THE Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has officially launched Operation Safeguard the Road (OSGR), a flagship programme designed to enhance the safety and quality of federal roads while creating empowerment opportunities for youths along critical road corridors.
The launch ceremony took place on the Zuba-Giri-Abaji-Lokoja-Kogi State Border Road in Kwali, Abuja. According to a statement by the Director (Information/Public Relations), Hajiya Maryam M. Sanusi (Mrs.), fnipr sent to News Point Nigeria,, OSGR is strategically crafted to improve road safety, reduce travel time and costs, and provide temporary employment for youths aged 18–45 in adjoining communities.
Key components of the initiative include:
Vegetation control to improve road visibility
Drainage management to curb flooding risks
Minor repairs, including pothole patching
Training sessions for participants on road maintenance operations
Payment of stipends to all participants during the programme’s duration
FERMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Emeka Agbasi, FNSE, emphasized that the initiative is aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to reduce poverty, cut down road carnage, and boost economic resilience.
He explained that OSGR would not only meet FERMA’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) but also inspire a sense of community ownership among youths, thereby discouraging vandalism of road furniture and infrastructure.
This is not FERMA’s first intervention of its kind. The agency had previously implemented the Stakeholders Assisted Rights of Way Maintenance Implementation Programme (SHAROW-MIP) and the Stakeholders Assisted Rights of Way Economic Sustainability Programme (SHAROW-ESP).
OSGR builds upon the gains of these programmes, serving as both a social safety net and a vital tool for transforming lives while strengthening road infrastructure sustainability.
The initiative, FERMA noted, represents a bold step in safeguarding Nigeria’s highways while empowering local communities to take part in nation-building.
