FERMA Launches Road Maintenance Programme In Bauchi, Engages 50 Youths

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has launched its Routine and Preventive Maintenance Work Programme (RPMWP) in Bauchi State, engaging 50 youths from host communities to improve the condition of federal roads while providing temporary employment.

Speaking during the inauguration, the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer in Bauchi State, Engr. Nanpan Daniel Joroh, said the initiative is designed to preserve the structural integrity of selected federal road corridors, enhance road safety and improve motorability.

Represented by the Progress Officer of the Bauchi Field Office, Engr. Mahmud Abdulkadir, Joroh said the programme would run for one month, with participants drawn from communities along the selected road corridors.

Each beneficiary will receive a stipend of N70,000 at the end of the exercise.

He explained that the programme is aimed at preserving federal road infrastructure through routine and preventive maintenance, improving travel time, reducing vehicle maintenance costs and minimising road traffic crashes.

According to him, the intervention will also involve clearing overgrown vegetation to improve visibility and enhance security, desilting drainage channels to reduce flooding, creating employment opportunities for residents and encouraging community participation in protecting federal road infrastructure.

The maintenance works include patching potholes on critical sections of selected roads, clearing grasses, shrubs and unwanted trees along road corridors, and desilting lined drains to ensure the free flow of stormwater, particularly during the rainy season.

Joroh urged the participants to carry out their responsibilities with diligence and professionalism, noting that their efforts would contribute significantly to preserving road infrastructure and ensuring safer roads for motorists and other road users.

Also speaking, FERMA Zonal Director, North-East Zone II, Engr. Olayemi Olaniyan Ojom, represented by Engr. Malson S. Bubab, called on the participants to cooperate fully with their supervisors and maintain discipline throughout the programme.

He said safe roads benefit motorists, pedestrians and surrounding communities, adding that the maintenance activities would help reduce flooding, improve visibility and prolong the lifespan of federal roads.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ogar Domian Felix and Sunita Joseph expressed appreciation to FERMA for the opportunity, describing the programme as a demonstration of the agency’s commitment to job creation and community empowerment. They pledged to carry out their assignments diligently in line with the directives of their supervisors.

A community representative, Ali Zindi of Anguwar Sarakuna, also commended FERMA for extending the intervention to the area, expressing confidence that the programme would improve road conditions and benefit residents.