From Idris Khalid, Bauchi
Motorists and residents of communities along the Bauchi-Kari road have commended the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for its Routine and Preventive Maintenance Work Programme (RPMWP), saying the intervention has improved road safety and motorability.
The programme, which involved the patching of potholes, clearing of overgrown grasses, shrubs and trees, as well as desilting of drainage channels, was designed to improve the condition of selected federal roads and reduce risks associated with poor road infrastructure.
Speaking on the impact of the intervention, the village head of Buda (Wailo Camp) in Ganjuwa Local Government Area, Abubakar Alhassan, represented by the Chief Imam of the community, Musa Muhammad Musa, expressed appreciation to FERMA for the initiative.
He, however, urged the federal government to extend the duration of the programme from the current one-month cycle to at least three or six months, or make it a permanent road maintenance arrangement.
According to him, the continuous nature of road maintenance requires sustained intervention to prevent roads from deteriorating shortly after repairs.
The village head also commended FERMA for engaging youths from host communities in the maintenance exercise, describing the initiative as an opportunity for residents to contribute directly to the protection of federal road infrastructure while earning an income.
He said 15 youths from Buda alone were engaged under the programme.
Highlighting the importance of the clearing of overgrown grasses, shrubs and trees, Alhassan said the overgrown grasses previously obstructed motorists’ visibility and contributed to road crashes.
“Before this initiative, a relative of ours was struck by a vehicle after he swerved into the roadside to avoid another vehicle. He lost one of his eyes in the process.
“Now that the thickets and shrubs have been cleared, motorists can see one or two kilometres ahead and have enough time to identify and avoid whatever may be on the road,” he said.
Another resident, Sale Yakubu, said the intervention had significantly changed the condition of the road and reduced the risks faced by motorists and residents.
“We are very grateful for this programme because there has certainly been a significant change. Before the clearing work, we faced numerous problems.
“Vehicles used to hit our livestock almost daily because of the condition of the road. But now that the shrubs and grasses have been cleared, there is enough space for vehicles to pass without obstruction, and motorists have a clear view of the road ahead,” he said.
A driver who regularly uses the Bauchi-Kari road, Adamu Ahmed, described the intervention as a welcome development, urging the federal government to replicate similar maintenance work on federal roads across the country.
He said overgrown grasses, during the rainy season often reduced visibility, particularly around bends, while potholes increased the risk of accidents.
“Honestly, this is excellent work. We call on the federal government to carry out similar projects on roads across the country.
“During the rainy season, grasses used to encroach on the road. When approaching a bend, you would worry about hitting a pothole, a person or an animal. But now that the roadsides have been cleared and the roads maintained, we can drive with greater peace of mind,” Ahmed said.
Another driver, Muhammad Auwal Adam, said motorists had previously struggled with potholes and poor visibility, creating constant fears of colliding with pedestrians, livestock and other road users.
He said the intervention had made driving safer and improved the overall condition of the road.
Speaking on the implementation of the programme, Sama’ila Muhammad, who led the grasses, shrubs and trees-clearing operation along the Bauchi-Kari road, said the workers had remained committed to clearing overgrown grasses and removing the debris from the roadside.
He described the intervention as successful and appealed to the federal government to extend the programme from one month to three or six months, or make it an annual exercise.
According to him, clearing grasses along road corridors would improve visibility, enhance road safety and discourage potential security threats, while desilting drainage channels would help mitigate flooding during the rainy season.
He added that the programme would also create employment opportunities for residents of host communities and encourage them to take greater responsibility for protecting federal road infrastructure.
The RPMWP, he said, was aimed at preserving federal roads through routine and preventive maintenance, improving travel time, reducing vehicle maintenance costs and minimising road traffic crashes.
The scope of the work includes patching potholes at critical sections of selected roads, clearing grasses, shrubs and unwanted trees along road corridors, and desilting lined drains to facilitate the free flow of stormwater and reduce flooding.
Under this intervention, 50 participants drawn from Bauchi communities along selected road corridors were engaged for one month, with each beneficiary expected to receive a stipend of N70,000 at the end of the programme to support their households.
The beneficiaries described the initiative as a demonstration of FERMA’s commitment to the welfare and economic empowerment of host communities through job creation and direct community participation in road maintenance.
