The Former Managing Director of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Godson Chimezie Amos, has raised a fresh alarm over Nigeria’s deteriorating road infrastructure, warning that the country loses an estimated $7.8 billion annually due to poor road conditions.
He made this known as the guest speaker at the conference, Annual General Meeting, and fellowship conferment ceremony of the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE), held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Speaking on the theme “Sustainable Funding for Road Maintenance,” Engr. Amos described Nigeria’s current road maintenance model as “unsustainable and outdated.”
He urged the nation to shift focus from seeking new funds to adopting modern, sustainable methods of road upkeep.
Amos noted that Nigeria’s total road network spans approximately 200,000 kilometres, with over 60% classified as being in a state of despair. The impact, he stressed, is most severe in rural areas, where failing roads disrupt livelihoods, limit access to markets, and stifle economic growth.
The former FERMA boss highlighted severe funding shortfalls as a major challenge, revealing that Nigeria currently allocates less than 8% of the required funds for road maintenance, a situation he termed “a recipe for perpetual failure.”
To address this, Amos proposed a “2nd Generation Road Fund”, an autonomous, modernized financing mechanism designed to sustainably fund road maintenance without relying solely on government allocations. He specifically urged the government to dedicate 8% of subsidy removal funds to road maintenance, ensuring consistent, protected financing for repairs and rehabilitation.
Also speaking at the event, the President-in-Council of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) reaffirmed the institution’s support for NIHTE, acknowledging its vital role in national development.
Engr. Rafiu Adekunle Lasisi, Chairman of the Planning Committee for the AGM, expressed satisfaction with the event’s success and called for adequate funding to improve societal infrastructure.
Dignitaries in attendance included Engr. Ifedayo Akíntúndé, a former NSE President, and the National Chairman of NIHTE, Engr. Francis Oriakhi, represented by Deputy National Chairman Engr. Dr. Bola Mudasiru, among other notable engineers and stakeholders.
