By Fatima Saka
The Senate on Wednesday had declared a State of Emergency on federal roads and improved funding.
The made this declaration on Wednesday in Abuja during the plenary session, as a result of the negative impact of the 2022 flooding on Nigerian roads and the need for urgent and improved funding of FERMA from service wide vote and NNPC Tax Credit Scheme.
In a motion sponsored by Sen. Basset, Gershom Henry, representing cross river south senatorial district.
Senator Henry said that this year floods are the worst that Nigeria has experienced in decades. Adding that as the rise in water level is more than the 2012 and 2020 episode, that the 2022 floods devastation has further worsened the deplorable state of Nigeria’s federal roads.
He lamented that some major inter-state roads are impassable as water has washed off most parts of the road and
bridges creating economic and human security crises, with the concerned that road transportation is the major means of transportation in Nigeria since air transportation and others are not within the reach of most Nigerians
He decried that the heavy vehicular and human movement of Nigerians associated with end of year festivities will be impacted negatively as a result of the deplorable roads occasioned by the 2022 flood.
In view of the motion, senator Betty Apiafi, representing Rivers West senatorial district said that it is high time to take drastic measures in the intervention of the federal roads. Adding that, 1.9trillion has been slashed from the Federation account should be incorporated into the rehabilitation of roads across the country in consideration of the 2023 budget and further voted 500 Billion.
Also, Sen.Barau Jibrin, representing Kano North Senatorial District said that going by revenue it will difficult to incurred 500 billion voted for the roads construction, and added that the Senate should find other in sourcing for the funds by looking into the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme for the intervention of the federal roads.
The Senate further resolved to Call on the Federal Government to declare a State of Emergency on Federal Roads and improve its funding.
“Dedicate part of the Service Wide Vote allocation of N500 Billion to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency for the urgent rehabilitation of roads ravaged by the 2022 floods; and
“Direct the NNPC Ltd Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme should be expanded to cover
maintenance of failed sections of federal roads.