By Stanley Onyekwere
To ensure timely delivery of road infrastructure in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), traditional rulers are advised to support contractors, by not allowing their subjects to become a hurdle that will not the ongoing phase I of resurfacing and rehabilitation of 135 roads in the FCT to move on well.
In particular, Wike passionately appealed to the Monarchs to let their youth and residents support the contractors handling the projects , so that they can finish this job on time.
The Minister, who made the appeal yestetday, while flagging off the initiative in Garki District, Abuja disclosed that it would be completed in not more six months period.
According to him, FCT will pay all the contractors their money to enable them to complete the project within the agreed completion timeframe.
“Traffic will come more as we start this work, but it is going to be temporary, within the next six months, we would have finished it. All I want the residents to do is please support the contractors, so that they can finish the job on time.
“And to the traditional rulers, we want to thank you, and also solicit your support for the contractors, don’t allow your subjects to become where this contract will not move on well.
“I beg you, let your youth and residents support the contractors, so that we can finish this job on time. I want to assure everybody that we will do everything that we can, because, Mr. President having given us that support, and having confidence in us, we will turn Abuja around, and you will see that Abuja should be the city our founding fathers had always expected. That’s why they created Abuja as a Federal Capital Territory, and that what we want to do.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from and what religion you worship (practice), what is important is the good of the people and what we help us. We will give everybody the opportunity to (thrive) as a resident”, Wike stressed.
He adds: “To the contractors, let me warn you now, all these bills that you are doing with engineering services will not work again. As nothing like variation, it will not work. So don’t even try it. There is no variation in this job, we have the money to pay you. So if you like, go to engineering services and do anything with them, it will not work.
“And let me warn the Permanent Secretary and all the directors don’t ever bring to me any paper (file) to say we didn’t consider this or that, everything has been considered.”
Similarly, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, said that the FCT Administration has recorded significant achievements in transforming the capital city, barely three weeks in office.
Mahmoud noted that the road infrastructure would be transformed to impact positively on the residents.
Earlier in his goodwill message, Ona of Abaji, Alh. Adamu Baba-Yunusa, noted that the flag off was the magnification of Wike’s genuine dream in taking the FCT to its excellence level as a mega city of our time.
He said: “ We commend this spirit of hardworking and devotion to duty and for making better as well as comfortable for the people of the FCT.
“We appreciate you, and we believe that your success to the great height, will rob off on us (residents).
“On behalf of myself and the entire FCT Council of Traditional Rulers and good people of FCT residents, we are indeed happy and supportive of your leadership and project delivery.”
On his part, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr. Christopher Maikalangu, assured that they are going to work together, for the interest of FCT and Nigeria at large.
Earlier in his welcome remark , Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Adesola, said the projects include the rehabilitation and resurfacing of 135 existing roads and remedial works on bridges in various districts of the FCT.
