13-yr Apo-Karshi road to be completed in 7 months – Wike

• …blames politics for delay

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike has pledged to ensure the completion of Apo-Karshi road project within six to seven months period, about 13 years after it was awarded.

Wike however, attributed the delay of the project to political interest in the process, with connivance of the staff of the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), who are allegedly part of the culprits.

The Minister, who spoke yesterday during an on-the-spot inspection of the project site, expressed doubt about the capacity of the contractor to finish the long-stalled project, despite the government paying 86% of its contract value.

He however, assured that in line with the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the government will make everything possible to see that the Karshi to Apo road is completed.

According to him:”It is very unfortunate that for 13 good years, this road has been abandoned. I want to say clearly that part of the problem is politics. Everything we politicise, and that’s why the development cannot quickly get to our people.

“My doubt is about the capacity of the contractor. I don’t need to be told, when the equipment on the project site. We have been to several sites, all of us can attest to the fact that when you see equipment, you will believe that can finish the project.

“But, this I don’t believe even if you they put all the resources down, and if you go and terminate the contract , then you also have to pay the cost of it. So these are the problems.

“I want to urge the contractor that it will no longer be business as usual. I don’t care who your are and where you come from, you must show that you will be serious, and in the next few weeks, I want to see your equipment on ground before funds will be released; I’m going not release funds when I don’t that capacity. This is not the citizens bargained for.

“Look at the way that they awarded the jobs, you can see the political interest in the whole thing, with connivance of the staff of the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), they are part of the culprits.”

He continued: “I will take this road as a personal project now, to make sure that we complete the project.

“I want to appeal to the communities to bear with us as the renewed hope is serious, and will put things together to make sure that they will be happier at the end of the, that’s why we are here.”