UMAHI INAUGURATES 9-MAN FERMA BOARD .... Charges Them To Brace Up To Challenges Of Road Infrastructure Maintenance

Senator Nweze Dave Umahi MON
Hon. Minister, Works

"Road infrastructure is critical to the socio-economic development of our nation. They are the critical sectors that drive economic growth." Umahi

The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze Dave Umahi MON has inaugurated the newly appointed members of the Governing Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA.

Engr. Umah, while inaugurating the Board, urged the appointees to brace up to the challenges of road infrastructure maintenance facing the country and show unwavering commitment to the road maintenance programmes of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Engr. Dave Umahi, newly inaugurated FERMA Board members pose for cameras

At the inauguration ceremony of the FERMA Governing Board, which took place at the Conference Room, Federal Ministry of Works, Headquarters. Mabushi, Abuja on Thursday, 21st December, 2023, Umahi in his address, thanked the President for appointing men of proven integrity and ability into the FERMA Board and also, his approval of the 2023 Supplementary Budget which provides landmark interventions on the Federal roads.

Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi
MD/CEO FERMA

"Road infrastructure is critical to the socio-economic development of our nation. They are the critical sectors that drive economic growth which 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.

"We have a very critical situation with our roads all over the country and for me, the number one thing Nigerians needed like yesterday is good roads. Road is every thing. If we fix our roads today, we will bring down inflation in this country, because bad roads are affecting every aspect of our economic activities." Engr Nweze Umahi stated.

He maintained that 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 is 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.”

It would be recalled that by section 3 of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, (FERMA) Amendment Act 2007, the President had on 13th October, 2023 approved the appointment of the following members of the Governing Board of FERMA and they had been confirmed by the Senate:

* 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

* Engr. Abubakar Bappa - Member

* ACM Shehu Mohammed - Member

* Yusuf Lawal Othman – Member

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mahmuda Mamman 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.

In his acceptance speech, the Managing Director of FERMA, Engr Chukwuemeka Chijioke Agbasi, on behalf of the newly constituted board, thanked Mr 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.