The Minister of State for Works, Mohammad Goronyo, on Wednesday told the National Assembly lawmakers that the N26.487bn for capital cost for the 2025 fiscal year provided for the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for the maintenance of federal highways was grossly inadequate, seeking the lawmakers’ upward review of the provision in the Appropriation Bill 2025 now before them for passage.
The minister, who expressed his views during the opening presentation at the budget defence before the joint session of the Senate and House Committees on FERMA, hinged his argument on the critical role of the agency in maintaining and rehabilitating federal roads nationwide, especially on the materials and labour needed to keep the roads structurally good for vehicular traffics.
According to him, the agency will need over N700 billion yearly to maintain the federal roads nationwide, hence the proposed budget for it this fiscal year is grossly insufficient.
Figures on the budgetary provisions for the FERMA in this year’s Appropriation Bill by the agency’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Maryam Sanusi, indicated that the officials had defended the budget proposal of N64.88 billion, comprising N4.9 billion for personnel costs, N33.468 billion for overhead costs, and N26.487 billion for capital costs.
Goronyo, who is the supervising minister of the agency, recalled that FERMA was initially allocated N96.7 billion in 2024 budget but the figure was increased to N103.3 billion by the President.
The minister explained that in fiscal 2024, out of this sum, only N41.282 billion was released to the agency out of which N40.287 billion was utilised.
He maintained that FERMA remain fully committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in all areas of its operations, using evidence-based data in its decision-making processes and community engagement in road maintenance planning and implementation.
Goronyo, while recalling that discussions during the committee members’ oversight visit to the agency on March 7, last year showed that the yearly budgetary allocation to the agency was grossly inadequate for its operations, estimated that federal roads maintenance this year will cost over N700 billion.
He said: “I want to implore this esteemed committee to support the agency to ensure the sustainability of road infrastructure maintenance. The benefits of increased financial support will ensure scaling up preventive maintenance and promoting sustainable road maintenance practices.
“FERMA is in the process of developing, modifying, and redefining key policies which will generate resources for the Agency to proactively maintain our roads for ease of movement of people, goods, and services. But the yearly budget allocation to the agency is grossly inadequate to cater to the enormous task of maintaining the nation’s extensive network of Federal Roads which will require over N700bn annually”, the minister added.
He thanked the members of the Committees for their unwavering support for FERMA in its maintenance of federal roads infrastructure over the years and pleaded that they consider his request for upward adjustment of the agency’s capital allocation in this year’s budget.
