By Sarah NEGEDU
All is set for the commissioning of 17 key projects in the nation’s capital, with strong indications that President Bola Tinubu will be on ground to personally commission 10 of those projects, as part of activities marking his second year in office.
The lineup of completed projects includes the comprehensive rehabilitation and renovation of the International Conference Centre, ICC, construction of the Pai-Goma Road in Kwali Area Council, reconstruction of the Ushafa-War College access road in Bwari, completion of the Gishiri access road and bridge linking Jahi and Maitama the Wole Soyinka/Murtala Muhammad
Expressway interchanges, among several others.
According to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the 17-day commissioning exercise will kick off on June 10, 2025, with the official reopening of the ICC.
The minister, who spoke with journalists after a final inspection of some of the projects, confirmed that the President will personally commission 10 of the projects, while Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to commission three others.
“Mr. President has finally approved a commission of projects to start on the 10th of June, which is on Tuesday, after the Salla holiday. And that will start with the International Conference Centre, and as you can see, we are good to go,” Wike stated.
“The next day, which is on the 11th, it is where we are now. The Gishiri area will commission this route from the interchange, going to Jahi, and the other side going to Maitama, Mabushi. So, we are set to go.”
The minister also hinted that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will commission two projects each on behalf of the President, bringing the total number of completed projects to be unveiled to 17.
“The President will, on his own, commission 10 projects. The Vice President will represent the President and commission three projects. The Senate President will also represent the President and commission two projects. And the Speaker of the House of Representatives will also represent the President and commission two projects,” he said.
“We want to thank the President. It is not easy for him to give us 10 good days, 10 good days, where he will be around to commission the projects. The Vice President takes three good days, the Senate President takes two good days, and the Speaker takes two good days.”
He expressed confidence that the projects, most of which were either abandoned or delayed for years, will significantly improve infrastructure and restore confidence in the government’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his words, “We are very happy, very, very happy that all the promises we made, we have been able to accomplish them. Look at the reaction from people. That tells you if the people are happy, we are also happy.”
On the maintenance of the ICC, Wike said the facility will no longer be left in the hands of politicians but placed under the care of Julius Berger through a formal maintenance agreement.
“I will directly supervise it. We will have an agreement with Julius Berger for the maintenance of the place, and we will pay them. So this time around, it’s not going to be as you hand it over to politicians, and they do whatever they want to do,” he stated.
The minister used the opportunity to extend his goodwill message to residents ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, assuring them of a peaceful celebration under tight security.
