Ogun Office of Federal Road Maintenance Agency on Friday flagged off devegetation control and line drain exercise along Federal highways in Ogun Corridors.
The exercise code named Operation Safe-Guard Roads (OSGR) was aimed at desilting the carriage ways as well as minor repairs on the roads was targeted at enhancing visibility of the motorist plying the roads to minimise road crashes of vehicles traversing the Federal highways in Ogun Corridors.
Speaking with newsmen during the flag off of the 3kilometer of Ishaga-Ilaro-Owodo-Adoodo-Ikoga road, FERMA's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. (Dr.) Chukwuemeka Agbasi said the operation aimed principally targeted at enhancing motorists' security and safety, particularly to ward-off miscreants and other marauders like kidnappers who take advantage of the busy side of the federal highways to kidnap travellers.
Agbasi, who was represented by the field Engineer incharge of Ogun State, Engr. Fasoranti Bamidele also explained that OSGR, which perfectly aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda also aimed at providing employment opportunities for the Nigerian youths of between ages 18 and 45 years engaged from among the host communities through where the exercise transverse.
Fasoranti disclosed that OSGR is initiated by the MD/CEO Agbasi to clear the road off Vegetation, the verges of the road have been taken over by bushes and the programme is to clear the bushes and to desilt the shoulder so that drivers can have safer experience whenever they are driving through the road.
"Another aim of the programme is to empower our teeming youths between the ages of 18-45 years on this programme by so during when they work they get something to take home to their family. By the time we conclude this exercise our drivers plying this road will have good visibility and the miscreants will not have chance to perpetrator their evil act," he stated
"We want drivers plying this roads to feel okay to drive on the roads without any fear. No more fears of the attack by armed robbers.
"It will also reduce accident on the road, thereby preventing loss of lives and properties on the road and there would not be problem of security issues.
"The exercise is also to create awareness that FERMA is working on the roads and there is no cause for alarm, though we depend on budgetary provision for our act but we are always on ground for any road or environmental activities," he added.
"We are trying to source for means through our management to make sure we are able to meet up with our goals and aims. To make sure we carry out our mandate so as to achieve our aims in other Federal roads like Ijebu and other Federal Road Corridors in Ogun State."
He advised motorists to be patient while the exercise last, the agency has plans to take care of failures on the roads as the rain subsides.
"Host community should also cooperate with the agency while the exercise last," he appealed.
Meanwhile, motorist plying as at the time of the exercise applaud president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the on going exercise.
Mr Taofeek Akinlolu, a motorcyclist expresses excitement in the exercise and described the importance of the exercise as Safety at its Peak.
Another motorist, Mrs Animasahun Adedoyin, a native of Igbojila applauded the step taking by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which empowered FERMA to discharged one of its statutory function in the state, saying " they are trying to safe guard motorist plying the road because it will keep miscreants off the road".
Momodu Jamiu, a truck driver expresses his gratitude to the federal government for coming to the assistance of motorists, stressing that the gesture will go a long way at assuring motorists that the road is safe because there is no more hideout for kidnappers on the road.
