Richard Elesho
The use of a lateritic base and heavy-duty vehicular traffic are mainly responsible for the rapid deterioration of the busy Itobe-Anyigba-Ankpsa-Otukpo Road. The road traverses Kogi and Benue States.
Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, Managing Director, MD of Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, made this known on Wednesday, in the Palace of the Onu Ankpa, Alhaji Abdulmalik Umar.
The MD, who was represented by FERMA Roads Maintenance Engineer in Kogi, Engr. Muktar Abdulrahim visited the Palace after he inspected ongoing repair works on the road. The road serves as a crucial link connecting the South-South, South-East, and parts of Eastern Kogi State to Lokoja, the state capital, and further to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Its economic significance cannot be overstated, as it serves as a vital artery for trade, connecting several commercial hubs, and is also a center for coal mining activities,” he said.
“The road was constructed in the 1980s, and the load it now bears far exceeds its original design capacity.
“With the decline of the railway system, heavy goods that would have been transported by train are now moved by trucks, placing more pressure on the road.
“Ankpa, a mining hub, attracts heavy-duty vehicles from within and outside Nigeria to transport coal, further straining the road.
“The use of a lateritic base has also contributed to the road’s rapid deterioration. Once cracks form and water seeps in, the damage worsens.
“So, we are now introducing a stone base, which will be stronger and more durable, he said.
Muktar assured that the repairs would significantly improve safety on the road, reduce travel time, lower vehicle maintenance costs, and minimize breakdowns. He reaffirmed FERMA’s commitment to ensuring total maintenance of roads, delivering quality jobs, despite budget constraints.
In his response, Alh. Abdulmalik expressed gratitude to FERMA. He described the intervention as timely, given the damage caused by heavy trucks, and urged the agency to ensure the road received a lasting solution.
The FERMA team also inspected the reinstatement of a washed-out culvert at CH.41+000 along the Okene-Adogo-Ajaokuta road in Kogi State, where work is currently in progress.