The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has launched a road maintenance exercise along federal highways in Rivers State, engaging more than 50 youths from host communities ahead of the Yuletide celebrations.
The initiative, tagged Operation Safeguard the Road, involves clearing roadside vegetation, removing silt from drainage channels and culverts, and repairing potholes to improve road conditions and enhance motorists’ safety.
Speaking during an inspection of the exercise along the Isiokpo-Owerri Federal Highway on Tuesday, Acting Zonal Director, South-South 1, Celestine Udemba, said the programme was designed to improve road infrastructure while creating temporary job opportunities for unemployed youths in host communities.
He explained that over 50 youths had been engaged in the exercise and would receive monthly payments alongside daily allowances for their services.
Udemba added that the maintenance work would be implemented in phases across different roads, noting that the agency would also commence its annual Operation Connect Your Destination programme to ensure safer and smoother journeys nationwide.
Also speaking, the Federal Road Maintenance Engineer in Rivers State, George Offor, described Operation Safeguard the Road as one of FERMA’s major initiatives introduced by its Managing Director, Engineer Chukwuemeka Agbasi.
Offor said clearing overgrown vegetation along road corridors would improve visibility for motorists and reduce security threats posed by criminals who could use roadside bushes as hiding places to attack road users.
He urged motorists to observe traffic regulations, avoid excessive speeding and exercise patience while the maintenance work was ongoing.
The engineer also appealed to residents to avoid practices capable of damaging road infrastructure, including burning tyres on roads and carrying out unauthorised excavations.
Some motorists who witnessed the exercise commended FERMA for the intervention, saying it would improve traffic movement and enhance security along the highway.
A motorist, Prince Johnson, said the maintenance activities would make the road safer and discourage criminal activities.
