By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Minister of State for Works, Muhammad Bello Goronyo has noted that over 35,000 kilometres of the Federal Government road networks across Nigeria could not be funded through annual budgets alone, hence the need to source for alternative funding outside the government’s coffers.
He made this statement while addressing the management and staff of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Kogi State Field Office at Lokoja during a maiden visit alongside the MD/CEO, Engr Chukwumeka Agbasi.
In a statement signed by Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director, Press and Public Relations, it was revealed that Goronyo in speaking further on funding for the maintenance of roads, stressed that “about 35,000 kilometres of roads cannot be funded and maintained overnight.
“We have to look for alternative sources of funding so that we can continue to maintain our physical assets, which are the roads. We have to create new ways of funding and new alternatives.”
He assured that the government was focused on ensuring that projects were completed in a timely and efficient manner with robust oversight and contractors’ compliance. He also added “I am calling on all of you to support us to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu succeeds in his mandate to deliver on the eight-point Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We must put Nigeria first before our interests. Let us fix our roads, we must think positively.”
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of FERMA, Engineer Chukwumeka Agbasi commended the Ministry of Works for its determination to ensure that the eight-point agenda of President Tinubu are realised, especially road projects across the country.
He informed the Staff that before the end of the year, there would be an increment in their salaries and appealed to them to continue to support and partner with the Ministry to achieve their targeted goals.
In his remarks, Engineer Muktar Abdurahim the Officer in-charge of the Kogi Field Office, informed the Minister that the office has 37 staff with 25 permanent and 12 casual workers. He disclosed that Kogi State has 16 Federal Government roads with a total of 1,263 kilometres, emphasising that the 2024 nationwide flood incident did not affect any of the roads in the state.
Engr. Abdulrahim revealed that out of six roads under construction in the state, five have been successfully executed, while one is at 60% completion.
He informed the Minister that they were facing challenges such as insecurity, and hyperinflation on the cost of construction materials, amongst others.
Furthermore, the Director, North Central Zone I, Engr Omotayo Awodun commended the Federal Government’s commitment to fixing all the Federal roads across Nigeria, especially those in his zone, he also applauded the leadership style of the Minister of Works for his innovation, where new techniques and stricter supervision are being enforced, like what we are witnessing, today.
