Nigerian Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi has disclosed that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a review of Federal Road Maintenance Authority (FERMA) activities to improve the state of roads in the country.
Umahi made the disclosure while inaugurating the Board of FERMA held in Abuja on Thursday.
He said, “The President during the Federal Executive Council meeting has approved the review of the activities of FERMA to improve and give opportunities to them with regards to the state of roads in the country.
“The importance of good roads network is eminent in all the sectors, is it transportation of the petroleum products, agricultural produces, trade and Industry, even in acquiring basic necessities in life like education, hospital and the increasing inflation today is caused by bad roads because Farmers spent time and cost of moving produces to the market.
According to the Minister a richman can send his children to private schools and private hospitals but he can never have private roads so this is a common thing for everyone of us whether you are rich or not.
Umahi said, “I want to thank Mr. President just coming to office he has approved supplementary budget for over 216 different sizes of palliatives projects enmarked to address the menace that was caused by the last floods.
The Minister revealed that contractors will be receiving their awards and going to sites for various road projects in few weeks which underscore the fact that Mr. President understands the plights of the people and he is doing everything within and outside the budget to fix the roads.
“This underscores the fact that Mr. President understands the plight of our people as far as our road infrastructure is concerned, he’s doing everything within the budget and outside the budget to fix our roads.
“I want to assured Nigerians on behalf of Mr. President that our hopes are renewed in tackling our roads infrastructural decays and these roads will be fixed within the next two years . we’ll see massive transformation in most of our roads all over the country.
While congratulating the nominees of FERMA board he tasked them to do everything within their reach in providing better roads network.
He said “We have a very critical situation with our roads all over the country. and for me, the number one thing Nigerians needed like yesterday is road.
The Minister emphasized that the road is everything noting that if we fix our roads today we will bring down inflation in this country because bad road is affecting every aspect of our economic activities.
The Managing Director of FERMA, Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi on behalf of the Board appreciated Mr. President for the opportunity while reassuring that they will they will work tirelessly to ensure a better roads network in the country.
He expressed the commitment of FERMA towards making a visible difference on the road condition and the travel experience of commuters in the country.
Earlier the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mahmuda Mamman Mamman described the newly appointed members of FERMA board as people of proven competence and experience and expressed hope that they would perform in their new assignment.
It would be recalled that by section 3 of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, (FERMA) Amendment Act 2007, the President had on 13th Oct, 2023 approved the appointment of the following members of Governing Board of FERMA and had been confirmed by the Senate:
Engr. Dr. Chukwuemeka Chijioke Agbasi – Managing Director, Engr. lbi Terna Manasseh – Member, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala – Member, Sen. Timothy Aduda – Member.
Babatunde Daramola – Member, Honorable Preye Oseke Member, Aminu Adamu Papa – Member, Engr. Abubakar Bappa – Member, ACM Shehu Mohammed – Member, Yusuf Lawal Othman – Member.