…Urges prosecution of killers of two Plateau farmers By Henry Umoru ABUJA — The Senate has called on the Federal Government to provide adequate funding for the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to accelerate the rehabilitation of critical roads across the country. The upper chamber also recommended the immediate emergency rehabilitation of the failed sections of the Onyagede-Ogobia Road off the Otukpo-Oweto Highway in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, pending full reconstruction estimated at N15.06 billion. It further called for improved drainage systems, erosion control measures and enhanced security along the road corridor.
The resolutions followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committees on FERMA and National Security and Intelligence on the state of the Onyagede-Ogobia Road. The report was presented by the chairmen of the committees, Senator Ya’u Sahabi Alhaji (APC, Zamfara North) and Senator Abubakar Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North), during plenary on Thursday. Presenting the report, Senator Ya’u said only two kilometres of the 28-kilometre road remained motorable after inspection, adding that severe structural failure, erosion and poor drainage had rendered most sections impassable.
He said the situation had disrupted transportation, economic activities, healthcare delivery, education and security operations in affected communities. The Senate described the road as a federal infrastructure of strategic importance to several communities, states and the country at large, declaring it a national security concern requiring urgent intervention. It urged the Federal Government to empower FERMA to immediately commence emergency rehabilitation of the failed sections pending comprehensive reconstruction.
The Senate recommended general rehabilitation of the road at an estimated cost of N15,056,450,693.21, inclusive of VAT. It also urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to capture the project under its Infrastructure Intervention Programmes in line with the Senate’s earlier resolution conveyed in a letter dated April 21, 2026. The chamber further urged President Bola Tinubu to direct security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the military, to increase patrols and surveillance along the road corridor and adjoining communities until rehabilitation is comple…
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