The Senate on Thursday directed the immediate rehabilitation of 74 critical federal roads across the country.
It also called for increased budgetary allocation to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to address the nation’s deteriorating road infrastructure.
The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a report by the Joint Senate Committees on FERMA and National Security and Intelligence on the deplorable condition of the Onyagede-Ogobia Road.
The said road is located off the Otukpo-Oweto Highway in Ohimini local government area of Benue State.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed that an inspection of the 28-kilometre road revealed that only two kilometres remained motorable.
According to him, severe structural failures, erosion and inadequate drainage systems had rendered large sections of the road impassable, disrupting transportation, economic activities, healthcare delivery, access to education and security operations in the area.
The committee recommended the immediate emergency rehabilitation of the road pending its full reconstruction, estimated to cost N15.06bn.
It also called for improved drainage infrastructure, erosion control measures and enhanced security presence along the corridor.
To improve road connectivity nationwide, the Senate adopted the committee’s recommendation for the rehabilitation of two critical federal roads in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, bringing the total number of roads slated for intervention to 74.
During deliberations, senators from Kogi, Lagos and Bayelsa states supported the report and appealed for urgent attention to failed federal roads within their respective states.
However, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), urged lawmakers to focus discussions on the report under consideration and submit separate motions for roads in their constituencies.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) called on the Federal Ministry of Works to prioritise the maintenance of existing roads rather than embarking on new construction projects.
“The federal ministry of works must be properly guided. While many existing federal roads have deteriorated beyond acceptable standards, attention is being shifted to construction of new roads,” he said.
Oshiomhole identified the Benin-Asaba, Benin-Warri and Auchi-Abuja highways as strategic national corridors requiring urgent intervention.
He stressed that regular maintenance of critical roads was essential for national security, economic growth, and the efficient movement of goods and agricultural produce across the country.
The Senate subsequently adopted all the committee’s recommendations, including periodic legislative oversight of road maintenance projects and increased funding for FERMA.
Lawmakers also commended President Bola Tinubu for ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry-Sokoto Highway, describing them as transformative national projects.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed that copies of the report be forwarded to the relevant ministries, FERMA and the appropriation committees for implementation and budgetary consideration.
