By Blessing Elo Oghene
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Sokoto State Office, has engaged 50 community workers under its Operation Safeguard the Road initiative to eliminate roadside hazards and improve visibility along federal highways in the state.
The programme, which commenced on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, engaged participants drawn from Sanyinna and Yabo communities to clear bushes, grasses and overgrown vegetation along the Yabo–Sanyinna road.
The initiative is aimed at addressing roadside hazards that obstruct motorists’ visibility, conceal traffic signs and expose commuters to avoidable accidents, particularly along highways in rural communities.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Head of FERMA’s Sokoto State Office, Engineer Jamilu Sidi, urged the participants to demonstrate commitment, discipline and professionalism in carrying out their assigned duties.
Sidi warned that the agency would not tolerate negligence or indiscipline, stressing that any participant found wanting would be replaced immediately.
He described the programme as a strategic community-based intervention aimed at promoting safer highways through regular maintenance and grassroots participation.
The FERMA official recalled that the agency successfully implemented a similar programme in 2025 along the Sokoto–Goronyo–Isa–Sabon Birni highway, noting that its expansion to other communities demonstrated FERMA’s commitment to routine road maintenance and local ownership of public infrastructure.
To facilitate the exercise, the agency provided equipment, including wheelbarrows, shovels, grass-cutting machines, cutlasses, rakes and cautionary road signs.
Also speaking, Engineer Abdul Aziz Ibrahim Usman emphasised the importance of strict compliance with safety procedures.
He urged the participants to make proper use of reflective jackets, protective boots and other safety equipment provided by the agency to minimise exposure to accidents and workplace hazards.
Usman further cautioned against carrying out maintenance activities without strategically displaying warning signs, noting that such measures were necessary to alert approaching motorists and prevent collisions.
In his goodwill message, the District Head of Yabo, Alhaji Muhammad Sani, commended FERMA for introducing the initiative, describing it as a practical intervention that would improve highway safety while creating opportunities for residents to participate in protecting public infrastructure.
Similarly, the District Head of Sanyinna, Barrister Ibrahim Muhammad, applauded the agency for extending the programme to the community, describing it as a timely response to road safety challenges.
He urged the beneficiaries to remain dedicated and ensure that the objectives of the exercise were achieved.
The Federal Controller of Works, Engineer Kasimu Mai Gwandu, also highlighted the importance of regular highway maintenance, noting that clearing road shoulders and adjoining areas of obstructive vegetation was essential to improving visibility, protecting motorists and preserving road infrastructure.
The FRSC Sector Commander, represented by Deputy Road Commander Umar Bello, called for strict compliance with traffic safety regulations, particularly the proper placement of warning signs and other protective measures throughout the exercise.
The Chairman of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Nura Garba, welcomed the initiative, noting that improved visibility and safer road conditions would benefit commercial drivers, transport operators, passengers and other road users.
Meanwhile, the head of the participating workforce, Usman Yabo, urged the workers to demonstrate diligence, accountability and commitment to their responsibilities.
He stressed the need for beneficiaries to justify the financial benefits attached to their engagement and disclosed that monitoring mechanisms would be introduced to ensure regular attendance and effective performance.
The participants are expected to work for 30 days along the Yabo–Sanyinna road, undertaking daily vegetation clearance and other assigned maintenance activities.
FERMA expressed optimism that the initiative would strengthen community participation in road maintenance, eliminate preventable roadside hazards, improve motorists’ visibility and contribute to safer highway transportation across Sokoto State.
