Relief as Wike inaugurates N50bn rehabilitated Lower Usuma Dam Phase 2

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

There is sigh of relief for Abuja residents as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, yesterday commissioned the newly rehabilitated 50 billion Naira Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant at the Lower Usuma Dam in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council.

Speaking at the event, Wike explained that the Phase 2 rehabilitation, awarded in 2022 at a cost of about N50 billion, was completed in line with the “Renewed Hope” agenda of President Tinubu, which prioritizes water as an essential service.

The project, he noted, will significantly expand the dam’s carrying capacity and boost water supply to Abuja residents.

“Some people have accused us of concentrating only on roads, but beyond roads, we are also focusing on basic infrastructure like water supply.

“Water is life, and this administration is committed to ensuring residents enjoy this essential service”, he stated.

The Minister further revealed that Phase 1, Phase 3, and Phase 4 of the Lower Usuma Dam project have already been awarded by the Federal Executive Council, a move he said will further enhance water distribution across the territory.

He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the flag-off of additional water projects in satellite towns.

According to him, the government will commence the Bwari water project on Wednesday, while the Karu water supply project will be flagged off on Thursday. Both initiatives are estimated to cost not less than N90 billion.

He added that agreements signed with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) during President Tinubu’s visit to China in 2023 are also geared towards ensuring satellite towns benefit from reliable water supply.

Wike also highlighted the administration’s achievements in education, noting that many schools have been completed, renovated, or are currently undergoing construction across the FCT.

He directed the Secretary of Education to make public the comprehensive list of completed and ongoing school projects and to take the media on inspection tours of rural schools to showcase the government’s commitment.

“This administration is not only developing the city centre but is also taking infrastructure to the satellite towns. Our goal is to make life easier for all residents of the FCT”, he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support toward infrastructural renewal and for prioritizing critical projects that directly impact the lives of ordinary citizens.

She, therefore, urged residents to rededicate themselves to the proper management and sustainability of the water treatment plant, ensuring that generations yet unborn will continue to benefit from this vital infrastructure.