FERMA targets safer yuletide travel with nationwide road repairs

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has activated operation connect to your destination (OCYD) 3.0 to reduce accidents and ease movement on major highways across the country during the festive period.

Speaking at the flag-off of the exercise along the 36 km Ekparakwa–Azumini–Iwukem road in Akwa Ibom state on Friday, Chukwuemeka Agbasi, the FERMA managing director, said the initiative was introduced to address recurring travel hazards during the festive season, especially on heavily used corridors.

Agbasi said the agency is repairing potholes, fixing distressed sections, and carrying out asphaltic overlays as part of a broader strategy to ensure safer journeys for millions of travellers during the season.

He added that the intervention spans 39 major corridors with teams mobilised across all 36 states of the federation, noting that 10,683 m² of potholes will be patched, 7,392 square metres of failed sections repaired, and 881 square metres of asphaltic overlay completed.

He said the measures will enable the restoration of 85.9 kilometres of motorable roadway nationwide, while it is also expected to generate 1,722 jobs, underscoring its socioeconomic impact.

He said that this renewed push aligns with the federal mandate to maintain all federal roads and keep them serviceable.

The FERMA’s helmsman said the initiative is an urgent necessity, noting that Nigeria’s 36,000-kilometre federal road network remains the country’s most heavily used transport system.

He noted that the intervention is fully in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, which prioritises infrastructure revival, economic stimulation, and improved mobility for citizens.

“By making federal highways safer and more motorable, FERMA is directly contributing to the administration’s vision of a more connected, efficient, and economically vibrant Nigeria,” he said.

“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.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that failures, potholes, and distressed sections on the network are remedied promptly. This programme helps us deliver that mandate in a more targeted and effective manner.”