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The Federal Road Maintenance Agency has said increased funding under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has enabled it to intensify the rehabilitation and maintenance of federal roads across the country.
The agency also commended Tinubu for the funding support, saying it had strengthened FERMA’s capacity to intervene on critical roads and improve their condition.
The Special Assistant to the Managing Director of FERMA, Emeka Maduagwu, an engineer, stated this during a management monitoring tour of road projects in Akwa Ibom State.
The monitoring team, which is inspecting on-going and completed projects across the South-South region, visited the Ekparakwa-Azumini Road, Ete-Abak Road and the Abak-Ekparakwa-Mkpat-East West Road.
Sections of the Ekparakwa-Azumini Road that were previously characterised by potholes and failed portions have been rehabilitated under FERMA’s SUKUK-funded intervention programme.
Maduagwu said the improvements demonstrated the impact of increased funding on road maintenance across the country.
He said: “The increased funding support from the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has given FERMA the opportunity to do more in terms of road maintenance and rehabilitation across the country.
“Our responsibility is not just to intervene on these roads but to ensure that the work is properly executed and Nigerians get value for the resources committed to these projects.”
The team also inspected the Ete-Abak Road, another project under the SUKUK intervention programme, as well as maintenance works along the Abak-Ekparakwa-Mkpat-East West Road.
The interventions included the treatment of failed sections, removal of unsuitable materials, provision of stone base and drainage infrastructure, asphaltic overlays and carriageway repairs.
Maduagwu said the monitoring exercise was designed to ensure that projects meet required standards and deliver value to road users.
According to him, “We are here to inspect what has been done, assess the quality and progress of the work and ensure that these interventions meet the required standards.
“We want roads that are safe, durable and beneficial to the people.”
The FERMA official further said sustained funding remained crucial to preserving the nation’s road network and preventing premature deterioration.
He added: “We appreciate Mr President for the increased attention to road infrastructure and the funding support that has made it possible for agencies like FERMA to intervene in more critical locations. With sustained funding, we can do much more.”
The FERMA engineer in Akwa Ibom State, Solomon Eluma, also explained the scope of the interventions carried out on the affected roads.
The agency said the monitoring tour was part of efforts to assess ongoing projects, inspect completed works and ensure that government investments in road infrastructure were effectively utilised.
Maduagwu said FERMA would continue to prioritise road maintenance, stressing that functional roads were essential to the movement of people, agricultural produce, goods and services across the country.
