Senate seeks N500bn from Service Wide Votes for road rehabilitation

On Wednesday in Abuja, the Senate lobbied for the allocation of N500 billion from the Service Wide Votes (SWV) to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, for the urgent rehabilitation of flood-damaged roads across the country.

The Senate resolution followed the passage of a motion sponsored by Senator Bassey Gershom (PDP Cross River South).

Senator Bassey, who led debate on the motion, stated that this year’s floods are the worst that Nigeria has seen in decades, with water levels rising more than in 2012 and 2020.

He also stated that the 2022 floods have exacerbated Nigeria’s federal roads’ deplorable state.

The legislator argued that the justification for the proposed funds is necessary because some major interstate roads and bridges have been washed out, causing economic and human security crises.

Senator Bassey also stated that road transportation is the primary mode of transportation in Nigeria because air transportation and others are out of reach for the majority of Nigerians.

He went on to say that the deplorable roads caused by the 2022 flood would have a negative impact on the heavy vehicular and human movement of Nigerians associated with the end-of-year festivities.

As a result, the Senate directed that the NNPC Ltd Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme be expanded to include the upkeep of failed sections of federal roads.