House Committee on FERMA Advocates for Increased Budget Allocation in 2026 National Budget
The House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has made a strong commitment to push for significantly increased budgetary allocations to the agency in the upcoming 2026 national budget.
This pledge was made during an oversight visit aimed at assessing FERMA’s ongoing operations in the South-West zone of Nigeria.
Chairman of the committee, Honorable Aderemi Oseni, who led the visit, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of the country’s road infrastructure.
Speaking in Ilorin, Kwara State, Oseni highlighted chronic underfunding as the primary cause of the widespread decay. He lamented that FERMA currently operates with only about 10 percent of the funds it requires to effectively maintain the nation’s roads.
“At its inception, FERMA was properly funded, enabling engineers to consistently carry out road maintenance, while contractors were actively engaged to ensure steady progress,” Oseni explained.
“However, the current level of road decay across Nigeria clearly demonstrates that the existing funding is grossly inadequate and insufficient for the agency to perform its mandate effectively.”
The committee’s visit also aimed to verify the actual progress made against the projects approved in the 2024 budget. Oseni expressed satisfaction with the quality and quantity of work completed, particularly in the South-West region.
“We are quite pleased with the volume of work delivered here. Out of the 21 projects awarded in South West I, all have been completed. In Kwara State alone, five out of eight road projects have been finalized, while the remaining three are still underway,” he noted.
Emphasizing the committee’s commitment to transparency and accountability, Oseni stated, “We are not content with just reports and documentation. Our physical inspections are designed to ensure that the achievements documented on paper correspond with what has been physically accomplished on the ground.”
Supporting these observations, the FERMA Zonal Coordinator for South West I, Mr. Babatunde Aina, also highlighted the challenge of insufficient funding. Aina explained that the limited budgetary allocations restrict the agency’s ability to address entire stretches of damaged roads, forcing it to prioritize only the most critical sections.
“For example, a 9-kilometer road in dire need of repairs may only receive funding for certain critical portions, leaving other sections neglected and vulnerable, which ultimately worsens the overall condition of the road,” Aina explained.
Beyond funding issues, Aina identified several operational challenges impacting FERMA’s efficiency. These include frequent diesel spills on roads, indiscriminate dumping of waste, lack of functional vehicles necessary for effective project supervision, and delays by contractors.
To address these challenges, he appealed for increased financial support, improved logistics, and the provision of insurance coverage for FERMA staff to safeguard their welfare.
The committee urged the federal government to prioritize road infrastructure maintenance in its policy and budgetary agenda. They emphasized that well-maintained road networks are vital to Nigeria’s economic growth, facilitate smoother transportation, and enhance public safety across the country.