Lagos, FERMA join forces to fix roads, address drainage woes

The Federal Road Maintenance Agency has proposed signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lagos State Government to fix some bad portions of the state’s federal roads.

This was disclosed by the FERMA Managing Director, Chukwuemeka Agbasi, during his visit to the South West 2 Zone (Lagos and Ogun states) on Wednesday.

During the inspection of federal road projects in Lagos, Agbasi stated that the agency considered signing an MOU with the Lagos Waste Management Authority due to the deplorable condition of the Moshalasi road in Mushin, which he said was caused by the blocked drainage system.

Agbasi, who visited different sites during the working visit, assured Lagosians of proffering solutions to the road.

“On arrival, we started with the drainage problem we have in Mushin. We have been able to assess what the problem is, which is primarily blocked drainage. We were also able to proffer solutions where we felt that closer collaboration would be needed with the Lagos State Environmental Agency.

“We are looking at having an MoU with them, with clearly defined outcomes on what each party will be responsible for. The MoU will commit the different parties to different tangible outcomes,” Agbasi said.

The MD maintained that immediate desilting work had begun on the road to put an end to traffic gridlock and ameliorate the plights of road users.

“We have started desilting existing drainages to allow the water to flow. Water is the worst enemy for our roads, once the drainage system starts overflowing it affects the people. The desilting work is ongoing, and we will continue to do that,” he added.

Our correspondent reports that Agbasi inspected the ongoing renovation work on the Ijora Causeway, following years of its dilapidated condition due to drainage problems.

The project, which aimed at reinstating critically failed sections, access slab and desilting of lined drain along the road, will be completed in two months and open for traffic, according to the FERMA boss.

Agbasi also inspected the Ile-Epo site, along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, where FERMA recovered the previously used road by clearing a section of the road of garbage and waste.

He stressed the need to collaborate with the local government to ensure the maintenance and safeguarding of the project.

The Chairman of Agbado-Oke Odo Local Council Development Area, David Famuyiwa, expressed his excitement about the fixed road and assured cooperation with the agency.

“I know they have not completed the Ile-Epo road, they are just starting, but for the part they have done, we are satisfied. I am sure various vehicles are plying the road without any hindrance. As soon as they complete it, we will take it as our responsibility to maintain the road,” Famuyiwa said.