FERMA’s activities on Abuja-Kano Expressway

On a recent trip to Kano from Abuja last week, I was personally hit by this reality. I saw what I term FERMA magic on the road. I forewarned my driver to slow down and be more careful, only to discover that those bad sections of the road have been repaired. The anger in me […]

On a recent trip to Kano from Abuja last week, I was personally hit by this reality. I saw what I term FERMA magic on the road. I forewarned my driver to slow down and be more careful, only to discover that those bad sections of the road have been repaired. The anger in me due to what I thought I would see simmered. However, I was told that not every road falls under the jurisdiction of FERMA. Some are handled by the Federal Ministry of Works and others by state governments. This clarification is illuminating because most times FERMA is made to take the blame that is not theirs due to this disconnect. For instance, a road that has totally failed and requires billions of naira to re-construct does not fall under the purview of FERMA’S responsibility.

In a country where bad commentaries dominate the air waves due to bad leadership and poor management of resources, the agency’s effort must be commended. A friend of mine told me that the agency is widely acknowledged as an emerging saviour to the bad roads in most parts of Nigeria when I raised the issue with him on return to Abuja. Theirs is a success story. He further told me that the the Managing Director, Engineer Kabiru Abdullahi ensures that all contracts awarded are either executed to specification or are revoked. And, that he is down to earth and brutally protective of his integrity. A person of such character trait will go to any extent to succeed. What I saw on television when Engineer Kabiru went to defend the 2011 budget seems to re-enforce this view. The legislators, too, seemed to have applauded their effort.

I encountered Engineer Kabiru Abdullahi, the MD of FERMA and Danburam Kurfi twice. He is humble, simple and humane. This may explain the judicious use and application of public funds in FERMA. The experience he garnered as former Federal Controller of Works in Sokoto and the FCT has shaped his capacity to achieve results.

Dr. Yarima Habu Mohammed, the Yarima Kida of Biu wrote from Abuja.