Infrastructural dev’t: Wike warns against project infractions, obstructions

By Stanley Onyekwere

In a bid to ensure hitch free infrastructural development, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has warned against any infractions or obstructions of ongoing projects in the Territory, so as to handover worthy projects to members of the public.
In particular, Wike frowned at complaints of reports of interference by a lawmaker at the National Assembly obstructing the construction in Guzape, and security barriers placed by the Central Bank obstructing construction at road B6.
He however, expressed satisfaction with the work so far done ongoing projects across the nation’s capital city,
The Minister spoke when he led Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and a few other top management team to inspect ongoing road projects at Guzape Lot 2, handled by Gilmour Construction, and Roads B6 and D12 along the Constitution Avenue, handled by Julius Berger Construction.
According to him” “We are not going to take it lightly. This is not a private project, it is a public project, handled by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. If there is any complaint, we think that whoever is responsible should complain to us and not to go and use Police to stop a legitimate company constructing work for the use of the public, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council.
“We have directed the contractor to go back and make sure they don’t heed to that so called stoppage. They must go back and complete the work, which we are expecting that Mr President will Commission in May.
“Coming to the B6 and D12 Area, we are happy with the work done by Julius Berger. We are very happy, and we are trying to observe some obstruction by the Central Bank, which of course, we will not allow that. You see, one thing with institutions is that when they apply for land, and they are trying to give them, they will go beyond what was given to them, and it causes obstruction.
“I have always said anything for the public, we will not take it for granted. So, we want the Central Bank to allow us use what belongs to us for the interest of the public.”
Wike reiterated that no ongoing project had been stopped since the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu, adding that after the May deadline, other projects should be handed over to the public by December 2.
He explains:“By and large, we are very happy with what we are seeing and you can attest to the fact that since Mr President came on board, no work has stopped in all these sites.
“ There are so many other sites, but it will be difficult to take all at the same time. But we believe after May, before December 2, so many projects will be handed over to members of the public.”