The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has commenced the clearing of bushes and overgrown trees along the popular Geri Alimi-Offa Garage road in the Ilorin metropolis, the Kwara State capital. The exercise, tagged ‘Operation Safeguard the Roads', is aimed at addressing cases of crime and insecurity in the vicinity.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Tuesday during the road maintenance work, the FERMA State Coordinator, Engineer Onimago Lukman Olusola, explained that the operation is an annual programme of the federal agency designed to provide safe and motorable roads for Nigerians.

"We engaged youths for one month, after giving them orientation and training on basic techniques of road maintenance, in the scope of vegetation control and desilting of blocked drainages. Because this is the rainy season and water is the greatest enemy to our roads, we want water to be out of our roads. We also do minor patching of our carriageway," he said.

Engineer Onimago called on corporate organisations and individuals to view road maintenance as their social responsibility, noting that "organisations like the Olam Flour Mill here should keep the roundabout green at all times."

While inspecting the ongoing patchwork on the three-kilometre Geri Alimi-Offa Garage road, the FERMA boss noted that the road was previously in a bad condition.

"It was filled with isolated potholes and failed sections. So, the agency embarked on direct labour to make it motorable," he stated.

Engineer Onimago also disclosed that the government would look into providing solar street lights on the road, "especially with the security challenges we find ourselves facing in the country now."

He added, "Presently, we are rehabilitating the Tsaragi-Lafiagi road. We have a section of that road that we are working on. That particular section has been bad for around 15 years, and during the rainy season, motorists find it difficult to pass through. So, FERMA, as we speak today, will reinstate that particular section."

The FERMA coordinator, who called for increased funding for the agency to perform optimally, said, "It is our hope that the agency will get more funding, because what we have is not enough to face the challenges of our roads in Nigeria. We hope the government will be magnanimous enough to provide adequate funding for the agency."

Also speaking, some residents of the area commended the federal agency for its efforts in making the environment safe and aesthetically pleasing.

Kunle Lawal, a staff member of the state revenue agency, said, "We used to kill snakes here. It was very, very busy and very dangerous at night for us human beings. So, we really appreciate it. Now, we have peace of mind."

The residents appealed to the federal government to provide solar street lights along the carriageway to address the darkness associated with the road at night, highlighting the severe security risks posed by the overgrown vegetation.

"For instance, people who cleared the bushes at the state Metropolitan Square said they saw four male corpses and that of one lady," they revealed, urging swift intervention to illuminate the area.