N700bn Needed Annually to Maintain Federal Roads- FERMA

The Federal Government has disclosed that over ₦700 billion is required annually to adequately maintain the country’s federal roads. This was revealed by the Minister of State for Works, Mohammad Goronyo, during a budget defence session with the Senate and House Committees on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

Goronyo expressed concern over the agency’s budgetary constraints, stating that the current allocations fall far short of what is needed for road maintenance across the country. FERMA’s proposed budget for 2025 stands at ₦64.88 billion, significantly lower than the ₦77 billion proposed for 2024. The budget is allocated as follows: ₦4.9 billion for personnel costs, ₦33.468 billion for overhead, and ₦26.487 billion for capital projects.

In 2024, FERMA received an allocation of ₦96.7 billion, later increased to ₦103.3 billion by the President. However, only ₦41.282 billion of this amount has been released so far, with ₦40.287 billion utilized to date. Goronyo noted that this limited funding hampers the agency’s ability to maintain the vast network of federal roads, which are critical to the country’s development and economic recovery under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister emphasized FERMA’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustainable road maintenance. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to develop policies that would generate additional resources for road maintenance.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA, Hussaini Babangida, criticized the government’s focus on constructing new roads without ensuring proper maintenance of existing infrastructure. He urged stakeholders to work together to address the chronic issue of underfunding, which negatively impacts the country’s road network and economic growth.

With Nigeria’s roads serving as vital enablers of growth and development, stakeholders are calling for increased financial support to ensure safe and efficient transportation nationwide.