The National Assembly has asserted that the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is inadequately funded and has called for an augmented budgetary allocation to enhance road infrastructure.
In a statement released in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Communications and Public Relations for the agency, Mrs. Maryam Sanusi, quoted Hussaini Uba, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA. Uba spoke during a joint session of the Senate and House Committees on FERMA while presenting the agency’s 2023 Performance/2024 Budget Defense.
Uba highlighted that FERMA struggles to meet public expectations of ensuring all roads are drivable and safe due to the significantly insufficient annual budgetary allocation. The allocated funds fall well below what is necessary for the agency to fulfill its mandate of maintaining federal roads nationwide.
He emphasized the dire condition of federal roads, urging urgent attention to alleviate the difficulties faced by road users. Uba also urged FERMA to focus on increased stakeholder engagement and publicity to ensure that the agency’s achievements, challenges, and goals are effectively communicated and appreciated by the general public.
He said, “The poor condition of federal roads across the country is unimaginable and calls for urgent attention to ameliorate the suffering of road users.”
“FERMA is doing a good job within the limited means, but it is not appreciated because the bit it is doing is only able to affect a small percentage of the people”
He emphasized that FERMA faces inadequate funding and has called for a boost in the annual budget allocations for the agency.
Additionally, he urged FERMA to ensure effective communication of their achievements and challenges to the NASS Committees on FERMA to foster better understanding and collaboration.
According to the statement, Chukwuemeka Agbasi, the Managing Director of FERMA, stated during his presentation that the roads included in the 2024 capital budget proposal were chosen with consideration for equitable distribution across the six Geopolitical Zones of the country.
He added that “priorities were given to major trunk A roads within the Zones that would key into Mr. President’s priority areas of National Development and Economic Recovery; roads that would massively improve the movement of persons, goods, services, and agricultural produce to boost food security and economic wellbeing of the citizen.”
He additionally stated that the 2024 budget encompasses the rollover of certain projects with completion timelines extending beyond the 2023 fiscal year, ensuring their 100% execution.
The disclosed budget allocated N51.3 billion for the maintenance of 36,000km of federal roads nationwide.
During the presentation, Minister of Works David Umahi expressed that the allocation was insufficient, acknowledging FERMA’s efforts. He called for a review and upward adjustment of the budget, emphasizing the necessity of setting aside a contingency fund for urgent interventions in emergency road repairs.
Umahi reiterated plans to revisit road designs in the country to enhance construction and maintenance, ultimately extending the longevity of the roads.