Road transportation has been the major route for movement of people, goods and services in Nigeria and thus forms the center of economic and social activities. Hence the economic and social importance of the roads cannot be over emphasized. Consequently, the FRDP has continued to accord significant importance to the rehabilitation and maintenance of critical road infrastructures in the country.
In this regard, various measures have been employed by the Federal Ministry of works to revitalize the state of the Nigerian Federal Roads. Accordingly, the International Development Association (IDA) is financing the Rehabilitation of the Mokwa-Bida and Akure-Illesha roads which is located in the middle belt and south-west region of Nigeria respectively through the Federal Road Development Project (FRDP).
The Mokwa- Bida road lies in Niger state and is the secondary arterial to the Lagos–Kano road. It is the major link road between the North and South–West region of the country bearing the burden of heavy vehicular movement as persons, goods and services move from one region to another. While the Akure-Illesha road starts in Akure, the capital of Ondo state and terminates at Illesha in Osun State.
The ceremony for the rehabilitation of the roads was flagged off by the Honourable Minister of works Architect Mike Onolomemen on the 14th and 15th of November, 2013 respectively. The Ministry of Works reiterates the commitment of the Federal Government in the maintenance of all highways like the Mokwa – Bida and Akure-Illesha Roads.
Also, the Unit manager Engr. Ishaq Moh’d reaffirm the importance the Federal Government attached to the development of critical road infrastructures while outlining the measure taken to ensure that the road rehabilitation project is implemented according to specification and within the contract duration period of twenty four (24) months.