This was as he noted that a network of good roads can drastically reduce the current inflation rate and the high price of goods and services.
Umahi said this at the inauguration of the board members of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency on Thursday in Abuja.
According to Umahi road infrastructure is critical to the socio-economic development of our nation noting that the critical sectors that drive economic growth rely greatly on road infrastructure development.
He said, “We have a very critical situation with our roads all over the country and for me, the number one thing Nigerians need is durable roads. Road is everything and if we fix our roads today, we will bring down inflation in this country because bad roads affect every aspect of our economic activities. Is it transportation of petroleum products, agricultural produce, trade, or movement of tourism?
“A rich man can send his children to private schools or hospitals but we can never have private roads in this country. So this is a common denominator for every one of us.
“Mr president understand the plight of our people as far as road infrastructure is concerned. He is doing everything within the budget and outside to fix our roads and I want to assure Nigerians that our roads will be fixed within the next two years, we will see very serious tremendous transformation on most of our roads.
“From today, contractors that bidded for that process will start to receive their award letters and many will be going to the site as soon they receive their award letters.”
The former Ebonyi governor further charged the newly inaugurated members of the Governing Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to brace up for the challenges of road infrastructure maintenance facing the country and show unwavering commitment to the road maintenance programs.
“For FERMA, the president has directed a review of your activities. This review is to give authority to some of the directors that represent the zones, what we have today on our roads are boreholes and they develop from pinholes because no one takes care of them.
“The story of FERMA is not very sweet and we will not blame you but we are going to do things differently. There is no improvement on our roads without passion. The day we become patriotic and begin to take public things as if it were our own then we will see tremendous changes.”
Umahi further warned, “Don’t stay in Abuja. If you are staying in Abuja, it may be that you are coming for monthly meetings but you must go around every section of your zone, open platforms, and do weekly meetings with your zonal workers.
“Of course, Mr president will not hesitate to remove any of you that would witness the kind of things we are witnessing now. Where people are staying on the road for seven or ten days, why will the price of goods not escalate? So I charge you on behalf of Mr president just to show love for our people. show commitment to our people.”
He maintained that the enhanced budgetary provision for road infrastructure under our dear President shows his commitment to changing the narrative of the country’s decayed road infrastructure.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the newly constituted board, the Managing Director of FERMA Chukwuemeka Agbasi, thanked the President for finding them worthy to be appointed as board members of FERMA and pledged to discharge their responsibilities with the fear of God and align to the policy of the current administration.
He also expressed the commitment of FERMA towards making a visible difference in the road conditions and the travel experience of commuters in the country.
The PUNCH reports that members of the board confirmed by the national assembly include Engr. Dr. Chukwuemeka Chijioke Agbasi as Managing Director, while Engr. lbi Manasseh, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala, Sen. Timothy Aduda, Babatunde Daramola, Hon. Preye Oseke, Aminu Adamu Papa, Engr. Abubakar Bappa, Shehu Mohammed, and Yusuf Othman as members.
