorists unfamiliar with the road,” he said.

Odom described the road as a vital regional corridor connecting the South-East to Northern Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin Republic and other West African countries, expressing optimism that the maintenance work would significantly improve safety and ease transportation.