Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stressed the need for an aggressive revenue drive, if the FCT Administration must continue to fund critical infrastructure projects in the territory.
Speaking to journalists after a tour of some projects sites on Friday, Wike emphasized that taxes and ground rent payments are essential for sustaining development efforts.
In his words, “We are going to be very aggressive in our revenue drive to deliver more projects. When people complain about the revocation of Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os), they need to understand that government can only fund meaningful projects that impact lives through tax payments. Imagine the transformation when this road is completed – the benefits are undeniable.
“So, we are appealing to our people—this is not politics, it is about responsibility and responsiveness. Government allocates land with the expectation that ground rents are paid annually for developmental purposes. Many residents call daily, asking us to extend projects to their areas. We want to, but the resources must be available. That is why we will aggressively, yet legally, drive revenue collection to ensure all ongoing projects are completed,” he said.
Some of the projects visited includes the 15-kilometer Outer Southern Expressway, OSEX, the 16-kilometer Inner Northern Expressway, INEX, and the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal Complex.
On the progress of the projects, the minister expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work. He particularly commended the contractors working on the INEX for expediting work on the project which has been delayed since 2014.
“This is my fourth visit to this site. This project has been a major concern for me. The contract was awarded in 2014—11 years ago. Naturally, the cost has increased over time. When I assumed office, we had to address price variations. I commend Salini Nigeria Limited for their work here. Initially, I doubted the May completion timeline, but seeing their progress today, I believe them. The last time we were here, we stopped much further back. Now, we have advanced significantly, and in a few weeks, the bridge will be completed. This is very encouraging,” Wike stated.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Wike stressed the importance of delivering on promises to improve the lives of residents.
“There is no greater fulfillment than making a promise and keeping it. I must appreciate Mr. President for making this possible. This is what Renewed Hope is about—bringing back confidence and delivering real dividends of democracy to the people,” he added.
