The Nigerian government needs approximately N880 billion each year to maintain the federal road network nationwide, the Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Goroyo, disclosed on Monday. Speaking at an investigative hearing in Abuja, Goroyo highlighted the persistent shortfall in budgetary allocations to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), which has forced the agency to adopt reactive rather than preventive maintenance strategies.
He stated, “FERMA requires an estimated ₦880bn annually for optimal road conditions. Budgetary allocations have consistently fallen short—N76.3bn in 2023, N103.3bn in 2024, while N168.9bn was budgeted for 2025. Though these figures show gradual increases, they remain far below the necessary threshold for sustainable road maintenance.” The minister emphasized that the lack of adequate funding results in deteriorating road conditions, increased repair costs, and disruptions to commuters and businesses. He called for the diligent implementation and timely remittance of the 5% road user charge as a critical funding source to bridge the financial gap.
FERMA’s Managing Director, Chukwuemeka Abbasi, added that the mechanism for deducting the road user charge from petrol and diesel prices has never been implemented by the former Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Authority, now the Nigeria Midstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Abbasi underscored the agency’s struggle with funding inadequacies, which hamper effective maintenance of the country’s vast road network.
The hearing was convened by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the implementation of the 5% user charge for road maintenance. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas recalled that the House had earlier moved a motion to investigate the non-remittance of these funds, stressing the constitutional obligation to uncover violations and recommend measures to prevent further abuses.
Committee Chairman Francis Waive clarified that the investigation is not aimed at increasing fuel prices but ensuring compliance with existing laws. He affirmed the House’s commitment to enforcing all laws passed by Parliament, ensuring agencies and individuals adhere to them.
This development comes amid ongoing concerns about Nigeria’s road infrastructure and the urgent need for sustainable funding to maintain and rehabilitate federal roads effectively.
