FERMA partners Army on road security

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency(FERMA) said it partnering with the Nigeria Army on road security.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director, FERMA, Engr. Nuruddeen A. Rafindadi, during the courtesy call by led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai to theb Agency recently in Abuja.
Engr.Rafindadi said FERMA has always considered itself as part and parcel of Nigeria security as the road network across the nation is a framework of Nigeria security architecture. ‘’when I go out to seek for fund, I always try to make a point that funding of road maintenance in Nigeria should be given a priority that is given to security because roads are part of the security network’’
This was contained in a statement signed by Maryam M. Sanusi (Mrs.) Deputy Director/Head (Comm./PR) that FERMA is one of the Federal agencies that is on ground in every part of the country including the North East even during the worst time of security challenges. He said FERMA is proud that in all its activities in the North East the Army has given it a great support as there have not been any major incident even though we work under precarious condition.
The Managing Director/CEO, FERMA said the Agency was glad partner with Army and hope the visit will strengthen it further in order to ease the security situation in the country. He appreciated the Army in general and the Chief of Army Staff in particular for having kept Nigeria in safer state from 2015 till date.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff ,Lt Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai ,said the visit to the Agency was for two reason which are to congratulate the MD on the giant stride the Agency has made in the maintenance of road and solidify the partnership they have with FERMA to link roads to rural areas where criminals take advantage of to perpetrate their activities, so that it will be easier for the Army to reach such places to provide security.
The Army boss who said there are some specific roads that are in need special attention includes; the General Maintenance Repairs of Maiduguri – Damboa – Biu Road in Borno State, General Maintenance Repairs of Biu – Wuyo – Gombe State Border in Borno State, Major Maintenance Repairs of Biu – Shaffa – Garkida Adamawa State Boarder Road in Borno State, Rehabilitation/Reconstruction of Maiduguri – Monguno – Baga Road, Borno State, Rehabilitation of Biu – Garkida Road (Ch0+000 – 1+000 Section I) in Borno State, Rehabilitation of Baga Mogo Park Abdu one Mohammed to Songhai Road Junction in Maiduguri, Borno State.
FERMA has also procured more road maintenance works in 2019 that will support and enhance the operations of the Military. These works are at various stages of commencement.
Recently the Military called on FERMA to clear all vegetations on selected Federal routes nationwide and one of it, was the special Vegetation clearance on Abuja – Kaduna express road.