FERMA Inspects Federal Road Interventions in Delta, Says Repairs Must Keep Key Routes Open

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has inspected ongoing road maintenance and rehabilitation works across Delta State as part of efforts to assess the progress of interventions on some of the state’s key federal highways.

The inspection team was led by Engr. Dr. Chukwuemeka Maduagwu, Special Assistant to the Managing Director of FERMA, Engr. Dr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi.

The exercise on Wednesday focused on the condition and progress of ongoing remedial works designed to restore damaged sections, improve road safety and keep important transport corridors accessible to motorists, communities and businesses.

FERMA’s mandate includes the maintenance of federal roads, with Delta listed among the states covered by its South-South II operations. The agency has previously identified several Delta corridors for maintenance interventions, including the Kwale–Umutu Road, Asaba–Illah–Ebu Road and sections of the Benin–Asaba–Onitsha dual carriageway.

Maduagwu said the agency’s priority was to ensure that federal roads remain safe and usable, particularly routes that serve as important links for the movement of people, agricultural produce, goods and commercial vehicles.

He said the work being undertaken in Delta was part of a wider effort to address deterioration on the federal road network and improve connectivity between communities and major economic centres.

The inspection also provided an opportunity for the FERMA team to assess areas where additional attention may be required and to determine whether ongoing interventions were delivering the expected improvements.

Residents and road users along some of the affected corridors have reported noticeable improvements in accessibility and safety following remedial works, although continued maintenance remains necessary to prevent repaired sections from deteriorating again.

Maduagwu commended the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu for what he described as increased attention to road infrastructure, while also acknowledging the roles of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, in advancing the federal road maintenance agenda.

He also praised FERMA Managing Director Chukwuemeka Agbasi for pushing maintenance and rehabilitation efforts across the country.

FERMA has said its nationwide maintenance strategy is intended not only to repair failed road sections but also to improve safety, preserve existing infrastructure and reduce the disruption caused by deteriorating highways. The agency's 2026 budget proposal includes significant capital spending for road maintenance operations nationwide.

For Delta, the effectiveness of the interventions will ultimately be measured by how well repaired roads withstand traffic, weather and heavy-duty use, particularly on corridors that carry substantial commercial traffic.

The inspection therefore comes at a time when sustained maintenance is becoming increasingly important, with road users looking beyond temporary repairs to durable solutions that can keep major routes open and reduce the cost and risks associated with travelling on damaged federal highways.