The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has proposed a ₦229.999 billion budget for 2026 to enhance national road maintenance and connectivity, presenting the plan to the National Assembly’s joint committees.
Minister of State for Works and Supervising Minister of FERMA, Bello Goronyo, delivered the proposal during the review of the 2025 Appropriation Act performance and the 2026 budget defense. The proposed appropriation allocates ₦191 billion for capital projects, ₦5 billion for personnel costs, and ₦33 billion for overheads.
Goronyo stated that while FERMA has the technical expertise for its mandate, inadequate funding is its primary constraint. He highlighted that project allocations in the 2026 proposal cover all states, reflecting a commitment to equitable road maintenance. The minister urged the legislature to include FERMA in the distribution template for the 2025 five percent fossil fuel surcharge, as mandated by law, noting this would align with global best practices and boost the agency’s operational effectiveness.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Chukwuemeka Agbasi, reiterated funding challenges and presented 2025 performance metrics. Achievements include maintaining 200.82km of roads, patching 31,574.29 square metres of potholes, making 1,655.89km motorable, constructing 10,311 metres of drainage, reinstating 19 washouts, maintaining three bridges, and installing 4,013 streetlight poles.
Agbasi identified persistent challenges: budget releases falling short of targets, aged pavements, road abuse, climate-related emergencies, and security concerns in some regions. He stressed the need to harmonise the national budget cycle with procurement to ensure dry-season construction, improving timeliness and cost-effectiveness.
Senate Committee Chairman on FERMA, Sen. Sahabi Ya’u, and House Committee Chairman, Aderemi Oseni, commended FERMA’s visible efforts. Ya’u encouraged sustained performance and responsiveness to legislative feedback. Oseni, while acknowledging the need for increased funding, urged FERMA to strengthen project delivery standards and ensure value for money.
The approval of the 2026 budget is seen as critical to unlocking FERMA’s full technical capacity, accelerating road interventions nationwide, and supporting Nigeria’s economic growth and national unity through improved federal road infrastructure.
