Author: ferma

LETTER OF INVITATION TO WITNESS BID OPENING FOR

THE EXECUTION OF THE FEDERAL ROADS MAINTENANCE AGENCY’S (FERMA) 2021 PROJECTS (PHASE II)

The Management of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency wishes to invite your Organization to witness the bid opening exercise scheduled to hold as follows:

Date:  Friday 10th December, 2021

Time :  12noon

Venue: A-Class Park and Event Centre, Diamond Hall

                along Kashim Ibrahim way, Off Aminu Kano Crescent

                Wuse II , Abuja 

2. Please accept the assurance of the Managing Director’s highest regard.

      Signed

     The Management

The Managing Director, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Engr. Nuruddeen A. Rafindadi, FNSE, has pledged to strengthen the partnership between the Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Association United Kingdom, Nigeria Region (OSHAssociation UK-Nigeria).
He made this pledge on Wednesday 7th April, 2021 when the President, OSHAssociation UK-Nigeria who was represented by the immediate past Regional President and current Chairman, Council of Health of the institution, Dr. Dalhatu Mohammed Ahmed, M.sc, FNIM, FOSHA, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja at the Agency Headquarters.
The MD said, it was important to have a strengthened partnership with OSHAssociation UK-Nigeria because occupational safety was vital to FERMA that maintains offices across the states of the federation. He said safety of staff of the agency is paramount, and so any relationship that will guarantee the safety must be embraced.
He also said that the agency’s current priority is in the area of complying with the Covid-19 safety protocol. This is what informed the constitution of Covid-19 Compliant Committee that is saddled with the responsibility of enforcing compliant in the agency.
Rafindadi further said that the agency has factored elements of safety into all its operations to avoid any serious occurrence.
The immediate Past Regional President, Dr. Dalhatu Mohammed who represented the Association President speaking earlier said he was delighted for the audience the agency has given to them.
He said the association is an independent professional association, with international membership and regional chapters worldwide. ‘’Occupational Safety and Health Association is committed to supporting individual and corporate organization around the world I achieving Zero fatalities at workplaces’’ he said.
Dr. Dalhatu added that OSHAssociation sets standards, support, develops and connect members with resources, guidance, events and training programmes. The body fosters collaboration, research and information sharing on occupational safety principles, and advocate for changes to match national, regional, and global policies to improve occupational safety and Health in workplaces.
He said one of the reason they visited FERMA was to encourage the agency to register as full time member of the association because of the benefits.
Dr. Dalhatu concluded by informing the MD that the association has selected him and other principal staff of the agency for conferment of FELLOW of the association.

The Managing Director, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Engr. Nuruddeen A. Rafindadi, FNSE, today, received the Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, on an Advocacy visit in Abuja.

Welcoming the DG and his team from BPSR, the Managing Director said he was delighted to receive them on their coming to educate FERMA on the activities of the Bureau and to also encourage and commend the Agency on being efficient on its activities.

Rafindadi said the visit was important because it will afford the Agency the opportunity to learn from the success story of BPSR, particularly succession planning in the Civil Service, and procurement processes.

The MD added that FERMA’s collaboration with BPSR was a welcome development; he assured the team that the partnership will endure the test of time as it will impact both organizations positively.

Earlier, the Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi said their visit to FERMA was at the instance of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari who had instructed them to collaborate with Ministries, Departments and Agencies for effective, and efficient operations, and to also reduce operational cost.

Arabi added that he was comfortable with the operations of FERMA as the Managing Director with his team of capable hands has taken FERMA to an enviable status.

According to the DG, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms was established in 2004 as a lead Agency and ‘Engine Room’ for integrated reform initiative, implementation, coordination and harmonization. Furthermore, the DG,  said, BPSR was created based on the need to have an ‘’Engine room’’ that is enabled with the required capability and resources to leverage on local and international knowledge networks and communities of public administration best practices, to support policy, institutional and governance reform processes with required expertise, and good practices on an on-going basis.

Arabi said, ‘’the statutory responsibilities of BPSR was to initiate action on reforms at the public service level, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of Reforms in MDAs, as well as disseminate information on all aspects of public services, amongst others.

