We will give Nigerians better roads to reduce inflation, says Umahi

…Tasks new FERMA board on challenges ahead

By Chris Ochayi

Works Minister, Engr. David Umahi, has said the current administration led President Bola Tinubu will remains committed to fixing Nigerian roads to tackle rising inflation in the country.

Engr. Umahi, who stated this while innaugurating the new board of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, in Abuja, said road is everything to turn around the story of this country.

According to him, “We have a very critical situation with our roads all over the country and for me, the number one thing Nigerians need like yesterday is road.

“Road is everything. If we fix our roads today, we will bring down inflation in this country, because bad road is affecting every aspect of our economic activities.”

The minister , while charging the newly inaugurated members of governong board to brace up to the challenges of road infrastructure maintenance facing the country, also asked them to show unwavering commitment to the road maintenance programmes of the Renewed Hope administration of the President.

Members of the Governing Board of FERMA who were inaugurated by Umahi after been screened and confirmed by the Senate include
Engr. Dr. Chukwuemeka Chijioke Agbasi – Managing Director:
Engr. lbi Terna Manasseh – Member, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala – Member
Sen. Timothy Aduda – Member, Babatunde Daramola – Member
Hon. Preye Oseke Member
Aminu Adamu Papa – Member.

Others include Engr. Abubakar Bappa – Member
ACM Shehu Mohammed – Member, Yusuf Lawal Othman – Member.

Umahi expressed gratitude to the President for appointing men of proven integrity and ability into the FERMA Board and for approving the 2023 Supplementary Budget which provides landmark interventions on the Federal roads.

He further identified road infrastructure as critical to the socio-economic development of Nigeria noting that the critical sectors that drive economic growth rely greatly on road infrastructure development.

He said, “Let me first congratulate the nominees of Mr. President to the FERMA board and to express my gratitude deeply to Mr. President who has found you worthy to do this job.

“The enhanced budgetary provision for road infrastructure under our dear President shows his commitment in changing the narrative of our road infrastructure.

“This underscores the fact that Mr. President understands the plight of our people as far as our road infrastructure is concerned, he’s doing everything within the budget and outside the budget to fix our roads.

“And I want to assure Nigerians on behalf of Mr. President that our hopes are renewed in tackling our road infrastructure decays.”

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mahmuda Mamman Mamman, in his remarks earlier, described the newly appointed members of FERMA board as people of proven competence and experience and expressed hope that they would perform in their new assignment.

Speaking on behalf of the newly constituted board, the Managing Director of FERMA Engr. Dr. Chukwuemeka Chijioke Agbasi, expressed gratitude to the President for finding them worthy to be appointed as board members of FERMA and pledged to discharge their responsibilities with the fear of God and align to the policy of the Federal Minister of Works and also to the mandate of FERMA

He expressed the commitment of FERMA towards making a visible difference on the road condition and the travel experience of commuters in the country.