By Jabiru Hassan
The Honourable Minister of State for Works, overseeing the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Bello Mohammad Goronyo, Esq., has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his ongoing commitment to road infrastructure development nationwide under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister made this statement on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, while inspecting the Keffi – Gitata – Kaduna State Border Road and the Keffi – Gitata – Shendam (Plateau State Border Road) in Nasarawa State, accompanied by the Managing Director/CEO of FERMA, Dr. Emeka Agbasi, FNSE.
These projects, which involve both contract and direct labour maintenance, are part of the 2022–2024 budget year and cover 193.62 km of road repairs and recovery in Nasarawa State. The ongoing work highlights the importance of continuous federal intervention in road infrastructure, a need echoed by citizens across the nation.
In his briefing, Engr. Aliyu Mohammed, the Nasarawa State Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer, explained that the state’s Federal Roads Maintenance Office has focused on major federal road interventions, including preventive maintenance and the recovery of distressed and collapsed sections. Additional efforts include shoulder repairs, embankment stabilization, desilting, and the construction of adequate drainage and hydraulic structures to mitigate flooding and preserve road integrity.
Dr. Emeka Agbasi, the Managing Director/CEO of FERMA, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Minister Goronyo for their support of the agency. He acknowledged the ongoing challenges FERMA faces, including high construction material costs, road abuses, the need for training and re-training, and limited budget allocations. Despite these challenges, Agbasi emphasized FERMA’s commitment to delivering quality road infrastructure as a key element in promoting national development and improving the lives of Nigerians.
