The National Assembly has called for a higher budgetary allocation to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in order to enhance the quality of roads in the country.

In a statement issued by Mrs. Maryam Sanusi, the Director of Communications and Public Relations at FERMA, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA, Hussaini Uba, was quoted during a joint sitting of the Senate and House Committees on FERMA. This meeting was held to discuss the FERMA 2023 Performance/2024 Budget Defense presentation.

Uba emphasized that FERMA has been unable to meet the public’s expectations of ensuring that all roads are in good condition and safe for users due to the inadequate budgetary provisions for the agency.

He expressed concern over the deplorable state of federal roads nationwide, highlighting the urgent need for attention to alleviate the hardships faced by motorists.

Uba urged FERMA to enhance stakeholder engagement and public awareness efforts to ensure that its achievements, challenges, and aspirations are widely recognized and appreciated by the general public.

He stated, “The dire condition of federal roads throughout the country is distressing and requires immediate attention to alleviate the suffering of road users. Although FERMA is doing its best with the limited resources available, its efforts often go unnoticed because they only impact a small percentage of the population.”

The National Assembly’s call for increased budget allocation to FERMA aims to address the pressing need for improved road infrastructure and enhance the agency’s ability to effectively maintain and rehabilitate federal roads across Nigeria.