The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has announced plans to address potholes and carry out repairs on failed roads nationwide as the rainy season approaches. Mr. Godson Amos, the acting Managing Director of FERMA, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The intervention aims to alleviate the hardships and delays faced by road users on a daily basis. Mr. Amos expressed optimism that the intervention would be completed within six weeks, with all potholes and road failures addressed on federal roads across the country.
He acknowledged reports of deplorable federal roads throughout the country, which have caused inconveniences to road users and hampered economic activities. The failures are attributed to factors such as heavy rainfall, which leads to the cutting off of road embankments and collapsing of carriageway sections. Excessive traffic, overloading of vehicles, and aging road infrastructure are also contributing factors.
To execute the intervention, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency plans to deploy direct labor by engaging skilled and unskilled youths from the communities. The agency has conducted route condition surveys and identified critical failures, such as embankment washouts and failed carriageway sections, that require immediate action.
FERMA has developed a monitoring mechanism to ensure effective oversight of the projects nationwide. Management teams will be deployed for inspection and assessment. Mr. Amos called on the media to provide comprehensive coverage of FERMA’s activities and urged stakeholders to collaborate with the agency to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable travel experience on highways.
Funding remains a challenge for FERMA in maintaining the 36,000 kilometers of federal highways throughout the year.
FERMA is responsible for the monitoring and maintenance of all federal roads in Nigeria.
