Jigawa State governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has charged the National Assembly (NASS) to approve more funds for the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to effectively maintain federal roads nationwide.
The governor made the appeal when the House Committee on FERMA visited him at the Government House during an oversight function in Dutse, the state capital.
Namadi said effective maintenance of roads is critical to sustainable development of the country’s infrastructure such as roads, and adequate funding is needed for achieving the goals.
He said some of the federal roads which need serious renovation and maintenance in Jigawa, but due to inadequate funding, the work remains abandoned over the years.
The governor said the deteriorating condition of Gumel–Megatari Road, Birnin Kudu–Gwaram Road, Kafin Hausa–Kwanar Liman–Hadejia Road among others have serious implications for safety and economic development for Nigerians.
The governor disclosed that his administration completed 25 of the 26 road projects it inherited with a total distance of 330 km last December and 47 new road projects with a distance of 970 km to facilitate the movement of goods and services for growth and development.
The chairman of the committee, Hon. Aderemi Abbas Oseni, commended the state government for the strides it recorded in road infrastructure and prudent management of resources.
“I’ve been to many states, and I must say, from what I’ve seen and heard, Jigawa is truly blessed with a competent leader,” he said.
Oseni said they were in the state to inspect the state of federal roads, the contract awarded, what has been done at the sites and analyse the budget for the projects in 2024/2025 appropriation law.
He said the committee would address FERMA’s funding gaps and prioritise Jigawa’s federal road projects in the 2026 appropriation.
