Wike flags-off resurfacing of 182 roads in Maitama, Garki, Utako districts
…Says all projects to be completed before May 2024
By Omeiza Bilal
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister 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.
Wike, who conducted the flag-off exercise in Abuja on Tuesday, in 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 who also stated that the development of the FCT is sacrosanct and goes beyond political party affiliations also said 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 parties. 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”.
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 challenges being experienced in the country due to the ongoing reforms by the Federal Government, the minister 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.
He called for the support of FCT residents for the activities of the government, and urged them to pay their taxes to ensure more development in the FCT.
According to him, security agencies in the FCT have been provided with the necessary logistics to address the security challenges in the territory, and called on residents to provide relevant information that will aid the job of the crime fighters.
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.
