ROAD is a very important resource ingredient of infrastructure for various important reasons. As a basic factor, it is a crucial part of resource system essential for collective development. Apart from its primary benefits of transportation, it is a key element in global economic rating of nations, as a measure of economic growth and development. Economic development experts’ worldwide, have remained consistent in pushingfor aggressive economic development of nations through diversification, industrialization, human capacity development, careful resources allocation and innovativeness. Despite the wonderful achievements in technology and internet-enabled communication technology/system, ROAD has seen no replacement, as a driver of the much-needed economic growth and development, for its role as a facilitator of transportation. President OlusegunObasanjo, in his inaugural address of May 1999, stated: “… Transport is the lifeline of the economy and social interactions. An inefficient transport system implies stagnation in all sectors. Our priorities in this sector will be the design and implementing a new policy on road maintenance …”
One can only imagine the extent of dependence on ROAD for transportation in Nigeria of approximately 150-160 million people. Expectedly, therefore, the interests and concern are as engaging, vast and expressive, for reasons of economic benefits, social interaction, ease of simple/common movement of people and goods, community development….So the extent of general concern is understood. Personal experience will immediately include the Apapa – Oshodi Express Way and the 3rd Mainland Bridge, Makurdi-Gboko-Yandev road and Ife-IjebuJesa road in Osun State. Reports have thrown up other road users’ experiences with Ekparakwa- Azumini road in Akwa-Ibom State, Lalin Bridge along Langtang- Lalin – Tunkus – Shendam road in Plateau State. Nation-wide, the concerns, experiences and comments are as widely inclusive. These experiences are swayed sharply between sadness and joy, in line with the state and condition of these roads and bridges (so many others that have been rehabilitated along the over 35,00km long federal roads across Nigeria, in the last three years).
The extent of Federal government’s concern and investment on roads – construction, maintenance and rehabilitation – is open to individual interpretation. Records have consistently shown inadequacy in this regard, and to that extent, the general perception has been negative. Understandably however,resource allocation and investment on roads is a function of determination and commitment, especially among developing nations such as ours. The pattern of federal government investment from immediately post-independenceNigeria has been selective, based on urbanization and satellite allocation, economic viability, social impact and population. With the post-military political era, this pattern became tainted with political calculations – the need for representatives to report political gains and benefits.
Notwithstanding the method of resource allocation for ROAD as a component of infrastructural development, it became evident that for meaningful impact, emphasis should shift from road construction to road maintenance (and rehabilitation). Road usage increased as a direct consequence of population explosion and growth in economic activities,exerting excessive pressure on the ‘few’ roads available. It was only a matter of time before the shift in emphasis. There needed to be a deliberate effort to maintain existing roads.
In year 2002, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency – FERMA – was borne(Federal Government Act Number 7, 2002). The Act stipulated the Agency’s mandate: To MONITOR AND MAINTAIN all existing Federal roads in the country, EFFICIENTLY and EFFECTIVELY.As a policy shift of direct consequence, FERMA inherited enormous responsibility. In its ten years of operation since it started operation in 2003, the critical issues of impact assessment and perception have lingered.
In line with its mandate, however, FERMA can be credited with good measure of remarkable success. Especially within the last three years,the Agency achieved about 80% of its achievements since inception. On the whole, 67% of Federal roads (about 35,000 km nationwide), have been put back use as a result of FERMA’s efficient and effective maintenance. This effective intervention includes bridges that had hitherto been in state of near-damage. From between 2003 to date, FERMA has reduced the bad portion of Federal road across the country from 29,750km to 11,900km, representing over 66% ofthe entire federal road network nation-wide(and still counting).
The big test of FERMA’s character came, when it became expedient upon the Federal government, to move power turbines, generators and other heavy power equipment from Onne port, in Rivers State, to Kaduna, in the drive towards increased power generation. The critical issue was deciding between the options of road and air transportation, considering attendant cost implication, convenience at handling and safety. At the end when the federal government made the tough choice of road transportation, Engineer Gabriel C. Amuchi (the MD/CEO of FERMA) and his management team had to prove themselves. As the Agency charged with road maintenance, FERMA had to deliver on good roads strong enough to carry the weight of the turbines and its component equipment, over the distance. As we know, nothing damages roads as much as excessive weight. It was amazing, the amount of competence demonstrated by the FERMA team, to ensure the turbines, batteries and other equipment went through the 950 km road distance between Onne Port in Rivers State and Kudenda Industrial district in Kaduna State. That impressive feat was a result of FERMA’s direct involvement and engagement.
While we commend FERMA’s good showing, it is important to articulate the critical issues that must be addressed, being essentials in complement of FERMA’s efforts atensuring usable or good federal roads, and the gains recorded so far. We must set our goals at optimizing the returns on our collective investment on road infrastructure as a nation. Constant in international economic rating of nations, is the extent of economic growth and development, based on resource allocation. For comparative advantage, therefore, individual nations make deliberate efforts to channel investment into sectors with greater potentials to propel their over-all economic growth and development. Nigeria must be pragmatic in this regard, carefully articulating investment policies and decisions, based on comparatively better reward potentials. With the present team at FERMA, it will cost Nigeria less per kilometer of road over time, to appreciably increase funding of FERMA, for better performance. Let us put in proper perspective the recent successful transportation of those turbines and the other equipment in the face of cost and convenience, as we appreciate FERMA’s relevance in our development efforts as a nation.
Add to that is the Agency’s proactivity and expanded scope of engagement. Today, the Agency has engaged in the production of cold asphalt, to make up for the hitherto persistent shortfall in its supply. Shortage of cold asphalt is largely responsible for most of the portion of roads that should have been patched and covered up. The Agency had to commit its expertise and material resources into producing this very important material for adequate nation-wide distribution, to enable contractors’ efficient discharge of their duty of intervention on surface failure.
As we count FERMA’s gains, however, there is, clearly, a need for attitude adjustment on the part ofroad users, if we must continue on the path of improvement. The average roads user is guilty of road abuse. Apart from excessive vehicular weight on our roads, dumping of refuse, leaking sewage/pipe, cutting across road for purposes of laying pipes and cables, street trading and all such negative practices, combine to pressure our roads towards damage and short life-span. We need to contribute to ensuring good roads, by adjusting our attitude.
That leads us to the convergence point for all stakeholders – the federal government,roads maintenance Agency and the road users: we are almost equally indebted to ensuring usable roads, as we are entitled to the benefits of a network of good roads. Road users must adopt the right attitude, appreciate the common investments we all make to have good roads and commit our collective efforts towards protecting our investment. On the part of government (federal, states and local government), investment decision/policy on roads, must be carefully considered for the common good of all, in the face of scarce resources. Policy on roads must amply be supportive of continuous maintenance, as in the case of FERMA.
The last line: FERMA’s gains can be easily replicated in all the states of the federation if similar agencies are established to complement its role at the state level. Such move will speed up the actualization of FERMA’sOPERATION ZERO POTHOLE campaign on federal government roads, nation-wide.
