Stories by Stanley Onyekwere
In order to make Abuja a viable and sustainable city, the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike has pledged to continue working towards making sure that every Districts is connected with good road infrastructure, that would help accelerate economic activities.
Wike asserted this position yestetday, when he flagged-off the construction of access road from Arterial N11 to Judges Quarters within Cadastral Zone B07, Katampe District, FCT, in continuation to the ongoing official commencement of 9 projects across the territory.
He assured the contractors that all contracts awarded under the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Administration in the territory would be promptly and well funded to completion, without giving room for any variations, so as to avert leaving liabilities for successive Government.
He said: “What we are doing is to make sure that every Districts is connected, and one thing that makes a city is good network of roads. So, we will not rest until we see that all the Districts are all connected with good roads.
“Because once people know that this road has been awarded, I can tell you that if you want to go and buy land now, it has skyrocketed more than 500%. That’s what good roads can do. There will be a lot of economic activities that would go on here. For a city like Abuja, will have no choice but continue to provide the basic infrastructure like good network of roads.
“Again, I want to assure the contractor we have made adequate provision to make sure that this road is completed within the time, which is in May 2025.
“But, for the procurement problem that we have had, I’m sure they would have completed even before May. I still believe that they have the capacity to meet the time that have given.
“We, on our part will make sure that we are not going to owe you (contractor), as we are going to pay immediately. These roads are very key to us, in order to reduce that hardship our people facing.”
Furthermore, the minister added that: “in line with the mandate, Mr. President has directed that before we create new Districts in Abuja, the ones that have been created should have the basic infrastructure that cities are supposed to have.
“And these contracts are being awarded the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and not FCT. No project under our tenure will stay beyond it, as every projects we award, by the grace of God, I will make sure that we are not going to leave any abandoned project for anybody.
“We are not going to leave projects, where there will be variation or augmentation. So we will pay you as at when due.”
He however, thanked members of the National Assembly for being supportive of the FCT Administration.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Hadi Ahmad revealed 3.2km Mabushi way connecting Katampe and other adjoining districts, will be completed within the next 7 months, to be part of projects that will be commissioned to mark President Tinubu’s two years in office.
Not left out, Chairman, Senate Committee On FCT Area Councils and Auxiliary Matters, Senator David JimKuta who commended the Wike-led FCTA for balancing projects execution both in the city centre and rural areas.
He also described the appointment of Wike by President Tinubu as a blessing to Nigeria, given his proven capacity to drive sustainable development in the nation’s capital.
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