By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Bello Goronyo, has given directives to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for the immediate rehabilitation of the Loko–Oweto–Agatu Road in Nasarawa State.
According to the Minister, the road is to serve as an alternative route for commuters, in case of the envisaged Abuja–Lokoja flooding.
The directive was issued during a stakeholders’ engagement with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN),
The Minister further disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved several critical infrastructure initiatives, including the urgent rehabilitation of other strategic bridges such as the Carter Bridge, third Mainland Bridge, and Donga Bridge in Taraba State to strengthen Nigeria’s economic corridors and improve nationwide access for motorists.
Speaking at the Minister’s Conference Room, Goronyo underscored the enormous workload of the Ministry, citing major routes such as Abuja–Lokoja, Abuja–Kaduna–Kano, Sokoto–Zaria, and many others across the North, South, East, and West.
Reaffirming the Ministry’s determination to work tirelessly in delivering modern, safe, and durable infrastructure for all Nigerians, Goronyo acknowledged the need for public re-orientation on road usage and enjoined the leaderships of the two associations on dedication, accountability and selfless service to the masses.
“Public office is a burden, and that burden must be discharged with full accountability. There is no time for comfort zones, you must work day and night to deliver on your mandate. This is not a position for enjoyment or status, but for tireless service to Nigerians,” Goronyo stated.
Speaking, the MD/CEO of FERMA, Dr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, outlined the agency’s core focus namely; management of the road network with priority on economic corridors and addressing issues such as vandalism and overuse; and Data Collection, Updating Nigeria’s road corridor map with traffic statistics to guide maintenance planning.
This, according to the Agbasi, was supported by a technical working group tasked with preparing a draft of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The President, NARTO, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, praised President Tinubu’s initiative on the delivery of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, 5 units of 50-seater buses, 20 units of 14-seater buses, and 50 units of 50 -seater buses, which have collectively reduced transportation costs for NARTO operations by over 30%. He also remarked the impact of the Ministry’s collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in enforcing axle load limits, revealing that, effective from 1st October, no truck will be allowed to load more than 45,000 litres, a move expected to reduce road damage and extend infrastructure lifespan.
Similarly, IPMAN President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, pledged full support for the Ministry’s efforts, stating “even a blind man can see this government is doing its best to keep Nigerian roads in order. We stand fully behind your work.”
