Ekiti Roads: FERMA Addresses Challenges, Assures Citizens of Progress

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in Ekiti State, through its Director, Engr. Simon Adeniran Adeniyi, has provided detailed explanations regarding the difficulties affecting the maintenance of federal roads across the state.

According to Adeniyi, one of the biggest challenges confronting road maintenance in Ekiti State is the heavy rainfall during the rainy season, which makes it nearly impossible to carry out meaningful construction or rehabilitation work. The weather condition has slowed down several ongoing projects and limited the agency’s ability to deliver on its mandate.

FERMA’s Role in Road Maintenance

Engr. Adeniyi clarified that the core responsibility of FERMA is maintaining existing roads, while major reconstruction and rehabilitation works fall under the Federal Ministry of Works. This distinction, he said, often causes delays because some citizens expect FERMA to handle reconstruction, which is not within the agency’s jurisdiction.

Government Commitment to Road Rehabilitation

Despite the challenges, Adeniyi assured residents that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that roads in Ekiti State are fixed and properly maintained. He emphasized that although weather conditions have slowed progress, work will resume in full force immediately after the rainy season.

Several critical federal roads in Ekiti State are currently undergoing construction or rehabilitation, including:

• Ado-Aramoko-Itawure road
• Ado-Ikere-Akure road
• Ifaki-Ikole-Omuo road

These roads are essential for transportation, trade, and connectivity, and once completed, they are expected to boost economic activities in the state.

Funding Constraints and Contractor Challenges

The FERMA Director further explained that another major obstacle is funding. Contractors, according to him, often face difficulties accessing funds for road projects. He clarified that FERMA operates on a performance-based system where contractors are only paid after the successful completion of assigned projects. While this ensures accountability, it has also slowed down the pace of work in some cases.

Citizens Urged to Remain Patient

Adeniyi appealed to citizens to remain patient, noting that the agency is fully aware of the deplorable condition of some federal roads in Ekiti State. He assured them that once the rainy season ends and funding challenges are addressed, progress will become visible across different project sites.

The FERMA Director’s remarks bring relief to many Ekiti residents who have long expressed dissatisfaction with the poor state of roads. With the Federal Government’s ongoing commitment, citizens can expect improved infrastructure, better road networks, and enhanced transportation across the state in the near future.