FERMA, Police partner to secure Abuja-Lokoja-Okene road

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) says it is collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force to combat crimes on the nation’s highways and enhance safety throughout the year.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Mrs Susan Chukwunwem on Saturday in Abuja.

NAN reports that the Managing Director of FERMA, Mr Gabriel Amuchi and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase had a joint inspection tour of the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene road.

The statement said the joint inspection tour was aimed at identifying the black spots along the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene road, particularly the Osara Village, Iruekpe in Kogi.

It said the notorious black spot (Osara Village), with over grown vegetation had been harbouring criminals, who incessantly unleashed their evils activities on innocent road users.

According to the statement, Amuchi said the partnership between his agency and the Nigeria Police Force was a demonstration of government’s determination to ensure safety of roads users.

“What is happening here is a very strong collaboration and because of hoodlums, we need serious security presence and patrol.

“At the end of this clearing, we would improve visibility and sight-seeing and it is going to be a continuous relationship in other flash points.

“We will need collaboration to commence work in safety places and the collaboration is in line with government directive to help Nigerians heave a sigh of relief,’’ he said.

It quoted the IGP as saying that, “this stretch of road has become a source of security concern to us due to armed robbery and kidnapping attacks.

“The Commissioner of Police in Kogi has been working tirelessly but the nature of the forest has given succour to hoodlums who always come out of the forest to attack people.

“All other stakeholders are working tirelessly to ensure that we have a secured environment and the highways are also safe for travelers.

“I decided to seek the assistance of FERMA to see how we can open a space here as part of our security prevention to ensure that the place is safe,’’ Arase said.

He said that the ongoing vegetation control of the identified black spots would be a continuous exercise to enhance motorist visibility to deter criminal acts.

The statement noted that the agency had commenced the monitoring of the right of way through a committee comprising of the Police, FRSC and the NSCDC, to stop further abuse of people’s right of way.