Mohammad Goronyo, the Minister of State for Works, has expressed concern over the insufficient budget allocation to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), emphasizing the crucial role it plays in the upkeep and repair of the country’s federal roads. Goronyo pointed out that the agency requires over ₦700 billion annually to maintain the federal road network effectively across Nigeria.
Speaking at a budget defense session with the joint Senate and House Committees on FERMA, Goronyo highlighted the immense responsibility the agency bears and the urgent need for more funding. A statement from FERMA’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Maryam Sanusi, revealed that the agency submitted a budget proposal of ₦64.88 billion for the 2025 fiscal year. This proposal includes ₦4.9 billion for personnel costs, ₦33.47 billion for overheads, and ₦26.49 billion for capital projects—this figure is lower than the ₦77 billion requested for 2024.
The proposed budget aims to prioritize key trunk A roads across the six geopolitical zones, aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on national development and economic recovery.
Goronyo further noted that in the 2024 budget, FERMA was initially allocated ₦96.7 billion, a sum that was later increased to ₦103.3 billion by the president. However, only ₦41.28 billion was disbursed by the Accountant-General’s office, with ₦40.29 billion having been utilized so far. The Minister emphasized FERMA’s commitment to transparency and accountability in road maintenance, while acknowledging the challenges caused by limited funding. He reiterated that maintaining the extensive network of federal roads would require over ₦700 billion annually.
“I appeal to this esteemed committee to support the agency in ensuring the sustainability of road infrastructure maintenance,” Goronyo urged. “Increased financial support will allow us to scale up preventive maintenance and promote sustainable road practices.”
Additionally, he revealed that FERMA is working on revising key policies to generate more resources for proactive road maintenance, aiming to ensure smoother transportation for people, goods, and services. Goronyo expressed his gratitude to the legislative committees for their continued support and emphasized the significance of road maintenance in achieving the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
During the session, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA, Hussaini Babangida, criticized the tendency to prioritize new road construction at the expense of maintaining existing infrastructure.
“It is concerning that the budget allocation to FERMA is insufficient to address the pressing need for road maintenance,” Babangida remarked. “If we agree that roads are enablers of growth and development, then stakeholders must collaborate to find lasting solutions to the issue of poor funding.”
He called for a balanced approach to both road construction and maintenance, and stressed the importance of preserving existing road infrastructure while supporting new projects.
