By Sarah NEGEDU
Almost 13 years after the contract was awarded for construction of the Southern Parkway in the Federal Capital Territory, President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, finally commissioned the Outer Southern Expressway section of the road.
The 27km Southern Parkway streching from Christian Eunomical Centre intersecting at the Godluck Jonathan Way, down to the Nnamdi Azikwe Express roads, is expected to enhance traffic circulation around the city centre.
President Tinubu, while commissioning the road, commended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his doggedness and determination to completing abandoned projects in the territory.
The president who said he was not surprised by the achievements of the FCT Minister, charged him to brace up for more work, as the “reward for success is more work.”
“I heard from his remark that this project could have been an abandoned project for 13 years, scratching the surface. Once again, our dear landlord, Nyesom Wike, thank you for bringing life back to our Federal Capital Territory.
“I understand the Southern Parkway not only represents a physical artery that connects vital areas within FCT but also symbolises our collective aspirations for connectivity, ease of livelihood, accessibility and progress. By providing a seamless and efficient transportation corridor, this road will not only ease traffic congestion but also enhance mobility and creativity for the residents and visitors to FCT.
“The completion of the Southern Parkway underscores our commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, as we strive to build a world-class capital city. We recognises the fact that infrastructure is an enabler of jobs, economic development and prosperity. We believe we are going to achieve all of that.”
Earlier while welcoming the President to commissioning, the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, said the contract was initially awarded for N16.2 billion in 2010 but was later reviewed to N35.7billion in 2021.
Wike, who described the project as a pathway to economic growth and national unity, said the project, alongside others earmarked for commissioning by the president, are significant milestones enhancing the infrastructure and livability of the capital city.
“Today, we celebrate not just the completion of a roadway, but the opening of new pathways to economic growth and national unity.
“Your Excellency, distinguished ladies, and gentlemen, the Southern Parkway is one of the principal arteries conceived and planned as a freeway to provide access and connectivity to the Southern development flank of the city as provided in the Abuja Master Plan.”
The minister added that, “This project which was awarded in December, 2011 to Messrs Setraco Nig. Ltd. at the contract sum of N16,234,553,335.64 (Sixteen billion, Two Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-Five Naira, Sixty Four Kobo), was later revised to N35,757,763,310.18 (Thirty-Five Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Six-Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira, Eighteen Kobo) in March, 2021 due to changes in scope and other economic indices.
He said the newly completed Southern Parkway will complement the developed portion of the Northern Parkway by easing the traffic congestion experienced in the Southern Districts of Garki, Gudu, and Durumi as well as accelerate the development of the Southern axis of the city in general.
Giving an overview of the project, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Engr. Ahmed Hadi, explained that the parkway system forms an integral path of the network of roads in the transportation master plan of the Federal capital city.
He said the parkway starts from the city centre, at its intersection with the inner southern expressway, and passes through phases one to four of the south of the city and ends on the inner southern expressway, at a junction near Kuje, located in phase four and it has a total length of about 27 kilometres.
“It dissects the two development corridors, and is planned to function as a freeway with a view to optimize vehicular movement, as has been said by the MC, between the developed sectors and the central area.
“Within the central area, the parkway system encloses the cultural spine. While within the northern development corridor, it is called the northern parkway N8, N9. It starts from the city centre around the inner northern expressway, which is a road just by the National mosque and the Shehu Yar’adua centre intersection and passes through phases one up to phase four in the north of the city, ending up on the outer northern northern expressway junction, around Dei-Dei area. It is covering a total length of 25 kilometres.”
According to the Executive Secretary, the segment of the southern parkway, commissioned on Tuesday, covers a total distance of about 5.4 kilometres, spanning from the national Christian centre and CBN junction with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, which is the inner southern expressway, up to the Ring road one, that is the Nnamdi Azikiwe expressway.
