The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency on Wednesday calls for an increased budgetary allocation for the agency to enable it to carry out its road rehabilitation mandate more effectively.
The committee led by the Chairman, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, made this call during their oversight visit to the Agency
Engr. (Dr.) Chukwuemeka Agbasi, FERMA MD said the visit of the Committee members was remarkable as it was the first time the Committee was visiting the Agency since his assumption of office.
Highlighting the Agency’s achievements, objectives, programmes and its challenges, the MD gave the Committee members assurance of the Agency’s cooperation in their oversight duties.
Speaking with newsmen after the visit, the Chairman, House Committee on FERMA, Engr. Aderemi Abasi Oseni, appreciated the MD/CEO, Management and staff of FERMA for the various roles they keep playing in aiding the continuous operation and actualization of the Agency’s mandate as professionals. He pledged the Committee’s unflinching support and commitment to the Agency in achieving its mandate.
Engr. Aderemi Abasi Oseni, said “I want to assure you that this Committee will collaborate with the Agency and the Senate as much as we can to take the Agency to the next level as far as road infrastructure is concerned”.
“FERMA plays a critical role in ensuring that federal road networks are safe, efficient, and reliable. However, we must also recognise the numerous problems that have hindered FERMA’s effectiveness in the past”.
He noted that Nigeria’s road networks have experienced a multitude of challenges, including insufficient funding, inadequate maintenance strategies, a lack of modern infrastructure, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
The challenges, he stressed, have over the years, led to deteriorating road conditions, and increased road crashes, culminating in the loss of lives.
“Our task, as members of this committee, is to tackle these challenges head-on and rebirth a new FERMA that works, through legislative interventions,” he added.
The Committee Chairman said the visit which was in tune with their legislative duties of oversight functions was to fraternize with the Management to reposition, revitalize and re-engineer FERMA for effective and quality service delivery so as to ensure that President Tinubu’s objective of road infrastructure/maintenance is fulfilled.
The Chairman acknowledged the major challenge of FERMA in terms of poor budgetary allocation and assured the Agency that processes are ongoing to address the issue. He said, “we acknowledge that funding has been a challenge, we shall make sure that the issue is sufficiently addressed”.
To further entrench the practice of ensuring quality control and quality assurance, the Chairman said his colleagues and members of the Committee have collectively resolved to ensure that FERMA succeeds, and so must avail the Agency the necessary assistance as they will meaningfully engage in putting forth actions that will enhance the success of FERMA operations.
A meeting of FERMA Field Engineers and the Committee members was scheduled to hold at the National Assembly Complex to strengthen the partnership.
