FERMA@20: Federal Govt Urge Citizens To Stop Highways Abuse

President Muhammadu Buhari, has charged Nigerians to stop abusing the highways and called for appropriate maintenance culture in the country.

Buhari, made this call in Abuja at the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA’s) 20th anniversary event.

According to him roads are depreciating assets, hence the need to preserve and put them to proper use.

President Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said, “Let us understand that no matter how much money we give to FERMA, it doesnt make sense to destroy what we give to them because we are getting more money to repair roads.

“That is not how a problem should be solved. The first thing is preservation and proper use of the road. For those who burn tyres on the road, those who repair cars on the shoulders of the road, and discharge lubricant, every time you discarge diesel on the road, you have already taken away part of the useful life of that asset.”

He said the reason mainatince was necessary was because roads are depreciating assets, and called on the engineers to educate Nigerians on how roads should be properly maintained.

“So our engineers have a lot of work to do by teaching people how roads are built, how roads need to be looked after. And this must not be done in technical language, they must go to the street level to begin to educate Nigerians. It is when people understand the dos and don’ts of roads and that perhaps, is the biggest step in maintenance.