Femi Bamisile, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), says bureaucratic challenge in awarding road contracts by President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has been hindering repairs of deplorable roads.

Mr Bamisile, representing Ekiti South federal constituency II (Ekiti East, Emure and Gbonyin), stated this in a statement on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti.

“The bureaucratic challenge at awarding contracts by the federal government has been hindering the work of the agency (FERMA). For instance, to fix some bad portions on Ado-Ekiti-Aramoko-Ekiti-Efon Alaaye-Ekiti roads requires over N2 billion, but the approving limit of the Managing Director of FERMA is about N250 million,” the legislator said.

He added, “Therefore, to fix such road, a proposal must be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Works for presentation at the Federal Executive Council meeting for deliberation and subsequent approval.”

The lawmaker admitted that there were contractors “who also created hardship for Nigerians through sub-standard jobs, hence, the need for thorough scrutiny of all intending contractors before the award of contracts.”

Mr Bamisile urged the regime to introduce weighbridges across the country.

He noted that they “are carrying excess loads as against the recommended ones which the roads were originally designed for. The deplorable condition of roads across Nigeria, especially in Ekiti, is unfortunate, appalling and regrettable, hence, the need for necessary actions to prevent further damage of roads across the country.”

Mr Bamisile explained that, though, many roads needed urgent attention, fund crunch or economic doldrums across the world had made it difficult for the government to respond.

He added that the regime had been struggling to meet its responsibilities due to lack of funds occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic which affected the global economy.

(NAN)