Minister Decries Inadequate Budget for Road Maintenance, Appeals for Increased Funding in 2025
The Minister of State for Works, Mohammad Bello Goronyo, has expressed concern over the insufficient budget allocation for road maintenance in Nigeria, urging the Senate to approve a more adequate sum for the Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). Speaking before the Senate Committee on FERMA in Abuja, Goronyo described the funds allocated to the agency as grossly inadequate, given the vast responsibility of maintaining the country’s road infrastructure, which spans all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In his presentation, the minister highlighted that the 2024 Appropriation Act allocated N96.7 billion to FERMA, a sum later increased to N103.3 billion following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention. However, Goronyo revealed that only N41.282 billion of that amount was actually released by the Accountant General’s office, with N40.287 billion already expended on the agency’s operations.
He appealed for the approval of N64.88 billion in the 2025 budget to help tackle the maintenance of critical public roads, many of which are in poor condition. This proposed budget includes N4.9 billion for personnel costs, N33.468 billion for overhead costs, and N26.487 billion for capital expenses.
Goronyo emphasized that the proposed budget aligns with President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” prioritizing major trunk A roads in all six geopolitical zones. The minister also referenced a past oversight visit by the Senate Committee on FERMA, where experts assessed the road maintenance task and concluded that over N700 billion would be required to maintain federal roads across the country.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA, Senator Babangida Husaini, expressed disappointment at the underfunding of the agency. He questioned why so much focus was placed on constructing new roads while existing roads, which are vital for the nation’s development, were left in disrepair. Husaini stressed the need for coordinated efforts with all stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the problem of inadequate funding for road maintenance.
FERMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Agbasi Chukwuemeka, also shared insights on the agency’s 2024 budget performance. He outlined key performance indicators (KPIs) related to the maintenance of roads, including the length of roads maintained, the area of potholes patched, and the number of jobs created. Chukwuemeka identified several challenges facing the agency, including insufficient funding, deteriorating road conditions, vandalism, and the impact of climate change on road infrastructure.
The minister and other officials urged the Senate Committee to provide the necessary support for FERMA to ensure the sustainability of Nigeria’s road infrastructure.
