Wike decries spate of works, insecurity at Abuja Metro rail

• Says no room for excuses

By Stanley Onyekwere

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has decried displeasure over the spate of construction and rehabilitation works at the Abuja Metro rail.
Wike, who spoke while inspecting some sections of the rail system,
particularly complained about poor security architecture, accessibility, and sanitation amongst other critical concerns affecting the operational status of the rail system.
Recall that Wike upon assumption of office, had declared that Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) System, being handled by a Chinese construction company, CCECC, is one of the projects that the administration will hurriedly complete and put to use.
However, the Minister expressed gross displeasure with safety and engineering designs of the Kukwaba 2 station, insisted that there would be no more excuses as the contractors will have to work round the clock to ensure completion and delivery by the set deadline of May 24.
He said: “I cannot be happy if in May this year we are not able to operate this metro and it will be very disastrous for me and then, even all these stations from what I have seen, the designs are very poor. Whoever may have approved the design is unfair to Nigerians. I have told CCECC that these designs are not even acceptable in their countries. If I had known before now, I wouldn’t have promise Mr. President that we will be ready but be it as it has been, we still have to work round the clock to see that we achieved our result.
“I have also directed that all the stations must be cleaned and also all the necessary things there must be provided, there’s no room for excuses at all.
“Also on the design of the access roads linking to the various stations, I don’t know whether it is because people always talk about money and rush into everything without proper evaluation and the benefits it will offer the residents or the users.
“The construction is not the best, but again what do you do, this is what is on ground. You can’t continue to come and stop them while you have not got to see how we can finish it on time. But, frankly speaking, knowing where I’m coming from, having presided over projects like this, I cannot tell you that I am happy. So I’m not happy, the company must speed up, those who are doing the access roads must also speed up.
“We have been assured that this road will be completed before May, we just hope so and this is the best i can tell you now.
“I’m not a pessimist but also I doubt and I believe that putting all our energies, we may achieve it. I disbursed the funds for this project on access roads, so we have no excuse.
“Just that if by the time I came, I had taken time to go into all these projects, maybe we would have been able to identify some of these lapses and that is why it is not good for you to be in the office, you have to go and see things for yourself and don’t depend on reports coming from the field.”