Minister decries underfunding of FERMA, proposes N64.88b

The Minister of State for Works, Mohammad B. Goronyo, has decried the budgetary allocation to the Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), stating it is grossly inadequate considering its importance in road infrastructure countrywide.

Goronyo made this assertion at the 2025 budget defense for the agency in the National Assembly, proposing a budget of N64.88 billion, comprising N4.9 billion for personnel costs, N33.468 billion for overhead costs, and N26.487 billion for capital costs.

The minister explained that N96.7 billion was allocated to FERMA in the 2024 Appropriation Act, which was later increased to N103.3 billion by the President. However, only N41.282 billion was released by the Accountant General of the Federation, of which N40.287 billion has been utilized to date.

“This budget prioritises major trunk A roads within the six geopolitical zones, aligning with Mr President’s development and economic recovery objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he stressed.

He recalled that during the committee’s oversight visit to the agency’s headquarters, it was observed that the yearly budget allocation to FERMA is grossly inadequate to maintain the nation’s extensive network of federal roads, which would require over N700 billion.

According to Goronyo, the amount proposed for 2025 is significantly lower than the 2024 appropriation. He implored the committee to support the agency to ensure the sustainability of road infrastructure maintenance.

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“The benefits of increased financial support will ensure scaling up preventive maintenance and promoting sustainable road maintenance practices,” the minister concluded.

Earlier, Chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA, Senator Babangida Husaini, expressed concern over the proposed budgetary allocation to FERMA, questioning why so much attention is given to the construction of new roads at the expense of maintaining existing ones.

He said that Nigerians are daily crying and yearning for the repairs and maintenance of existing roads to facilitate both their movements and the transportation of goods.

“If we agree that roads are enablers of growth and development, then there must be a need to interface with all to find lasting solutions to this perennial issue of poor funding,” he stated.

On his part, Managing Director of FERMA, Agbasi Chukwuemeka, presented details of the 2024 budget performance in line with its Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which include the length of roads maintained.

He regretted that inadequate budgetary allocation, distressed aged pavement, damages, vandalisation of structures, pronounced climate change issues, adverse weather conditions, and the need to upscale the Human Resource Department to modern trends in road management remain significant challenges.