The Managing Director/CEO, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Nuruddeen A. Rafindadi, pledges to continue to intensify efforts in ensuring that the Administrative processes for achieving the Agency’s mandate for better and more efficient service delivery are not encumbered in anyway.
The MD made this known while receiving SERVICOM Compliance Evaluation reports from the National Coordinator/CEO SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli and her team today, 10th February, 2021 at the Agency’s Headquarters, Abuja.
Rafindadi, in his opening remarks commended the commitments and efforts of the National Coordinator SERVICOM in actualizing the success of the SERVICOM initiative and the Executive order 001 on transparency in the business environment and promised to take the reports objectively. He added that SERVICOM would be made a strategic stakeholder of the Agency.
FERMA boss while responding to the findings of the reports, disclosed that the Agency in the last three years has established 12 laboratories in the 12 Zones to ensure quality assurance in the roads being maintained across the nation.
However, Rafindadi bemoaned paucity of funds, untimely and inadequate budgetary releases as some of the challenges hampering on efficient discharge of its mandate. He said, despite the challenges, the Agency will not relent in its efforts in ensuring that roads maintenance are carried out regularly to reduce the discomfort encountered by commuters while plying the federal roads.
The National Coordinator SERVICOM while briefing the MD on their findings on the SERVICOM Compliance Evaluation conducted in the 12 Zones of the Agency visited by the SERVICOM team, established that FERMA has performed fairly despite all the challenges confronting her.
She highlighted some of the strengths of the Agency to include; a committed leadership that is focused on achieving the mandate of the Agency, which is improving road network to enhance the economy of Nigeria, and help in bringing road crashes to its barest minimum; regular maintenance of failed sections of the federal roads across the nation; the engagement of youths leaving around some selected federal roads corridors to participate in the Agency’s maintenance works.
Other strengths of the Agency according to Mrs. Akajemeli were robust public relations strategy for information dissemination to the public, strong social media presence such as Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, radio and TV programmes; partnership and collaboration with stakeholders and other Agencies; active and periodic engagements with stakeholders and officers accessibility to members of the public who may have complaints and more.
However, madam SERVICOM also noted some of the weaknesses to include; inadequate budgetary allocation to the Agency and delay in releases of appropriation which negatively impact on the Agency’s operations; old roads due to the expiration of life span as a result of funding challenges confronted by the Agency.
In her conclusion, Mrs. Akajemeli said that despite the efforts of the Agency in carrying out its mandate, the state of federal roads across the country still remain in a poor and deplorable state. She said, “This can be deduced from the common trends in the evaluation findings which clearly points to the fact that some of these federal roads have expired and need to be reconstructed before a meaningful and sustainable maintenance will commence on them, hence, there is need for FERMA and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to work out modalities for reconstructing and handing over the federal roads for meaningful maintenance”.
Launching the Agency’s Service Charter, the Managing Director assured the SERVICOM team that the Agency would continue to adhere to the principles of service delivery while discharging its mandate.

The Managing Director/CEO Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, Engr. Nuruddeen Rafindadi, has pledged close working relationship with the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) for standard road signage for federal highways to reduce accidents and make the roads safer for users.

The MD made this pledge when he received a delegation from the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) led by Deputy Corps Commander, FRCS Signage Plant, DCC Martin A. Dapel, MNSE, Fcai+rss today 2nd December, 2020 at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja.

Rafindadi disclosed that, ‘’FRSC is a critical stakeholder of the Agency and working closely with FERMA to reduce accidents on the roads is imperative.  Road signs and road markings are essential part of safety on our roads and FERMA is ready to partner with FRSC to ensure users’ safety’’

The MD further added that he has observed that products made in Nigeria often times compete favourably with imported products, and even better. He instructed the Director of Planning and Engineering Services to immediately study FRSC’s proposals and schedule the Agency’s requirements with the aim of initiating interactive partnership with FRSC.

The FERMA Boss also said that the cost of the product may not necessarily be an issue, as what is very important was the quality and standard of the product. He said, ‘’ I have seen products from FRSC, they have good products, the prices of the product may not be compared with products from others, what is important is the quality and standard of FRSC products. You can imagine a product bought at a higher price lasting for 15 years and the one bought at a lower price lasting for 3 years, it is just wise that we go for the best product.

Earlier, DCC Dapel in his opening remarks thanked the MD for the audience. He said, FERMA and FRSC have been collaborating since inception. He commended the good working relationship between the two Organizations.

Dapel stated that the purpose of the visit was to inform FERMA that FRSC has a plant that produces signage. He said “FRSC products are of high quality and can compete with world best standard, the signage produced have a life span of at least 15 years”.

He explained that signage are about regulations, warnings, informing and giving direction for proper use of the roads. He said roads without signage are death traps”.

The DCC remarked that since FERMA has been playing a vital role in keeping the roads safe and motorable, it was important that collaboration be made with the Agency as regards the use of standard signage to further enhance the Agency’s efforts in carrying out its duties.

The Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Abubakar Sani Bello has appealed to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to look into the deplorable condition of Federal Roads in Niger State with the aim of maintaining them to ease the movement of users, goods and services across the State.

His Excellency made this appeal today 26th November, 2020 when he visited FERMA Headquarters in Abuja on a courtesy call. He decried the deplorable state of some roads in the State, saying that the users of roads in the State experience tough times in the last rainy season leading to accidents and giving opportunity to bandits to operate without hindrance.

The Governor urged FERMA to as a matter of urgency intervene on Minna-Tegina, Tegina-Kontagora, Jebba-Mokwa, Mokwa- Tegina to make the roads motorable.

The Managing Director/CEO, FERMA, Engr. Nuruddeen Rafindadi, FNSE, in his remarks said he was honoured by the visit of the Governor, adding that the demand to intervene on maintaining and putting Federal roads in the State in good condition for easy movement was valid. He said, ‘’I believe that the roads in Niger State should be of priority because of the importance of the State to the country’’. 

