February 23, (THEWILL) – The chairman, senate committee, on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Senator Gershom Bassey has called for the urgent release of N850 billion owed the agency by the federal government.
Senator Bassey explained that the huge sum stems from the 5% user charge for petrol, diesel and international vehicle transit charges as provided in the FERMA Amendment Act No. 18 of 2007.
Senator Bassey who is the Cross River National Assembly Caucus chairman, made this known in a statement made available in Calabar.
He said he had already moved a motion on the floor of the senate to ensure that the federal government do the needful considering state of roads in the country.
“The sum of about N850 billion that is to accrue to FERMA by virtue of the 5% user charge on pump price of petrol, diesel and international vehicle transit charges provided for in Section 14 of FERMA(AMENDMENT) Act No.18 of 2007 is still being owed FERMA by the federal government.”
“Call on the federal government to immediately make good its indebtedness to FERMA in order to enable the agency carry out its primary responsibility of rehabilitating federal roads especially in the face of the astronomical increase in airfares.”
He further stated that, “FERMA had a budgetary approval of just 20% of the funds the agency requires for the rehabilitation of about 35,000km of federal roads in 2022.”
He expressed concern that local airfares in Nigeria have risen by 63 per cent in response to a spike in the price of aviation fuel and attendant cost of operation and it is quite disturbing.
Bassey said “the rise in airfare has pegged the minimum Economy Class ticket at around N80,000 for travelers buying a one-hour, one-way economy tickets.
“That the increase in airfares will increase the pressure on the neglected and dilapidated Nigerian roads and will further worsen the state of the roads,” he said.
He added that he had earlier called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on federal roads to help address the enormous challenges the sector is facing.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
