Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, flagged off the construction of the 15km Tai road in the Kwali area council, marking day six of the ongoing series of infrastructure project flag-offs in Abuja.
The road, which begins from A1 along the Abuja-Lokoja road in the Kwali area council, had previously been bypassed, while the 18km Tai-Gomani portion was awarded on October 29, 2024.
Wike had earlier promised in October to award the 15-km stretch from point A2 into Pai. The entire stretch totals 33 km from A2 through Pai to Gomani.
Wike decried the disconnect between the city centre and the satellite towns, emphasising that the renewed hope agenda is about bridging this gap.
He noted, “Abuja was created in 1976, and there has been a total disconnect between the city centre and the satellite towns. Ordinarily, we would have had not only one city that is developed but two or three cities to discourage people from moving into the congested main city.”
He assured that with the renewed hope agenda, the difference would be evident.
“With the renewed hope agenda, I hope all of you understand what the President is doing. What the President is doing through us is to connect the satellite towns to the main city so that you don’t have to say, ‘Let me go and stay in the city.’”
“By the time we provide water to the satellite towns and good roads, we will be talking about having a positive impact on governance. And I believe by the time we put solar lights on this road, it will look like a city.
“Be assured that under Mr. President’s tenure, every promise we have made, every project we have started, we will complete all of them. We are not going to abandon any project at all,” he assured.
The minister, who commended the contractor, Zeberced Group, for the confidence they have in the FCT Administration as they have gone ahead to start the project even when mobilisation has not been paid to them, also charged the contractor to employ the people to enable them to feed their families.
Wike also directed his Chief of Staff to tell the Secretary of Education to visit the Kwali Technical School and recommend what to do to give the school a facelift.
This was after the Etsu Kwali, Luka Ayedo Nizassan, had told the minister that the school was in a state of dilapidation and requested the minister to intervene.
In their contributions, the Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Salihu Mustapha, and Vice Chairman, House Committee on FCT and Ancillary Matters, Peter Akpanke, said when it comes to Wike, what was happening was not strange to them as they were used to him doing such things that earned him the appellation Mr. Project.
Both federal legislators pledged their support for Wike in his bid to provide infrastructure.
The contractor gave their word and assured of a standard quality job and to deliver the project in six months.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune