•Proposes N43,112bn for Wuye Express, N54,954bn for Villa express rehabilitation
By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has disclosed its plans to spend over N30,229 billion for the renovation of the National Assembly complex, even as the Federal Capital authority said it will spend N54,954billion for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Outer Southern expressway from the Aso Villa Roundabout to the Ring Road 1. Junction, including four interchanges.
These were made public yesterday during a powerpoint presentation to the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during an oversight function to the FCTA management.
Also, the Federal Capital authority said it has proposed to spend N43,112billion on the provision of engineering facilities in the Wuye District (Expressway), linking Wuye and Wuse Districts of Abuja, even as it said that N1,110billion would be spent for the renovation of the Federal Secretariat complex (phase one).
In the powerpoint presentation to the Senate Committee m members, the Executive Secretary Administration of FCTA, Shehu Ahmed, said the National Assembly phase Two, popularly called ‘White House’, was completed between 1996 and 1999 by ITB Nigeria Limited, housing both the Senate and House of Representatives, including legislative aides and Staff of the National Assembly.
He said since completion, the building has been left without rehabilitation, hence it continued downward slide.
Ahmed said the present rehabilitation contract was awarded on the 30th December 2021, while the completion period is 68 weeks, and commencement date is 16th April, 2022, and completion date is 15th August, 2023, and at the cost of N30,229 billion. At the moment, the project, he said, stands at 12 per cent completion.
He however said of the total cost of N30,229billion, only N9.317billion has been certified by the FCTA, of which N9.2billion has been paid to the contractor, remaining N21billion.
He said also that the challenges facing the project include an undisclosed additional requests by the National Assembly which he said is not captured in the original contract, but said the request is being currently assessed by FCTA. This, he said is in addition to lack of timely access to the two Chambers of the National Assembly for commencement of work.
Speaking on the N54.954billion Also Villa expressway, Ahmed said the road links Federal Character Commission on the southern flank, connecting the city with the Kaduna – Abuja – Lokoja Federal Highway (A2).
He said the project involves full scope development of about 6.7km of ten Lanes of the expressway from Villa Roundabout to Apo Roundabout.
He said the contract is about 58 per cent completed, adding that substructure progress has been achieved, with the substructure of most of the interchange Bridges completed. He said the road works have equally advanced to asphalt level at some sections of the road.
While explaining that the original cost of the project was N39.829billion, the Administration Secretary said it was later revised to N54.954billion, but that only N24.494billion has been certified, while N24.58billion has been paid, leaving an outstanding of N30.496billion.
He however lamented that inadequate budgetary provisions has been the major challenge to the advancement of the project, just as he said the project has eased traffic congestion at some interchanges like Apo Roundabout and Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway.
Briefing the senators, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Muhammed Bello said scarcity of funds made the FCT administration to prioritize some of the projects in terms of full execution.
“What we did was because of the scarcity of funds, we prioritised key infrastructure projects to get them completed.
“And in deciding to the ones that fit into that category, we looked at the ones that will give the maximum benefit to the maximum number of people.
“All the four projects we visited, you find that they are all road projects that are meant to link one section of the Abuja city to another and that is the whole idea.
“The masterplan has been designed in such a way that they complement each other.
“So if you finish one portion and you don’t do the other one, then you don’t get the full utility of that particular road.”
Bello further said that it was the intention of the ministry that as the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration rounds off, a number of projects would be completed.
“Some of them we intend to develop them to a level whereby the next team should be able to do it.
“Ultimately, the objective is to make Abuja a vibrant city; a city where people will feel comfortable; where there wouldn’t be traffic gridlock and where facilities will work.”
On his part, Chairman Senate Committee on FCT Sen. Tolu Odebiyi ( APC Ogun East), who led the committee members said “what we have seen is quite impressive.
“We believe that in the twilight of this administration, in the next month, it is important we catalogue all the projects that are being done and prioritise the ones that must be completed before the end of this term.
“This is so that we can also make sure we provide the adequate funding and budget for it.
“Their budget is going to be forwarded to us very shortly and it is important we come and see the state of the work and the completion rate of the programme before we take them on.
“Like any other project, we will make sure all the projects that require priority are given the due attention like any other project.”
Meanwhile, the oversight function, which is slated for three days, continues today.
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