Over N300bn committed to FCT rural roads, schools renovation in 1yr – Wike

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike has revealed that the President Bola Tinubu’s adminstration has committed not less than 300 billion Naira to the development of Abuja satellite towns across the six Area Councils of the FCT within the last one year.

Wike said the total value of what Mr. President has committed to Gwagwalada Area Council alone is about over 50 billion Naira.

He spoke yesterday at the official commissioning of the newly reconstructed 9km Paikon Kore-Ibawa in Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT.

According to him, Mr. President committed the sum of 8.5 billion Naira to construct the 9km road, which was awarded to Setraco on January 5th, 2024, and completed and now officially commissioned.

He added that the total value for renovation of five secondary schools in Gwagwalada is 16.5 billion Naira; while 22 billion Naira was committed to the ongoing Gwagwalada Market – Aguma palace- FRCN road, due for commissioning in May, 2025, to mark the 2nd anniversary of Tinubu’s administration.

“Mr. President is not only committed to the development of the city, but Mr. President is also committed to the development of the satellite towns.

“Just within one year, the President came on board in May 2023, just within one year, this is just for Gwagwalada area council alone, not all the area council, this one alone, how much Mr. President has committed? This road, Mr. President committed 8.5 billion Naira to construct this road.

“ In Aguma-palace road (and Market road- FRCN road), Mr. President has committed 22 billion Naira, and that road will be commissioned in May this year.

“As I speak to you, we have completed and we are still renovating, five secondary schools in Gwagwalada. The School For The Gifted Gwagwalada, Government Secondary School Gwagwalada, GSS Anagada, GSS Tungan Maje, GSS Giri. The total value for these is 16.5 billion Naira.

“Now, if you calculate this total amount, I have not added the total police divisions that we are building in Gwagwalada. As we speak now, in order to enhance security of this area.

“Just take this as the base because this is the least of all the area councils. So, you will see that in a year, Mr. President has committed to the development of satellite towns, not less than 300 billion Naira.

“It is important for people to have this record because you see people who go out, they are only developing the city, nothing is happening in the satellite towns. Is that correct?.

“ Mr. President believes that governance is not only for you to sit in your office and dish out orders. Mr. President believes governance, you must go to the people, you must discuss with the people, you must ask them what are their problems. And that is what we are doing with you.

“Now, I can tell you just relax, you will see what more projects Mr. President will bring to the people of Gwagwalada”, the minister stated.

On his part, chairman, House of Representatives Committee  on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters,  Hon. Fred Agbedi  noted that what Wike is doing in FCT, the nation’s capital would now be experiencing an urban – rural drift, giving it is better now to live in rural areas and work in urban areas.

Earlier, the Area Council chairman, Abubakar Giri, who was represented by his Vice, Abdullahi Saidu Zuba, opined that the people were happy with Wike, as they were excited over  what he has done for them.

He however, appealed for  assistance to construct a major bridge to link the Ibawa community with other  communities, to further ease vehicular and human movements in the area. A request Wike granted, and promised to include the project in the FCT 2025 Statutory budget.