The House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Aderemi Abasi Oseni has said that Nigeria was in transition from the period of decrepit road infrastructure to an era of linking the economy to the development of strategic transport infrastructure projects.
Oseni made this known at a recent interactive parley with select political editors in Lagos.
“Our findings clearly show that Nigeria is in transition from the period of decrepit road infrastructure to an era of linking our economy to the development of strategic transport infrastructure projects,” he said.
“We have seen existing federal roads undergoing either massive rehabilitation or outright reconstruction both in the North and South. We have also seen the speed at which the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is implementing legacy projects-Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, among others. Also, the resolve of this administration to reconstruct the Ibadan-Ilesha-Akure-Benin Highway is one of such purpose-driven road development projects,” he said.
According to him, “We are privy to diverse initiatives the administration has been taking to connect all states of the federation together. These initiatives, for me, are based on the conviction of the administration that effective transportation is the lifeblood of every economy. Sadly enough, opposition parties rarely talk about the progress we are making as a federation, but always want to leverage the challenges that our party inherited to gain public acceptability and sympathy.
“From what we have witnessed so far and diverse development initiatives already mapped out for implementation, I can tell you categorically that this administration is laying the foundation of a new Nigeria, a truly recalibrated federation founded on competitive economy, efficient governance structure and functional infrastructure. This new Nigeria is gradually emerging. and as witnesses to history, you will attest to its full emergence someday.
“But we must not allow regressive forces to deter the emergence of this new Nigeria, a viable and vibrant nation that will shape not only the future of Africa, but also the global economy. It has started happening already. But we have a responsibility to drive it with more determination.”
Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Oyo State, in the House of Representatives, said that he convened the meeting to give synopsis of their oversight activities on FERMA which he chairs.
“As you know, oversight is a constitutionally guaranteed function of the National Assembly designed to ensure compliance with every legislative intent across all stages of lawmaking. Consistent with our constitutional mandate, we have travelled round the federation, monitoring and scrutinising key federal road projects that fall within our purview as the House of Representatives Committee on FERMA.
“This assignment has also given us the opportunity to see other road infrastructure projects that the federal government has been executing across the federation,” Oseni said.
He said that from the diverse development initiatives already mapped out for implementation, Nigeria is on a path to infrastructure development based on what the committee witnessed across the country so far.
“I can tell you categorically that this administration is laying the foundation of a new Nigeria, a truly recalibrated federation founded on competitive economy, efficient governance structure and functional infrastructure, ” Oseni said.
The Chairman, House Committee on FERMA, also disclosed that the Remi Oseni Committee of Friends (ROCOF), a non-political, non-religious, and non-ethnic forum that brings together like-minds in Oyo State and Nigeria, was convened to effectively communicate the gains of the administration’s reforms to their constituents and Nigerians.
He disclosed that ROCOF is not a rival to the APC, but a movement of like-minds seeking the rebirth of Oyo State and Nigeria where justice reigns, and equity becomes an order.
According to him, ROCOF is committed to good governance, where prosperity is shared and sustainable development is at the heart of its vision. He also disclosed that the group has been mobilising Nigerians for continuous voter registration ahead of the 2027 general election.
“At ROCOF, we have no fewer than 200,000 members who share our vision for the rebirth of Oyo State and who are equally committed to the reelection of President Bola Ahead Tinubu across political divides.
“Unlike 2023 when Nigeria recorded only 26.72percent voter turnout in the general election, our vision is to change the narratives; educate our people to register for PVCs and encourage them to perform their civic duty during the electioneering.
“In the South-west alone, we have a vision to achieve at least 75percent voter turnout and ensure the All Progressives Congress secures nothing less than 10 million votes in the geo-political zone,” Oseni said.
