President Tinubu has directed FERMA to adopt Preventive and Data-Driven Road Maintenance Strategy.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to shift to a preventive, planned and evidence-based approach to road maintenance in order to improve the condition and lifespan of federal roads across the country.
The directive was delivered on Tuesday in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, at the 2026 Roads Summit themed “Sustainable Road Infrastructure for National Growth.” The President also tasked FERMA with developing a comprehensive, geo-referenced national database of failed and failing federal roads.
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According to Tinubu, the proposed database should clearly identify the causes of road failures, including design limitations, poor construction quality, axle overloading, drainage issues, climate impacts and maintenance lapses. He stressed that sustainable infrastructure management must be anchored on accurate data, systematic road audits and strong institutional coordination.
The President called for a clear departure from reactive road repairs to a preventive and predictive maintenance framework, noting that long-term infrastructure resilience depends on knowing the true condition of road assets. He said routine road condition audits, safety audits and post-failure assessments must be strengthened across the federal road network.
Tinubu explained that a credible national road asset database would improve budgeting accuracy, enhance prioritisation of interventions, promote contractor accountability and support research collaboration with institutions such as the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI). He added that it would also align Nigeria with global best practices in road asset management driven by lifecycle costing, performance indicators and resilience standards.
While noting that his administration is making unprecedented investments in road infrastructure, Tinubu emphasised that constructing new roads is only part of governance responsibility, with maintenance and preservation being equally critical.
“Sustainable road maintenance is not an option; it is a compelling necessity. Without it, today’s investments become tomorrow’s liabilities,” he said, adding that maintenance must be preventive rather than reactive, planned rather than ad hoc, and driven by evidence rather than assumptions.
The President further urged FERMA to strengthen collaboration with the Ministry of Works and other relevant institutions to improve outcomes across the federal road network.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, said road transport remains Nigeria’s dominant mode of mobility, accounting for over 90 per cent of passenger and goods movement. He warned that practices such as overloading, reckless driving and unauthorised road use significantly reduce road lifespan and drain public resources.
Goronyo commended the President for prioritising road infrastructure under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing infrastructure as a key driver of national security and economic stability. He noted that Nigeria’s ambition to build a one trillion dollar economy cannot be achieved on deteriorating road infrastructure.
Earlier, FERMA Managing Director, Dr Emeka Agbasi, said sustainable road infrastructure goes beyond construction to effective management and long-term planning. He stressed the need for lifecycle-based planning, data-driven asset management, resilient design standards, predictable maintenance funding and strong institutional coordination.
Agbasi added that evidence within Nigeria shows that improved road access leads to higher household incomes, better access to social services and more inclusive economic development.
