The Minister of State for Works, Mohammad Goronyo, has expressed serious concerns over the insufficient budget allocation to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), stressing the agency’s critical role in maintaining and repairing federal roads across Nigeria.
During a budget defence session with the joint Senate and House Committees on FERMA, Goronyo revealed that the agency requires over ₦700 billion annually to effectively maintain the nation’s extensive road network. 
In his remarks, Goronyo highlighted FERMA’s growing challenges due to limited funding, pointing out that the ₦64.88 billion budget proposal for 2025 is far below the required amount.
This proposal includes ₦4.9 billion for personnel costs, ₦33.47 billion for overhead, and ₦26.49 billion for capital projects—a figure even lower than the ₦77 billion proposed in 2024.
He emphasized the need to prioritize the maintenance of major trunk A roads across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for economic recovery and national development.
Providing further insight, Goronyo disclosed that ₦96.7 billion was initially allocated to FERMA in the 2024 budget, later revised to ₦103.3 billion by the president.
However, only ₦41.28 billion of these funds was disbursed, leaving critical projects underfunded.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to transparency and community engagement, stressing that sustaining the road infrastructure would require adequate funding.
“I appeal to this esteemed committee to support the agency in ensuring the sustainability of road infrastructure maintenance.
Increased financial support will allow us to scale up preventive maintenance and promote sustainable road practices,” Goronyo stated.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA, Hussaini Babangida, criticized the practice of prioritizing new road construction over the maintenance of existing roads.
He described the insufficient allocation to FERMA as a major concern, adding that poorly maintained roads could hinder national growth and development.
“If we agree that roads are enablers of growth and development, then stakeholders must collaborate to find lasting solutions to the issue of poor funding,” Babangida said.
Babangida called for a balanced approach, urging stakeholders to adequately preserve existing infrastructure while supporting new road projects.
He emphasized the need for immediate action to address the funding gap, stressing that maintaining federal roads is vital to achieving the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
As Goronyo urged lawmakers to increase financial support for road maintenance, he noted that FERMA is working on revising its policies to generate additional resources and adopt proactive road maintenance strategies.
This, he said, would ensure smoother transportation, enhance economic growth, and meet the needs of millions of Nigerians who depend on well-maintained roads for their daily activities.
