Declare state of emergency on federal roads, Senate tells FG

The Senate has called on the Federal Government to declare a State of Emergency on the nation’s federal roads.

The upper chamber is also asking the Federal Government to immediately make good its indebtedness to Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to enable it to carry out its primary responsibility of rehabilitating federal roads, especially in the face of the astronomical increase in airfares.

The resolutions were reached on Tuesday during the plenary session following a point of order raised by Senator Gershom Bassey.

In the point of order, Senator Bassey drew the attention of the Senate to the increase in airfare and the implication for Nigerian roads.

He said local airfares in Nigeria have risen by 63 per cent in response to a spike in the price of aviation fuel and the attendant cost of operation.

He expressed worry that the prices would increase the pressure on the neglected and dilapidated Nigerian roads and further worsen their state.

The lawmaker also noted that FERMA had a budgetary approval of just 20 percent of the funds the agency requires for the rehabilitation of about 35,000km of federal roads in 2022.

However, Senator Bassey observed that the sum of about N850 Billion naira has been accrued to FERMA by virtue of the 5 percent surcharge on the pump price of petrol, diesel, and international vehicle transit charges still being owed to FERMA by the Federal Government.

(Channels TV)