Following the devastating effects of recent floods across the country, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, has requested for N100billion intervention fund from the federal government.
Managing Director of FERMA, Engr. Nurudeen Abdulrahman Rafindadi sought the intervention fund on Monday when he led his team for the 2023 budget defence before the Senate Committee on FERMA, chaired by Senator Gershom Bassey (PDP Cross River South).
Rafindadi, who was responding to a question asked by chairman of the committee on steps being taken by FERMA to re-fix the washed away roads, said evaluation carried out by the agency, shows that N100billion is urgently needed as intervention fund for road repairs in the affected areas.
He said: “FERMA has more significant role to play in getting things right in the flooded areas in terms of creating access for emergency services or relief materials.
“Without re-fixing the damaged roads across the flooded areas, no relief material or emergency services can be given to victims.
“Evaluation of damages done on the affected roads across the states, have been carried out, requiring N100billion for re-fixing.”
Earlier in his submission before the committee on the 2023 budget, the FERMA boss said N31.6billion envelope was given the agency as capital votes for 2023 fiscal year.
The N31.6billion, he lamented, was not even half of the N70billion appropriated for similar purpose in the 2022 fiscal year.
Virtually all the members of the committee, assured the FERMA boss that legislative intervention would be made towards facilitation of the N100billion intervention fund for road repairs in areas affected by flood.
