The Managing Director, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Gabriel Amuchi, has stated the agency’s resolve to reduce its reliance on federal government allocation.
Amuchi made this known yesterday at a press briefing where he expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the agency since its inception.
He said recent maintenance works had improved the consciousness and awareness of the public on the need for an efficient road transport infrastructure through a sustainable maintenance culture.
?“FERMA is also making efforts to reduce its dependence on funding from the federal government budget by way of collaborating with private sector through Private Public Partnership (PPP), and mounting border posts like International Vehicle Transit Change (IVTC) to fund the operations of the agency,” he said.
He pointed out that “the number of federal roads in good condition climbed from 15 per cent in 2007 to 27 per cent in 2010; roads in fair state moved from 20 per cent to 29 per cent, poor roads dropped from 30 per cent to 10 per cent and bad roads from 35 per cent to 34 per cent,” adding that “these bad roads are damaged beyond repair and maintenance, hence should be reconstructed.”
He listed the number of roads that had been constructed, repaired and maintained, and the ones that were nearing completion by FERMA, adding that some roads in Zamfara, Birnin Kebbi, Gombe, Niger, Plateau, Imo, River, Osun states had been completed.
?The repairs and pavement strengthening of Ife-Ilesha dual carriageway and Benin-Shagamu road connecting Edo and Ondo States has also been completed and already in use.
Amuchi went further to highlight some of the challenges facing FERMA: “Funding, the inappropriate use of road infrastructure by motorist and the general public, illegal parking of vehicles on our roads, road signs and excess axle loading of articulated vehicles are some of the biggest challenges facing the agency.”
He however urged commuters and the general public to help in the surveillance and monitoring of federal roads and other related facilities and to report to the relevant authorities whenever anyone is found violating the laws guarding road usage to prevent damage.
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