THE SENATE HAS CHARGED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY ON ALL FEDERAL ROADS IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS WAS DISCLSOED IN A STATEMENT SIGNED BY THE SENATOR REPRESENTING CROSS RIVER SOUTHERN SENATORIAL DISTRICT, GERSHOM BASSEY, AND MADE AVAILABLE TO NEWSMEN IN CALABAR YESTERDAY.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE FEDERAL HIGHWAYS IN NIGERIA, REQUIRE THE SUM OF ABOUT 215 BILLION NAIRA PER ANNUM, TO REVAMP 3,500 KILLOMETERS OF FEDERAL ROADS FOR 8-10 YEARS, FOR TOTAL REHABILITATION TO BE ACHIEVED.

THE SENATOR NOTED THAT FROM 2016-2020, THE ACTUAL FUNDS RELEASED TO THE FEDERAL ROAD MAINTENANCE AGENCY (FERMA), BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FOR ROAD REHABILITATION AND MAINTENANCE, WAS JUST ABOUT 17 PERCENT OF THE REQUIRED SUM AND THIS WAS PALTRY, CONSIDERING THE EXTENT OF PROBLEMS ON GROUND.

ACCORDINGLY, THE SENATE IN ITS RESOLUTIONS, URGED THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO IMMEDIATELY AS A MATTER OF URGENT NATIONAL IMPORTANCE, RELEASE ADEQUATE FUNDING TO FERMA, TO URGENTLY CARRY OUT EMERGENCY REPAIRS ON ALL FEDERAL ROADS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.