“Uncompleted road projects in Abuja will be completed in seven months”- Wike

Following a tour of some abandoned projects in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that his administration will work to complete the construction of some major roads in the city.

Wike, while speaking, said some of the roads to be completed included the B6 and B12 roads linking Constitution Avenue to the Abuja City Gate.

Wike gave an assurance that the projects will be completed within the next seven months adding that the renovation of the Federal Secretariat buildings would also be completed within the next seven to eight months.

Wike, who was accompanied by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, the Permanent Secretary, FCT Administration, Mr Adesola Olusade, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr Shehu Hadi, and other directors and top management officials of the FCTA, visited some abandoned projects in the city including the residence of the Vice President, awarded in 2010, the residences of the presiding officers of the National Assembly, near the National Assembly complex, which was awarded in 2009 and the construction site of the Millennium Tower, at the Central Area, Abuja.

Wike stated that he did not like to make excuses, adding that he would do the best he could to deliver some of the projects, while those beyond the capacity of the FCT ministry would be run up to President Bola Tinubu for help.

Describing the road linking the city gate to the Constitution Avenue as a “very important infrastructure” that would change the landscape of Abuja, he disclosed that Julius Berger had promised to deliver the renovation of the Federal Secretariat in the seven to eight months time frame

“I want to assure you that in the next six to seven months, the two projects would be completed,” he said.

Commenting on the state of the residences of the Vice President and presiding officers of the National Assembly, the minister said he would report to President Tinubu to agree on a way forward.

“Before we were sworn in, Mr President told me and the Minister of State, to do everything we can to bring back some of the structures and facilities that will make Abuja a world class city. One of them is the road network and facilities like the Millennium Tower that will bring tourists and families to come around and have fun,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister acknowledged that funding was a major concern adding that he would sit with the Minister of State for FCT, and the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, to restructure how some of the projects were being funded.

He added that he would rather attach funds to a specific project and complete it than allocate N500 million every year to a project of over N150 billion, and still fail to complete it.

“It means that in the next 20 years, you cannot complete the project. So, what is the benefit of wasting public funds? Fund is a challenge, yes, but we are here to solve such a challenge,” the minister said.

Earlier, the former Rivers State Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, ordered the immediate removal of all street vendors in Abuja.

Wike made the announcement, recently while stating that street traders, including those selling corn, contribute to crime and instability in the city.

The minister gave the order during a meeting with the management staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and Federal Capital Development Authority.

In his statement, the former Rivers State Governor urged them to prioritise doing what is right.

He said, “the important thing we must do is to ensure that Abuja is back to what it ought to be. I moved around Abuja and found out there is total darkness in most of the places.

“What we need to do is to ensure light comes back as soon as possible,” he said.

He further ordered the the relevant authorities to immediately cleanup the city of Abuja. He said, “If you are in charge of sanitation, I will call you at any time of the day,” adding that he would not hesitate to remove any official who is not meeting his standards of cleanliness.

The former Governor also stated that motor parks would not be allowed to operate in unauthorised areas.

He added, “Street trading is prohibited. People selling corn will drop their waste indiscriminately and these are the things that cause insecurity. Criminals come to buy and use the opportunity to spy and give information to criminals. It is imperative we clear street hawkers

“Development control is a serious crisis area we have to stop. Why are there illegal structures and shanties everywhere? We will demolish any illegal structure. No matter how highly placed, the structure will come down,” he reiterated.

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