The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA ) Hon. Femi Bamisile has given reasons for the deplorable conditions of roads in Nigeria attributing them to poor execution of contracts and inadequate funding of the agency
The lawmaker also identified low approving power of the agency’s headship as another factor causing slow pace of repairs .
The legislator disclosed that FERMA needed nothing less than N2billion to fix the roads in question but the approving power of the agency’s Managing Director is just N250million .
The roads which had become nightmare to commuters in the last few weeks have literarily cut-off Ekiti from other states in the SouthWest.
Bamisile who represents Ekiti South federal Constituency II dropped this hints while featuring on a Radio programme monitored in Ado-Ekiti .
According to him, the deplorable condition of Roads across Nigeria and especially Ekiti State is unfortunate, appalling and regrettable, hence the need for necessary actions to prevent further damage.
“For instance, to fix some bad portions on Ado-Aramoko-Ekiti- Efon Alaaye Roads requires over 2billion Naira but the approving limit of the managing Director of FERMA is about 250million Naira. Therefore, to fix such Road,a proposal must be submitted to the federal Ministry of Works for presentation at the federal executive Council meeting for delibration .
The lawmaker hinred that the committee is prepared to whip the big stick against such contractors with a view to save Nigerians from untold hardships being experienced on the highways .
He also urged the federal government to as a matter of urgency introduce Weighbridges across Nigeria as part of the measures to protect Nigerian roads from frequent deterioration.
“Though, there are Contractors who also creating hardship for Nigerians through sub-standard jobs, hence the need for thorough scrutiny of all intending Contractors before the award of Contracts.
According to him, the FERMA Committee at the National Assembly during its last meeting had decided to blacklist all the Agency Contractors whose Job cannot last more than three months after delivery of such Roads across the Country.
According to him, the FERMA Committee at the National Assembly during its last meeting had decided to blacklist all the Agency Contractors whose Job cannot last more than three months after delivery of such Roads across the Country.
The development is not to witch hunt anybody but rather to ensure every job being embarked upon by the Agency is up to specification and serve Nigerians better.
“Introduction of Weighbridges will ensure strict adherence of Truck and other articulated lorry Drivers to all rules and regulations guiding loading procedure. The move is to also discourage such Drivers from engaging in excess or overloading which in turn affects the durability of the Roads and Vehicles.
“Weighbridge technique which must be backed with a good legislation will make erring Drivers or Defaulters to be liable to fine which will also serve as another source of revenue for government to repair damaged Roads”.
The former Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly explained that, though many Roads needed urgent attention in Nigeria but blamed the inability of government to rescue the situation on fund crunch or economic doldrums across the World which Nigeria is not exceptional.
“It is to say the least that, the federal and many State governments are gasping to meet some of their responsibilties due to lack of adequate funds, especially since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic which had destroyed economy globally.
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