FERMA Flag-off ‘Operation Safeguard the Road’ in Kogi,

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Emeka Agbasi has seek the collaboration of communities living along all federal road corridors to work together with the agency in order to create safer and more sustainable road network for Nigerians.

Engr. Agbasi stated this during the flag-off of operation safeguard the road held at Ochadamu community along the Itobe-Ayingba road in Kogi state.

Represented by the Zonal Director, North Central 1 FERMA Engr. Awodun Omotayo Daniel, the Managing Director said every community should owned the federal highways and contribute their quota in the maintenance of roads to make it motorable to Nigerians who ply the roads on daily basis.

He warned against dumping of refuse on drainages, saying such attitudes hampered the quality and life span of roads.

While commending Ochadamu community for their efforts in clearing vegetation voluntarily, the managing director urged other communities to emulate such effort in the interest of the country.

“This is what we expect every community to emulate. The maintenance of government infrastructures should not be left for government alone to do. Every community should owned the federal highways as their property” he said.

He assured that FERMA in Kogi state will continue to ensure that whatever the federal government want will be executed in the state to enhance safety of the road.

In his speech, the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer
in charge of Kogi state, Muktar Abdulrahim, explained that the programme was aimed at enhancing the efficiency of Federal roads in the state as well as empowering youths along the road corridors.

“The programme will improve safety, reduce travel time and costs, provide temporary employment opportunities for youths and it will stimulate a sense of ownership among local communities and properly safeguard the roads.

“So far 55 youth have been engaged for the programme. We are carrying out vegetation control along Itobe – Anyigba highways and we are also carrying out 400 meters desilting of lined drain along Okene – Kabba road” he stated.

He listed the key components of the programme to include, vegetation control, desilting of lined drain and culverts, including patching of potholes, reinstatement of collapsed sections, to enable free flow of traffic among others.

He pointed out that the programme was also organized to discourage road vandalism and abuses, such as dumping of refuse on drainages and road sides, unauthorized cutting of the road and stealing of road facilities like bridge handrails, road signs among others.

In his remark, the representative of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the commander Ejule outpost Mohammed Bala charged communities to protect and safeguard whatever FERMA has done to make highways comfortable for road users.

He commended FERMA for the programme, saying it will go a long to reduce incessant road crashes on the road and cautioned motorists to always adhere to road signs and regulations to avert unnecessary mishaps.

Samson Jonathan a youth leader who spoke on behalf of Ochadamu community thank FERMA for the programme, saying aside its importance to the road, it will also curb insecurity in the community..