By Comfort Olayinka
In a startling revelation, the Minister of State for Works, Barr. Bello Mohamed Goronyo, has disclosed that Nigeria requires a staggering N880 billion annually to maintain its federal road network yet the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) receives less than 20% of that amount.
Goronyo made this statement on Monday, June 2, 2025, during a public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the enforcement and remittance of the 5% user charge on petroleum products and diesel, as mandated by the FERMA Act of 2007.
Speaking at the National Assembly complex, the Minister criticized the chronic underfunding of FERMA, attributing it to poor enforcement of the user charge provision meant to ensure sustainable funding for road maintenance.
“FERMA needs about N880 billion each year, but allocations have been drastically lower only N76.3 billion in 2023, N103.3 billion in 2024, and a proposed N168.9 billion in 2025,” Goronyo said.
He warned that this persistent funding gap has forced the agency into a cycle of reactive maintenance, leading to deteriorating road conditions, higher repair costs, and major disruptions for commuters and businesses nationwide.
The Minister urged the full implementation of the FERMA Act and timely remittance of the user charge as a pathway to reversing Nigeria’s road infrastructure decline.
In his address, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas represented by Minority Leader Rep. Kingsley Chinda charged the Ad-Hoc Committee with uncovering the total revenue accrued from the user charge since 2007 and how much has reached FERMA and other relevant bodies.
“The mandate is clear get the facts, follow the money, and recommend sustainable solutions,” Chinda stated.
Committee Chairman Rep. Francis Waive assured that the panel would leave no stone unturned, vowing to recover any misapplied funds and enforce full compliance with the FERMA Act moving forward.
