From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has commenced moves to rehabilitate all roads leading to estates owned by Federal Housing Authority (FHA) such as Festac Town, in Lagos; Gwarimpa and Lugbe estates.
Speaking when the Managing Director/CEO, of FHA, Honourable Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, paid him a courtesy call in Abuja, the Managing Director/CEO of FERMA, Engineer Chukwuemeka Agbasi, promised that FERMA will ensure the roads are motorable.
According to Agbasi, a team will be constituted to assess the scope of work, and the authority will incorporate it into the 2025 budget appropriation while seeking alternative funding sources.
He further emphasised the potential for FERMA to leverage the partnership to develop the agency’s land, expressing optimism for a long-term relationship that will enhance service delivery for all Nigerians.
Agbasi welcomed the suggestion by the Managing Director of FHA for collaboration saying that it’s in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises the importance of both housing and road infrastructure.
FERMA MD highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating: “The Federal Government’s limited capacity to fully fund infrastructure projects has made public private partnerships (PPPs) an essential solution. By leveraging this approach, FERMA can bridge funding gaps, generate new revenue streams, and ensure the efficient delivery of critical infrastructure.”
Earlier, Ojo had explained that the partnership is key to fulfilling President Tinubu’s agenda of providing affordable housing. He appealed to FERMA to prioritise the rehabilitation of roads leading to key FHA estates, especially those in Gwarimpa and Lugbe in Abuja, as well as Festac in Lagos.
“Accessible roads are critical for the success of housing projects, and FERMA’s support will enable FHA to focus on delivering affordable housing to Nigerians, including FERMA staff, who will be among the beneficiaries,” Ojo remarked.
Ojo also commended FERMA on some well maintained roads in Ekiti State and estates in Gwarimpa FCT and Kano State respectively.
In a similar development, Agbasi inaugurated the FERMA Integrated Project Delivery Team (FIPDT), a strategic initiative designed to address the challenges of funding infrastructure projects through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
