The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has pledged to revamp the agency to meet the needs of Nigerians.

The chairman of the committee, Aderemi Oseni, said this Thursday at an interactive session with the management of FERMA in Abuja. He said Nigerian roads were deplorable, resulting in untold hardship for Nigerians and hampering economic growth.

“The image of FERMA in the eyes of the public is one of inefficiency, corruption, and ineptitude,” he said.

The lawmaker explained that the committee’s target was to revamp and redefine the agency to fulfil its mandate effectively.

The legislator stated, “This is a reality we cannot ignore and thus a perception that must be changed, and it is our duty as representatives of the people to take decisive actions to address this issue and ensure that FERMA becomes a beacon of hope for Nigerians.

“Our responsibility as the house committee on FERMA is to uphold this principle by working tirelessly to improve the state of our roads, ensuring the safety and convenience of our citizens. Let me state unequivocally that the 10th National Assembly will not accept business as usual in FERMA.”

Mr Oseni added, “The days of huge budgetary allocations with little or no impact on road maintenance are over; we are here to ensure that every naira spent by FERMA delivers tangible results for the Nigerian people.

“As a supervisory committee, it is our solemn duty to ensure that FERMA operates at the highest standard, achieves tangible results, and serves the Nigerian people effectively.” 

The committee chair stressed that the lawmakers “will demand performance, value for money, accountability, transparency, and professionalism from FERMA, and this House Committee will not hesitate to utilize the full instruments of the law to sanction any misdeeds that come to our attention.”

(NAN)