FIC Report (Oyo State) – As Nigerians navigate the ember months, the Oyo State Field Office of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), yesterday, launched in Ibadan, the “Operation Safeguard the Road (OSGR) programme”.
According the its manager in charge of the Field Operation in the state, the programme was a nationwide initiative aims to preserve and protect Nigeria’s federal road infrastructure while enhancing safety for all road users.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Ibadan–Lagos Toll Gate in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer (FRME) for Oyo State, Engr. Olutunde Adepoju, described the programme as a direct implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure safer, more durable, and sustainable roads across the federation.
“This initiative, conceived under the leadership of our Managing Director, Engr. Dr. Emeka Agbasi, through the Public Works Department, marks another milestone in the drive to protect the public facilities of our great nation,” Adepoju said. “We are committed to making our roads safer and more motorable by ensuring clear visibility for motorists, free flow of drainage systems, and proper maintenance of road furniture.”
Adepoju explained that the operation would include clearing roadside vegetation, desilting blocked drains and hydraulic structures, traffic management, and patching potholes along critical corridors in the state. “Our roads remain one of the most critical infrastructures in Nigeria. They connect communities, power business activities, and serve as lifelines for economic and social development. Protecting them is a collective duty we owe to ourselves and the next generation,” he added.
According to Engr. Adepoju, the programme would also provide short-term employment opportunities for local youths, with over 50 labourers engaged along the 43-kilometre stretch currently covered by the project. “We have 50 labourers registered for this operation, their engagement has been properly documented to ensure transparency and accountability,” he explained.
Adepoju thanked the Managing Director of FERMA, represented by the Zonal Director for South West I, Engr. B.O. Aina, and all stakeholders present, including representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). “Together, we can make our nation great and our roads safer,” he added.
Addressing journalists after the event, Adepoju acknowledged that maintaining Nigeria’s extensive federal road network remains a daunting challenge, given limited resources and rising material costs. “If you look at the total number of federal roads in the country, you’ll understand the enormity of the task,” he said. “In Oyo State alone, I have over 1,118 kilometres under my supervision. The government is doing everything possible to make our roads better, but development takes time. We can’t fix everything overnight.”
Adepoju, therefore, appealed for public patience and cooperation, stressing that the agency is working diligently within available means. He also condemned acts of vandalism and sabotage by individuals who deliberately damage newly repaired roads. “People need to understand that these roads are built with taxpayers’ money. When they destroy them, they’re wasting public funds. Protecting our infrastructure must be seen as a shared responsibility.”
Making his speech, Engr. B. O. Aina, the South West Zonal Director, emphasized the need for Nigerians to cultivate a maintenance culture to keep public infrastructures safe and in good condition.
Invited stakeholders present at the event included the Police Commissioner, officials of the FRSC, NSCDC, and members of the Oyo State Park Management System (PMS), who variously commended FERMA for the initiative, describing it as “timely and proactive.”
In his final remarks, Adepoju reaffirmed FERMA’s commitment to sustaining the programme and expanding its scope. “This operation is not just about fixing roads,” he said. “It’s about building a culture of maintenance and safety that every Nigerian can be proud of”, Adepoju said.
Signed
Temiloluwa Osinuga (Corp member)
Edited by Moses Oyelade, AD(I&PR), FIC, Ibadan.
