The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA has denied allegations that the 5,000 youths are currently being trained in Lagos State as political thugs in preparation for the 2015 general elections.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Raji Babatunde Fshola had expressed concern over the emergence of the illegal task force in a a recent interview with Vanguard.
But FERMA has denied having anything to do with the youths. Assist. Director/Head (Communications and Public Relations Unit), Mrs. Maryam M. Sanusi said the agency had been very disturbed since it learnt about the existence of the youths using FERRMA and has reported the matter to the appropriate authority.
“Specifically, upon learning of the existence of a group last year, which goes by the title “Federal Task Force”, using the name of FERMA to defraud members of the public, the Management of the Agency wrote to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG in charge of Zone Two, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State as well as the Executive Governor of Lagos State, through the Commissioner of Works, to dissociate the Agency from the said group,” she said.
“The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA therefore wishes to state categorically that the Agency has operations in all 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with the objective of maintaining and keeping all Federal roads and highways in the country in good, safe and motorable condition as well as check against indiscriminate road abuse.
Our vision and mission in Lagos State is the same as everywhere else in the country and we have not at any time set up a scheme under the name of FERMA Trainees in our Lagos operations or anywhere else in the country, nor have we commissioned anybody or bodies to do so on our behalf, as FERMA is not involved in any form of militancy,” she said.
Source: Vanguard
