Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to transition towards a preventive, planned, and evidence-based approach to road maintenance. This directive aims to improve the condition and longevity of federal roads across Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, communicated this directive at the 2026 Roads Summit held in Abuja. The summit, themed ‘Sustainable Road Infrastructure for National Growth’, underscored the importance of shifting from reactive road repairs to a more sustainable and preventive maintenance framework.
As part of the directive, the President tasked FERMA with developing a comprehensive, geo-referenced national database of failed and failing federal roads. This database is intended to identify the causes of road failures, whether stemming from design limitations, poor construction quality, axle overloading, drainage issues, climate impacts, or maintenance lapses. He emphasized that sustainable infrastructure management begins with understanding the true condition of assets and called for systematic road audits and robust data management.
The President highlighted the necessity of accurate data and institutional coordination for long-term infrastructure resilience. He noted that a credible road asset database would enhance budgeting accuracy, prioritize interventions, ensure contractor accountability, and facilitate research collaboration with institutions like the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI). Additionally, it would align Nigeria with global best practices in road asset management, guided by lifecycle costing, performance indicators, and resilience standards.
In addressing the summit, Tinubu affirmed that under his leadership, Nigeria is experiencing significant investments in road infrastructure, driven by a commitment to quality, durability, and value for money. He reiterated that maintaining and preserving existing roads is as critical as building new ones, emphasizing that sustainable road maintenance is an essential, not optional, responsibility.
The President urged FERMA to enhance collaboration with the Ministry of Works and to strengthen routine road condition audits, safety audits, and post-failure assessments across the federal road network. In his remarks, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, highlighted the dominance of road transport in Nigeria, handling over 90 percent of passenger and goods movement. He pointed out that road abuse, including overloading and reckless driving, poses a significant challenge, leading to a drain on government resources.
Goronyo commended President Tinubu for prioritizing road infrastructure and supporting FERMA’s mandate. He noted that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, infrastructure is positioned as a key driver of national security and economic stability, reflecting the President’s vision of building a trillion-dollar economy.
Earlier, FERMA’s Managing Director, Dr. Emeka Agbasi, emphasized the need for sustainable road infrastructure to go beyond construction to include better management. He advocated for a shift from short-term, reactive interventions to long-term, lifecycle-based planning, driven by data and strong institutional coordination.
Agbasi further stated that evidence within Nigeria shows that improved road access leads to higher household incomes, better access to social services, and more inclusive economic development.