Oluwafunbi Bello 
President Bola Tinubu
ABUJA, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu directs the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to adopt a preventive, planned and evidence-based strategy to improve the durability of federal roads nationwide.
The directive was delivered on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2026 Roads Summit, themed “Sustainable Road Infrastructure for National Growth”, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, representing the President.
Tinubu tasks FERMA with developing a comprehensive geo-referenced national database of failed and failing federal roads to identify root causes ranging from poor design to axle overloading and climate impact.
“Sustainable infrastructure management begins with knowing the true condition of our assets,” the President says.
He stresses that Nigeria must move away from reactive repairs towards predictive maintenance driven by accurate data.
“With reliable data, we can transition from emergency interventions to long-term planning,” he adds.
The President says a credible road asset database will strengthen budgeting accuracy, contractor accountability and collaboration with research institutions such as the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI).
He notes that while the government is investing heavily in new road construction, maintenance remains equally critical.
“Sustainable road maintenance is not optional; it is essential. Without it, today’s investments become tomorrow’s liabilities,” Tinubu warns.
Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, highlights road abuse—such as overloading and reckless driving—as a major factor reducing road lifespan.
Managing Director of FERMA, Dr Emeka Agbasi, says sustainable road infrastructure requires lifecycle-based planning, predictable funding and institutional coordination.
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Chukwu Obinna 
Otamere Gladness 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 