FERMA engages 14, 000 youth on right of way road maintenance
Andrew Orolua, Abuja
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has engaged 14, 000 youth under its on-going nationwide project, tagged: “Right of Way Maintenance Intervention Programme (ROWMIP).”
The initiative was born out of the need to tackle some of the black/bad spots on the nation’s highways that has afforded hoodlums opportunity to operate unfazed and caused several mishaps to road users.
The right of way is 40 meters from the center line. It includes the carriageway, road shoulders and verges.
Deputy Director/Head (Comm./PR) FERMA, Mrs. Maryam Sanusi, stated in a statement that the initiative which has elicited positive feedbacks from stakeholders, is in consonance with the agency’s mandate and the federal government’s drive to gainfully occupy the nation’s teaming youth.
The intervention centers on vegetation control, cutting of over- hanging tree branches to aid vehicular visibility, de-silting of silted/blocked drains and carriageways as well as carting away of refuse dumped on road shoulders.
It (programme) has garnered momentum and cuts across every state of the nation.
“Being in its first phase, a maximum of 14, 000 youth living around the road corridors identified for the intervention have been engaged. Thus, making it a singular government’s project that is taking these number of participants in its wake.
“The participants are viewed as partners with FERMA in ensuring the accomplishment of an aspect of the agency’s mandate,” the statement said.
She explained that the difference between this particular programme and others, “is its implementation strategy, because ROWMIP is labour intensive, designed with a target to provide a sort of safety net for the youth.
“It is more economical than the usual practice of contracting these sort of jobs.
The programme has also encouraged some level of heightened economic activities in and around the areas where jobs are on-going. Beneficiaries get paid through their personal bank accounts thereby imbibing the banking culture.
“At the successful completion of the first phase of the intervention programme, it is the goal of the agency to embark on a second phase. Though, this will depend largely on availability of funds,” she added.
