BY EMMANUELLA OGHENETEGA
THE Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammad Bello Goronyo, has stated that the budgetary allocation to the Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, is grossly inadequate considering the importance and the enormity of the task it carries out nationwide.
He made this remark at the National Assembly during the 2025 Budget defense by FERMA.
In a statement signed by Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director Press and Public Relations, it was revealed that, the Minister, disclosed that N96.7 billion was allocated to FERMA in the Act of 2024 which was later magnanimously increased to N103.3 billion by Mr. President.
And of this sum, only N41. 282 billion was released from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to the Agency out of which N40.287 has been utilized to date.
For the 2025 fiscal year, FERMA proposed a budget of N64. 88 billion, comprising N4.9 billion for personnel costs, N33. 468 billion for overhead costs, and N26. 487 billion for capital costs. This budget prioritizes major trunk A roads within the six geopolitical zones, aligning with Mr. President’s development and economic recovery objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister further recalled that during the Committee’s oversight visit to the Agency’s Headquarters on Thursday, 7th March, 2024, it was observed that 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 N700 billion.
