The  Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Emeka Agbasi, has sought 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-Anyigba road in Kogi state.

The Managing Director who was represented by the Zonal  Director, North Central 1 FERMA  Engineer  Awodun Omotayo Daniel, said every community  should owned the federal highways and contribute their quota in the  maintenance of roads to make it  motorable for Nigerians.

He warned against dumping of refuse on drainages, saying “such attitudes greatly affected the quality and life span  of roads.”

He commended  Ochadamu community for their efforts in clearing  vegetation voluntarily,  urging  other communities in the state  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 own  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.

Speaking at  Okene – Kabba road  where desilting of lined drain was ongoing,  Engineer Muktar Abdulrahim, warned residents against dumping of refuse on water channels, urged to collaborate with the agency to safeguard the road. 

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.

Also in his remarks, Jimoh Itopa the  youth leader of Okene- Kabba road , said they have been mobilizing themselves to clear the drainage to avoid flooding during rainy season, assuring the agency that the community would not relent in  complementing FERMA’s effort in road maintenance in the area.

He however , appealed to FERMA, to assist the community by taking care of potholes and construct speed bumps on Okene-Kabba road to prevent road accident.