Business
FERMA Needs N120bn Annually To Maintain Roads – MD
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has said that it will require N120 billion annually to maintain federal roads across the country.
FERMA Managing Director, Mr Kabir Abdullahi, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja at an interactive session with newsmen.
Abdullahi said that about 60 per cent of Nigerian roads had collapsed when he assumed office last year due to negligence.
“So, FERMA is not only maintaining but also repairing all these roads that have almost collapsed. We are trying to work to see that the roads are motorable.
“The agency is not receiving adequate funds. We need N120 billion annually to maintain and repair the roads.”
The managing director explained that the agency was trying its best “to judiciously manage the scarce resources at our disposal to ensure that the roads are motorable.”
He added that the agency had in the last one year rehabilitated roads across the six geo-political zones of the country by adopting proactive measures.
“The agency is not indebted to any contractor. We have so far paid contractors more than N23 billion.”
On the 5 per cent user charge approved by the Federal Government in 2007, Abdullahi said it would go a long way in improving the condition of the roads.
Commenting on the re-introduction of toll gates across the country, the managing director said that the Federal Government would concession some highways.
He explained that the concessionaires would determine the mode of operations on the affected roads but added that there would be a benchmark to ensure that the concessionaires did not overcharge motorists.
The FERMA boss urged Nigerians to desist from throwing refuse into drains to avoid blocking them.
He said “water is one major enemy of roads worldwide because roads are constructed with underground pipes, so when we block the drains, the water channels too get blocked.”
The managing director pointed out that the parking of trucks on the highways and overloading of vehicles were major factors that reduced the lifespan of roads.
“Our roads are designed to accommodate 30 tonnes of goods but you find trucks carrying more than 50 tonnes of goods. How will the roads last?,” he asked.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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