The Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has announced plans to rehabilitate roads leading to estates owned by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), including Festac Town in Lagos, Gwarimpa, and Lugbe estates in Abuja.
During a courtesy visit from FHA’s Managing Director/CEO, Honourable Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, in Abuja, FERMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Engineer Chukwuemeka Agbasi, pledged that the agency would ensure that these roads become motorable.
Agbasi revealed that a team would be constituted to assess the scope of the rehabilitation work, and the project would be included in the 2025 budget appropriation. Additionally, FERMA will explore alternative funding sources to expedite the process.
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Highlighting the long-term benefits of the partnership, Agbasi expressed optimism about improving service delivery for Nigerians. He also pointed to the opportunity for FERMA to develop its land, creating a mutually beneficial relationship with the FHA.
The FERMA MD acknowledged the proposal for collaboration from FHA’s Ojo, noting that it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes housing and road infrastructure development. He stressed the importance of leveraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) to address funding gaps in critical infrastructure projects.
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“The Federal Government’s limited capacity to fully fund infrastructure projects has made PPPs an essential solution. This approach will help FERMA bridge funding gaps, generate new revenue streams, and deliver critical infrastructure efficiently,” Agbasi said.
Earlier, FHA’s Ojo emphasized the importance of the partnership in fulfilling President Tinubu’s agenda of providing affordable housing. He urged FERMA to prioritize the rehabilitation of roads leading to key FHA estates, especially in Gwarimpa and Lugbe in Abuja, and Festac in Lagos.
“Accessible roads are crucial for the success of housing projects, and FERMA’s support will allow FHA to focus on delivering affordable housing to Nigerians, including FERMA staff, who will benefit from these projects,” Ojo remarked.
Ojo also commended FERMA’s maintenance of roads in Ekiti State and estates in Gwarimpa, FCT, and Kano State.
In a related development, Agbasi inaugurated the FERMA Integrated Project Delivery Team (FIPDT), a strategic initiative aimed at addressing infrastructure funding challenges through PPPs