By Stanley Onyekwere
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has put federal funding mechanisms at the center of Abuja’s development drive, linking the completion of long-abandoned infrastructure directly to timely budget releases from the Ministry of Finance.
Inspecting key transport corridors across Abuja, the nation’s capital city including the strategic Apo-Karshi Road and the 10-kilometer ISEX Road Corridor, on Tuesday, Wike outlined a target to clear all inherited legacy projects in the FCT before the end of the year.
He however noted that delivering on that promise hinges on capital flow.
Wike revealed he is actively negotiating with the Minister of Finance to secure the prompt release of funds already allocated in the national budget for delayed projects like the ISEX road, which was originally awarded in 2014.
He said:”The contractor has assured us that if funds are made available, they can complete six kilometers of the road along with key interchanges by December.
“We have appealed to the Minister of Finance because funding is captured in the budget.
“Once those funds are released, the contractor will meet the deadline.”
According to him, key inherited projects targeted for ear-end completion
Apo-Karshi road corridor: Nearing final completion after years of delays; expected to dramatically ease traffic flow into the central business district.
He added that there is ISEX road project – a 10-kilometer dual carriageway with interchanges (awarded in 2014), with 6 kilometers targeted for December handover upon fund release.
On newly targeted access corridors, he stated that contractors are fully mobilized following recent project groundbreakings.
Wike argued that completing inherited contracts awarded under previous administrations from 2007, 2011, and 2015 is vital to protecting public funds already spent and ending the cycle of abandoned sites that have long marred the capital.
“Leadership requires continuity. Some people assume office and say they will only focus on projects they initiated.
“Good leadership is continuing projects that transform the landscape and improve the economy,” Wike stated.
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