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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has officially flagged off the 2025 edition of its nationwide initiative, Operation Safeguard the Roads, at the Akegbe Ugwu section of the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway.
Declaring the programme open, the federal road maintenance engineer, FERMA, Enugu field office, John-Blaise Nwoke said the operation was primarily aimed at improving visibility and safety along federal roads while making them more motorable.
“The major reason for this is to improve visibility along the roads. One of the things we are doing is clearing vegetation along the highways to give motorists a better view. Secondly, it also has to do with filling potholes and cleaning the drainage so that water will no longer be blocking the roads.
“All these will help drivers reduce the amount they spend on routine maintenance and, at the same time, improve overall safety on the road,” Nwoke explained.
Also speaking, the Project Director of Operation Safeguard the Roads, 2025 edition, Chidozie Dionkwo, described the programme as FERMA’s direct response to the perennial challenges of road deterioration, environmental threats, and unemployment.
“This nationwide initiative of FERMA is designed to enhance the serviceability of our roads, while at the same time creating employment opportunities for young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 45. Through this programme, we deliberately engage communities along federal highways to actively participate in maintaining our roads while providing them with decent and meaningful jobs.
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“The key components of the programme include vegetation control, to improve visibility and mitigate security challenges; drainage management, to prevent flooding and preserve road infrastructure; minor repairs such as patching potholes and maintaining road surfaces; and capacity building through training participants in road maintenance operations,” Dionkwo said.
He further disclosed that 50 fully-kitted and well-trained participants had been deployed under the scheme in Enugu, noting that their assignments would be carried out with strict adherence to safety and professionalism.
In his goodwill remarks, the President General of Akegbe Ugwu community, Chief Ikechukwu Ojukwu, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and FERMA.
“We thank President Tinubu for bringing about this initiative. We also thank FERMA, which he is using to carry out this important work. They will play their part and we will also do our own part,” he stated.
The event attracted stakeholders, including officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Police Force, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Four Corner Axis, community leaders, and FERMA staff from Enugu Field and Zonal Offices.
