Roads: FERMA To Partner With States, Private Sector

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency(FERMA) said recently in Abuja that it was partnering with states and the private sector on roads development and maintenance.
Mr Olubunmi Peters, the Managing Director of the Agency, said thisat the opening ceremony of the ``2nd Abuja International Seminar on Street Lighting''.
Peters, who was represented by Mr Ewi Otote, the Director of Engineering Services of the Agency, said plans had also reached an advanced stage to improve the roads architecture and safety, through street lighting.
``We are entering a new phase in which collaboration with the private sector in road development and maintenance will develop fast, as it has in aviation and power supply.
``We also need to adopt a common policy on road planning, design and construction, with all elements of safety considerations, including lighting,'' Peters said.
According to him, the Agency decided to enter the partnership, to standardise road safety through clear road signage, markings and lightings, especially on bridges and critical interchanges.
He said this would allow for clear visions on the roads and also reduce accidents at night.
He said the seminar would focus on how to use solar energy to power the street lights as an alternative means to the epileptic power supply in the country.
Alhaji Ajadi Abdulwahab, the General Manager incharge of Electrical Services in FERMA, said that ``private initiatives on roads and street lightings would be pursued vigorously''.
``With the Federal Ministry of Transport projects added to FERMA's stock, almost all the federal roads in the states will be lit'' Abdulwahab said.