Yuletide: FERMA launches road repairs operation
Ahead of the yuletide season, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) says it is intensifying efforts to ensure smooth travel experiences for Nigerians by launching Operation Connect to Your Destination (OCYD) 3.0 along the 36km Ekparakwa–Azumini–Iwukem Road in Akwa Ibom State. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the managing director/chief executive officer of the FERMA, Chukwuemeka […]
Ahead of the yuletide season, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) says it is intensifying efforts to ensure smooth travel experiences for Nigerians by launching Operation Connect to Your Destination (OCYD) 3.0 along the 36km Ekparakwa–Azumini–Iwukem Road in Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the managing director/chief executive officer of the FERMA, Chukwuemeka Agbasi, an engineer, said the initiative was crafted to alleviate travel challenges typically experienced at the end of the month and during the festive season.
He revealed that as part of the nationwide intervention, 10,683 m² of potholes would be patched, 7,392 m² of failed sections repaired and 881 m² of asphaltic overlay completed, culminating in the restoration of 85.9 kilometres of motorable roadway nationwide. The programme is also expected to generate 1,722 jobs, underscoring its socioeconomic impact.
This renewed push, according to the FERMA helmsman, aligns with the federal mandate to maintain all the federal roads and keep them serviceable – an urgent necessity as Nigeria’s 36,000-kilometre federal road network remains the country’s most heavily used transport system.
He further noted that the intervention was fully in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises infrastructure revival, economic stimulation and improved mobility for citizens.
“By making federal highways safer and more motorable, the FERMA is directly contributing to the administration’s vision of a more connected, efficient and economically vibrant Nigeria.
“Operation Connect to Your Destination is designed to guarantee free and safe movement of commuters, especially during the yuletide when travel volume increases. It is important to ensure that travellers enjoy a smooth experience during this period,” Agbasi said.
He affirmed the agency’s dedication to addressing trouble spots, insisting that the FERMA is consistently fulfilling its mandate.
Agbasi noted that OCYD 3.0 would run across 39 major corridors nationwide, with maintenance activities in progress in all the 36 states. The ongoing works include pothole patching, repair of failed sections and asphaltic overlays aimed at strengthening overall road quality.
Also speaking, Sani Abdulkadir, an engineer and head of FERMA’s Direct Labour Unit, commended the managing director’s leadership, confirming that the teams are fully mobilised, promising to deliver on its targets.