The Minister of State for Works, Mohammad Bello Goronyo, has expressed deep concern over the insufficient budgetary allocations and releases to the Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), describing the funds as grossly inadequate to meet Nigeria’s extensive road maintenance needs.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on FERMA during a 2025 budget defense session in Abuja, Goronyo highlighted the disparity between the allocated budget and actual releases. He noted that out of the N103.3 billion allocated to FERMA in the 2024 Appropriation Act—an increase from N96.7 billion following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention—only N41.282 billion was released. Of this amount, N40.287 billion has already been expended.
Goronyo urged the committee to favorably consider the N64.88 billion proposed for FERMA’s 2025 budget, stating that the funds would prioritize maintenance of key trunk A roads across the six geopolitical zones. This aligns with the President’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” for economic recovery and development. The proposed budget comprises N4.9 billion for personnel costs, N33.468 billion for overheads, and N26.487 billion for capital projects.
The Minister revealed that maintaining federal roads across Nigeria requires over N700 billion, according to an expert assessment. He lamented the agency’s perennial underfunding, emphasizing that increased financial support is crucial for sustainable road infrastructure management.
“This committee’s support is vital to scale up preventive maintenance and promote sustainable road practices,” Goronyo stated.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA, Senator Babangida Husaini, echoed the minister’s concerns, questioning the prioritization of new road construction over the maintenance of existing ones. He stressed that functional roads are critical for national development and public demand is overwhelmingly in favor of repairing and maintaining existing infrastructure.
“If we agree that roads are enablers of growth and development, then stakeholders must collaborate to address the issue of poor funding,” Husaini said.
FERMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Agbasi Chukwuemeka, presented the agency’s 2024 budget performance, citing key achievements such as the lengths of roads maintained, potholes patched and reinstated, and bridges repaired. He also outlined challenges including inadequate funding, aging road infrastructure, vandalism, adverse weather conditions, and the need for capacity-building in modern road management practices.
The event underscored the urgent need for enhanced budgetary support to improve Nigeria’s road network, which remains a cornerstone of economic growth and societal development.
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