Federal Gov’t Launches ‘Operation Safeguard Our Roads’

Tough time lies ahead for owners of articulated vehicles that cause damage to Nigerian roads.

Minister of State (Works) Barrister Muhammad Bello Goronyo dropped this hint yesterday on a three-day working visit to the North West II Zone to inspect and commission some projects.

While inspecting the Sokoto-Ilella-Niger Republic road, a Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, project, Barrister Goronyo stated that one measure to safeguard Nigerian roads would be to impound any vehicle that damages them.

“The essence of operation safeguarding our roads is to stop damages caused by articulated vehicles on our streets.

“This time around, we will impound any vehicle that damages our roads and ensure the vehicle owner effects repairs on the damaged portion before we release such vehicle.

“This will ensure patriotic use of our roads and reduce the huge amount the federal government spent on road repairs and reconstruction, to be channelled into other infrastructural maintenance and management.”

Similarly, FERMA Managing Director Engineer Emeka Agbasi said, “Through operation to safeguard our roads, we are trying to move away from a position where the streets will get destructive to a proactive regime when the roads are maintained in good condition.

“It costs far less to keep a road in good condition than to allow it to fail.”

Barrister Goronyo, the supervising Minister for the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), had earlier commissioned solar-powered street lights along Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto. The FERMA supplied and installed the street lights.