Federal Road Authority to Replace FERMA

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen

 The Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, has disclosed that the Federal Road Authority will replace the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

The minister disclosed this at a two-day workshop to consider the Road Sector Bill in Abuja.

He stated that FERMA was a stop-gap and not meant to be permanent.
Onolememen said: “In 1996 when the conference on reforming the road sector was conveyed, it was agreed that a road authority should be created, along the line interest came in and FERMA was created.

“It is in the light of the forgoing that on the October 18, 2011, I inaugurated the committee for Road Sector Reform, this of course came up with two draft bill.
“The first bill, the Draft National Road Fund Bill establishes the National Road Fund to be supervised by a National Road Fund Board and the second bill is the Draft Federal Roads Authority (FRA).

“This sets up a semi autonomous road agency that will be responsible for the efficient construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of federal roads as well as providing the overall framework and advice for the coordination and the cornerstone of the nation’s economy.

“Best practice around the world indicates that Nigeria cannot overcome its road infrastructure development challenges unless necessary reforms are embarked upon to reposition the road sector and bring it in sync with its technical specification of national roads including state and local government roads.”

The minister maintained that FRA was in line with international best road management practice.
The organisation, according to him, will provide advice to the minister on road transportation and road infrastructure matters.




-- Thisdaylive