Rafindadi said, ‘’we may not be able to solve all the road problems in the State, but we will identify critical sections and take immediate care of those sections to ease the users movement’’.

The MD revealed that arrangements has been concluded by the Agency to commence work on some roads in the State under the COVID-19 Intervention projects. He mentioned among others the urgent repairs of Kontagora-Tegina Road, special intervention along Bida-Zungeru Road, General Maintenance Repairs of Mokwa-Kainji Road, Special Repairs of Zungeru – Tegina Road, Special Repairs of Zungeru-Minna section of the Federal road along Zungeru- Minna-Lambatta Road and General Maintenance of Kontagora-Chifu-Rijau- Kebbi S/B in Niger State.

The MD said monitoring and maintenance of Federal roads is the business of FERMA, saying that the Agency will continue to make roads across the country motorable to all road user within the limit of funds that is available to the Agency. He said he appreciated and cherished the cooperation from the State, while hoping for more to help FERMA succeed in its work.

His Excellency, responding to questions from the media said he was very pleased with FERMA  because he discovered that all he requested for, has already be planned for and ready to be executed by FERMA shortly.

He said, ‘’The MD is doing well, I hope he will be able to get enough funds to work, I am complaining of 2300 kilometers, he has over 36,000 kilometers to worry about, I am glad that he has given Niger State the required attention.

NIPR NATIONAL PRESIDENT COMMEND FERMA FOR IMPROVED INFORMATION DISSEMINATIONThe National President and Chairman Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Governing Council, Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo fnipr has commended the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency for improved information dissemination as regards its activities.

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Consequent upon the outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic early this year and the need to revamp economic activities which went to it lowest ebb, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has opened its financial bids for the Emergency Maintenance and Repairs of some federal roads nationwide under FERMA’s 2020 COVID -19 intervention programme on Tuesday, 3rd November, 2020 at A-Class Park, Abuja.

The Director, Procurement, Engr. (Mrs.) B.A Ilemore representing the Managing Director, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA Engr. Nuruddeen .A. Rafindadi FNSE, said the Agency sought and obtained from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) a due process ‘No objection’ to adopt restricted tendering method for the procurement of the Emergency Maintenance and Repairs of some federal roads captured under the Agency’s 2020 Appropriation Act (Amendment) tagged COVID -19 intervention programmes.

Ilemore while declaring the bids open assured the prospective bidders that the submitted bids would be accorded the due consideration based on merit and in accordance with the provisions of Public Procurement Act (2007). She said “Transparency, competitiveness and fairness would be our watchword in the financial evaluation and award procedures”.

Representatives from Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Cornerstone Liberty & Love Foundation (CLF) and Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Abuja branch were also present to observe the bid opening exercise.

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) have entered into partnership with the aim of resolving the problems of housing and road maintenance which has consistently given Nigerians, and especially the civil servants cause for concern.

This collaboration was cemented today when the Managing Director of Federal Housing Authority, Senator Gbenga B. Ashafa and his Executive Director (Business Development), Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin paid a courtesy visit to the MD, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency at its Abuja Headquarters.

The Managing Director, FERMA, Engr. Nuruddeen A. Rafindadi, FNSE, FAEng, said the partnership of FERMA and FHA is a force to reckon with because of the personalities involved, and the spread of both organizations which cut across all the States of the Federation. He said the partnership will form a backbone upon which housing and roads maintenance will be further developed.   

Rafindadi said one of his major concern since he took over the headship of FERMA has been the condition of service of the staff, he said, ‘’Since I came to FERMA, one of the main problem that has given me concern is the condition of service of staff, the pay is low, the housing allowance is low, and there is no access to affordable housing as much as one expects’’

The MD further stated that with this partnership, FERMA can help FHA to solve the problem of access roads to their Estates, while FHA addresses the housing problems of the staff of the Agency. He immediately constituted a technical committee to work out modalities to achieving success with the partnership.  He added that the partnership will be effective as both FERMA and FHA are both Parastatals under the  Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, where the Minister is keen on delivering on the President’s resolve to solving the Nigeria housing deficit.

Speaking earlier, the MD, FHA, Senator Gbenga B. Ashafa, said he is happy collaborating with FERMA as the partnership will serve as a model to other Agencies. He said, FERMA can compete with any construction company that deliver infrastructure in terms of roads. He also said that with the array of professionals in FERMA the problem of access roads to FHA Estates will be solved.

Senator Ashafa pledged total commitment to the partnership with FERMA.

Commenting, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, added that FHA believes in the partnership, saying FHA has professionals that will be able to work harmoniously with those of FERMA to achieve the set goals of this partnership.

Engr. Silas Abdullahi Buba, the Executive Director East Operations and Board member representing North Central Zone, in his own comment appreciated the FHA MD and his team for identifying FERMA as a worthy partner.