The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency has engaged 50 youths from Yabo and Sanyinna communities in Sokoto State to maintain federal roads and improve motorists’ safety under its Operation Safeguard the Road (OSGR-II) programme.
The initiative, inaugurated on Wednesday along the Jaredi-Kebbi border road, is designed to improve road conditions, enhance visibility and reduce accidents through routine maintenance activities.
Speaking at the inauguration on Thursday, the Federal Road Maintenance Engineer in Sokoto, Jamilu Sidi, said the programme was aimed at promoting road safety while creating employment opportunities for youths in communities along federal highways.
Sidi said the beneficiaries would participate in a one-month exercise involving the clearing of roadside vegetation and other maintenance activities to ensure safer passage for motorists.
“The idea is to maintain road safety and engage youths, particularly indigenes of the affected communities, in safeguarding our roads.
“Today, we are engaging 50 youths drawn from Yabo and Sanyinna for a one-month programme, thereby providing employment opportunities for them,” he said.
He added that the beneficiaries were expected to work throughout the period to clear roadside vegetation and improve visibility for motorists.
The engineer urged the youths to demonstrate commitment and diligence, assuring them that FERMA would provide adequate supervision to ensure the success of the programme.
He explained that the initiative was the second phase of the programme, following the implementation of the first phase in 2025 along the Sokoto-Niger Republic border road in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
Also speaking, the Federal Consultant on Works, Malam Kasim Maigwandu, described the intervention as a significant step towards reducing road accidents and improving safety on federal highways.
Maigwandu commended FERMA for the initiative and assured that the Federal Ministry of Works would continue to support efforts to ensure its successful implementation.
Similarly, the District Head of Sanyinna, Alhaji Muhammad Sani, praised the agency for involving members of the host communities in the road maintenance exercise.
He said the programme would not only help protect lives and property along the road but also provide economic opportunities for the benefiting youths.
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