Tinubu directs review of FERMA activities
By Matthew Denis, Abuja
The Minister of Works and Housing Sen. Dave Umahi has disclosed that the President, Bola Tinubu has directed a review of Federal Road Maintenance Authority (FERMA) activities to improve the state of roads in the country.
The Minister made the disclosure while inaugurating the Board of FERMA held in Abuja last week.
He said, “The President during the Federal Executive Council meeting has approved the review of the activities of FERMA to improve and give opportunities to them with regards to the state of roads in the country.
“The importance of good roads network is eminent in all the sectors, is it transportation of the petroleum products, agricultural produces, trade and Industry, even in acquiring basic necessities in life like education, hospital and the increasing inflation today is caused by bad roads because Farmers spent time and cost of moving produces to the market.”
According to the Minister, “a rich man can send his children to private schools and private hospitals but he can never have private roads so this is a common thing for everyone of us whether you are rich or not.”
He said, “I want to thank Mr. President just coming to office he has approved supplementary budget for over 216 different sizes of palliatives projects earmarked to address the menace that was caused by the last floods.”
The Minister revealed that contractors will be receiving their awards and going to sites for various road projects in few weeks which underscore the fact that Mr. President understands the plights of the people and he is doing everything within and outside the budget to fix the roads.
“I want to assure Nigerians on behalf of Mr. President that our hopes are renewed in tackling our roads’ infrastructural decays and these roads will be fixed within the next two years. We’ll see massive transformation in most of our roads all over the country.”
While congratulating the nominees of FERMA board he tasked them to do everything within their reach in providing better roads network.
He said, “We have a very critical situation with our roads all over the country. and for me, the number one thing Nigerians needed like yesterday is road.”
The Minister emphasised that the road is everything, noting that if we fix our roads today we will bring down inflation in this country because bad road is affecting every aspect of our economic activities.
The Managing Director of FERMA, Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi on behalf of the Board appreciated Mr. President for the opportunity while reassuring that they will they will work tirelessly to ensure better roads network in the country
