THE Federal Government has partnered with the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), on the improvement of road networks.
The programme seeks to provide funding for federal road networks with the hope of promoting economic growth, support initiatives that help improve the condition of road networks.
UKNIAF Managing Director, Prof Chidi Onyia, who led a team of representatives to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to seek for technical partnership, said the programme is demand-driven and so, requires full compliance of the Agency in areas of close work relationship, technical demands and signed agreement which helps conduct the activities.
The support programme, Onyia added, is for four years with the possibility of a two-year extension to meet its set target.
The Lead, Road component, Mr Bill Mcmahon on his part, said the key areas of support are road sector reform (Road Authority & Road Fund), Predictable and sustainable funding for rehabilitation and Maintenance, Road Asset Management System RAMS (Improved decision making for road investments, evidence-based prioritised the best value for money) and project delivery (review current procedures, identify obstacles to effective delivery, update procedures, reduce delays and cost overruns.
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He stressed that the overall potential outcome of these key support areas will increase the quality of travel time via roads, reduce maintenance and fuel, improve journey reliability, reduce travel cost, improve national and regional economic growth and increase trade and agricultural exports.
In his response, the Managing Director, FERMA, Engr Nurudeen Rafindadi, said the Agency is open to partnering with UKNIAF for technical support which will tremendously aid in project delivery.
The MD added that FERMA and Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF) have formed a strong partnership in the past which include technical support in the use of evidence-based planning for road maintenance investment centred on robust data collection regimes.
He further said that with the partnership the framework for demand-led technical support to FERMA under the current UKNIAF programme has been finalized.
UKNIAF is a Department for Internal Development (DFID) funded technical assistance programme designed to support Nigeria’s infrastructure development with special focus on power, roads, capital budgeting, public partnership infrastructure financing and infrastructure rehabilitation in the North East region.
The dual aim of the program is to improve institutional management and decision-making process regarding social and economic infrastructures, to enhance the institutional environment and structures supporting the raising and allocation of public-private partnership finance.
