...says all projects must be completed before May 

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has flagged off the resurfacing of 182 existing roads and remedial works on bridges in Maitama, Garki and Utako Districts of the FCT.

Barr. Wike, who conducted the flag-off exercise in Abuja on Tuesday, February 06, 2024, in the Maitama District, charged the contractor to ensure that the project is completed within the stipulated time, emphasizing that the projects must be completed before May 2024.

The Minister who warned that he would not hesitate to revoke the contract of any contractor who fails to perform, welcomed the idea of local content in the award of contracts but insisted that the contractor must show adequate capacity to execute the job.  

He said, “I support local content, but what I don’t support is local content without capacity. All of us would like our people to do the job but I would also not say because you are doing the job, you don’t do it well and within the time schedule. No. So, local content, whether you are white or you are black, do it well and do it within the time schedule”.

The FCT Minister also stated that the development of the FCT is sacrosanct and goes beyond political party affiliations, adding that the FCT Administration is working with the six Area Council Chairmen, irrespective of party differences, to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the FCT for the benefit of the people.

According to the Minister, “What we are doing today has nothing to do with political party. What we are talking about is governance, how will the people of Abuja benefit? Party is a vehicle that takes you to your destination. When you get to your destination, you come down and work. This is about governance.

“That’s why today, all the Area Councils are cooperating with us. It doesn’t matter whether they are in party A or whether they are in party B because poverty does not know the party you belong to. Insecurity does not know the party you belong to. So, we must put our hands together and support the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President”.

Barrister Wike also thanked the leadership of the National Assembly and the various Committees oversighting the FCT for their support while assuring that the FCT Administration will continue to work with the lawmakers for the development of the nation’s capital.

The FCT Minister while also attributing the development strides in the FCT to the support of the President, said the FCT Administration has no choice but to deliver without excuses.

He said, “Whatever we are doing here today is not on our own. Mr. President is the Governor of the FCT by law, but he has decided to delegate his functions to us and so many of us he has given that opportunity, we don’t have excuses. We must make the people happy and that’s what we are doing today.”  

Speaking also on the difficulties occasioned by the road rehabilitation exercise in the FCT, especially the traffic gridlocks, the Minister called for the understanding of FCT residents, stressing that sacrifices must be made to achieve development.

On the challenges being experienced in the country due to the ongoing reforms of the Federal Government, Barr. Wike sued for patience and understanding among Nigerians, assuring that Nigerians would soon witness a positive change.

He said the reforms of the government were not intended to punish anybody and urged Nigerians to continue to support the President and pray for him to succeed.

The Minister who called for the support of FCT residents for the activities of government, urged them to pay their taxes to ensure more development in the FCT.

“Pay your taxes so that we can pay the contractors on time and then we have good motorable roads”, he said.

Speaking on the efforts to address security challenges in the FCT, the Minister stated that security agencies have been provided with the necessary logistics to address the security issues in the territory and called on residents to provide relevant information that will aid the job of the crime fighters.

Earlier in his remark, the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Zakka Maikalangu thanked the Minister for his commitment to providing infrastructure in the Abuja Municipal Council and commended ongoing transformations in the FCT.

Also speaking, the Chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives Committees on FCT, Sen. Ibrahim Bomai and Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, respectively, pledged the support of the National Assembly for the developmental activities of the FCT Administration.

Both lawmakers expressed their readiness to be a part of history, working with the FCTA, in taking the FCT to the next level of transformation.