The Federal Government will soon begin penalizing vehicle owners who cause damage to roads across the country, according to the Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Mohammed Goronyo.
The Minister issued this warning on Tuesday during an inspection of the 58km road repairs being carried out by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) along the Sokoto-Illela road in Sokoto State.
He explained that the government allocates significant funds each year for road rehabilitation and maintenance and will not tolerate the actions of irresponsible vehicle owners who deliberately damage the roads.
“We are launching the ‘Operation Safeguard Our Roads’ initiative, and we seek the support of all stakeholders to achieve the desired objectives,” Goronyo stated. He further emphasized that roads are government assets intended to support a high-quality transportation system that enhances the socio-economic well-being of citizens.
The Minister called on state and local governments, as well as residents, to cooperate with the Federal Government in maintaining the roads and to report any unlawful activities to the nearest authorities.
Earlier, Goronyo launched solar-powered street light projects executed by FERMA at Sultan Abubakar International Airport and surrounding roads. He described the projects as life-saving, aimed at improving security surveillance for public safety, particularly in areas that were previously considered danger zones at night.
In his remarks, Dr. Emeka Agbasi, Managing Director of FERMA, stated that the projects were part of the agency’s mandate to improve road conditions for public use. He also commended the Minister for his commitment to realizing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda of national transformation.
